Page 8 of Halloween Hottie
“Hey, how’s work going?” I ask, Kevin, remembering the last time we talked he had just gotten a promotion.
He nods. “Good. Good pay, great insurance, and a 401K. What more could I ask for?”
“That’s good, man.”
“How’s the bar?” he asks, sinking the eight ball and throwing his stick down.
I nod as I lean against the pool table. “It’s pretty stable. I was worried about it failing its first year, but so far so good.”
“That’s awesome. I wish I could own a bar, but Ashely will never allow it,” Xander says, running his hand through his blond hair, which is wrapped up since he’s dressed as a mummy.
“Probably because you’re already an alcoholic,” Kevin says, laughing.
Xander holds up his middle finger. “Speaking of that, I need a fresh drink. Anyone else?’
Kev and I wave him off and he leaves the room. Kev and I take a seat at the small bar. “So, how ya been?” he asks, smacking my back.
I nod and take a drink of my beer. “Good, good. Nothing much has changed. Still running the bar and sleeping above it. I almost never have to leave.”
“I know, that’s why I never see you anymore.”
“No, you never see me anymore because you have a pregnant fiancée. Did you ever finish the renovations to the house?”
He nods. “Yeah, we updated the kitchen and bathrooms. Now we’re working on a nursery—but that’s hard to do when you don’t know the sex of the baby.”
“I’m surprised Xander doesn’t have one in the oven yet.”
Kev laughs. “He’s never going to grow up. I think Ashely is getting tired of him always drinking and partying. How many nights is he at your place?”
“He hasn’t been by in a while,” I lie. Number one rule of bartending: you don’t throw your buddy under the bus.
It’s weird that my friends are talking about their families, work, and their future, when I’m still right where I have been. Everyone’s lives are changing and growing, and I still feel like I’m the kid who just got out of college. Life is moving on without me. I need to get back on the train and see where it takes me.
Chapter Five
ELIZABETH
It’s so loud inside the house that I almost want to cover my ears—but I refrain. The entryway is practically empty, with just a few partygoers lingering on the stairs. I make a left and head into the living room. It’s jam-packed. Every couch or chair is occupied with more people standing in the corners in small groups, talking and laughing. I follow the pathway to the kitchen where the party is a little more alive. Everyone is standing around, hanging out while the entire island is filled with snack food. There’s a keg off in the corner that a couple of guys are manning, and the countertops are lined with liquor bottles. I jump in line to wait for a beer.
As I stand around, I check out everyone and their costumes. There are a few witches, vampires, cats, and a few more creative things that are homemade instead of fully packaged and store-bought. Eventually, I’m handed a beer. “Thanks,” I say, walking away with it. I take a sip and push further on into the house.
A drunk girl bumps into me and she spins around quickly to apologize. “I’m so sorr—Liz? Oh my God, how you been?” Janet asks.
I smile and we hug. “Good, how are you? I thought you moved to New York?”
She smiles and nods. “I did, I’m just back for a visit.” She smoothes down her bright-yellow bumblebee costume. “I didn’t know you were still around though. I thought you and Steve would be halfway to Florida by now.”
Ugh. There it is. Steve.
“Oh, well we were never serious about that. Plus, we broke up a few months ago.”
Janet gasps. “What? I had no idea. What happened?”
“Oh, you know how he is.”
She presses her lips together and nods. “Yeah, he was always a fibber.”
I laugh. “A fibber? That boy is a downright liar.”
