Page 20 of Girls Will Be Girls
I lasted a couple of years out of college in that area before that little switch clicked in my head and I realized I hated it. Iwas terrified of dropping that bomb on my family. Even when I mentioned in passing to my brother that I wasn’t sure about it as my end game, he instantly shot me down like I was insane. I’m not sure if his reaction was genuinely how he felt, or if it was out of the same fear I live with of parental disappointment.
All I know is that quitting that job was the greatest decision I ever made. It’s when I realized that to write good, interesting, serious pieces, you don’t have to be writing about something innately serious.
Life’s too short to be so bored by your work that you’d rather staple your eyelids shut than write another piece about a trust fund finance bro who’s ‘self-made’.
After living in that world, I find it hard not to assume all the men in it are the same.
Lou swings his legs toward me. “Are you gonna tell me whyyou’rehere?”
I gesture to Willie. “Can I have a shot of tequila, please?”
He gives me a one-fingered salute. He’s so cool.
“Same for me, please Willie,” Lou adds, before turning to me again. “Am I allowed to ask how long you’re staying?”
“Why wouldn’t you be allowed?” I sip my drink.
He shrugs. “I feel it’s about a 50/50 chance whether you’ll answer or not. I don’t like those odds.”
“You didn’t strike me as a glass-half-empty kind of guy.” I shrug.
He laughs, and it vibrates in my chest.
“Just under two weeks.” I finally admit. “You?”
“Just over.”
“Lucky you.”
He seems to look me over. “Cheers”
We lift the shot glasses and shoot the liquid down our throats. It burns more than I was prepared for. I’ve never been good at shots, but the situation seemed to warrant it.
Lou sucks air through his teeth and lets out a breath, clearly just as bad at shots as me.
“What took you so long to get here, by the way?” Lou asks.
I finally turn my stool toward him. “Is this some weird version of a pickup line?”
He chuckles. “No.”
He grabs my shot glass, tipping his head to gesture if I’d like another. I nod, and he lifts his hand up to Willie with a smile, who instantly refills us.
“I’m genuinely asking.” Lou continues. “I’ve been here for over an hour.”
“That makes me feel better.” I plaster on an overtly sweet smile.
He bites his cheek not to laugh. “What happened?”
I let out a long sigh. “The taxi broke down, so I was sat on the side of a dusty road…”sweating profusely,“for god knows how long…”long enough for me to use up all my sunblock,“until the car service was able to send a replacement.”
“Wow.” He fights a laugh. “It’s almost not even funny anymore.”
I stick him with the iciest glare I can muster in this heat.
“Sorry you’re having such an unlucky day.” He says.
I sigh. “And here I thought my luck had turned with that first-class ticket.”
