Page 19 of Dating Goals
“Anyway, why come to a bar if not to drink?”
I’m about to explain about not being able to sleep after losing the game, but something stops me. Maybe it’s the way she’s looking at me with those sharp eyes, like she can see right through me. Instead, I lean forward on my elbows and grin.
“We have to stop meeting like this. What were you doing when I first got here? In the bathroom again?”
Anika rolls her eyes, but I catch the hint of a smile. “I was in the office, doing paperwork. It’s usually dead this time of night.”
She takes her shot of whiskey in one smooth motion, then wipes the bar with a cloth that appears from nowhere.
“So this is why you couldn’t make it to the game?”
The reason she shot down my invitation to come watch me play. Probably for the best. We got our butts handed to us tonight.
“Someone has to keep these troublemakers in line.” She jerks her head toward the Jass players, who are now quietly nursing their beers.
“Wait a minute.” I straighten up as I remember something from our conversation at the cabin. “You said you were the boss. Are you the manager, or do you own it?”
“It was my father’s. Now it’s mine.”
The way she says it, quick and matter-of-fact, tells me not to push that topic. “Tainted Love” comes on, and Anika hums along as she wipes down glasses, completely in her element.
I nod along. “So what’s with the retro playlist? Not that I’m complaining.”
Anika shrugs, stacking clean glasses. “I like what I like.”
A crash from the Jass table makes us both turn. Colin’s knocked over his empty glass, and they’re all laughing way too loud.
Lars waves an empty beer mug in the air. “Anika! One more round!”
She shakes her head. “Nei. You’ve had enough.”
“Come on!” Lars staggers to his feet. “Just one more!”
“We’re closed,” Anika says firmly, crossing her arms.
“But it’s early!” Evan protests, his words running together.
Anika’s eyes narrow dangerously. She points to the door. “Go!”
The men exchange glances, then slowly gather their jackets, grumbling under their breath.
“We’ll just go to Alpenglow, then!” Lars announces, trying to sound dignified as he wobbles toward the door. “They have better music.”
Anika’s laugh rings through the bar, a rich sound that makes me want to hear it again.
“Oh please! They won’t even let you through the door at Alpenglow.”
Colin’s mustache droops. “That’s not true.”
She wipes down the bar, completely unfazed. “You’ll be back tomorrow anyway.”
“Maybe we won’t,” Evan mutters, but there’s no conviction in it.
“Tschüss!” Anika calls after them as they file out into the cold. The door closes behind them with a soft thud, leaving the bar suddenly quiet except for Soft Cell still playing overhead.
I chuckle as I watch those guys shuffle out, but now that they’re gone, maybe I can finally talk to her properly. I’ve been thinking about her ever since she dropped off those cookies. No. Ever since she broke in to use the bathroom, to be honest.
“You too.” Anika points to the door. “Out.”
