Page 19 of Sharkbait
As soon as I open it, though, I wish I hadn’t.
Because standing on the other side is my one-night stand.
Chapter Six
James
"Hey, Cold Brew,” I say and instantly regret it when I see the blank look on her face. “I mean Louise. Lou? Which do you prefer? Never mind. Look, I’m just as surprised to see you as you are to see me.” I lean back to double-check the house number. “This is Mabel’s place, isn’t it? Do I have the wrong address? Also. How, uh, how have you been?”
Christ, man. Stop talking.
“This is Mabel’s apartment. She’s just, um—she’s putting her thong and pasties on.”
I swallow. “Who’s doing what now?”
The sound of heavy footsteps come from inside the building. A voice calls out, “You know what? I’m thinking our pal Mabel Unleashed may actually be on to something with the—Whoa! ‘Adventure Bar James!’ What’s up, fella?”
“Calliope,” I say with a slight bow of my head. “Good to see you again.”
“Likewise.”
Louise whips her head back and forth between us. “Wait. How do you two know each other?”
“Ralph and I go to Adventure Bar all the time,” Calliope says. “James makes the best drinks. You have to try one sometime. Oh, duh! You already had some. Don’t you remember over the summer when you and Mabel came with me and—”
“Yup, yup, I remember.” Louise looks at the ground. Anywherebut at me, it seems. “The drinks were... fine.”
“Better than fine, if you ask me,” I mumble.
Calliope cocks her head to the side, watching our interaction. “Anywaaaaay, I have to say, James, it’s kinda weird seeing you outside of the bar.”
“Is it?”
“Yeah. You know that feeling when you’re a kid and you unexpectedly see your middle school teacher buying Hanes-Her-Way low-rise briefs at Walgreens, so you immediately dart to hide behind the cardboard cutout of Rihanna endorsing CoverGirl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers? And then your prepubescent brain explodes and spins out of control because you’re thinking, ‘whoa, I never considered the fact that Ms. Henderson buys underwear! Or even has a butt, for that matter?’ So you hope like hell she doesn’t catch you quaking behind that cardboard cutout of Rihanna because you honestly don’t know who will be more embarrassed: you, the cowering kid, or her, the granny-panty-purchasing educator?” She takes a breath. “It’s kind of like that.”
I laugh. “Can’t say I’ve had thatexactexperience, but I think I hear what you’re saying.”
“Basically, I’ve never imagined you exist outside the bar, so this is trippy!”
“Well, if it makes things less trippy for you,” I offer, “I am here on bar business.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yup. Mabel hired us to set up a spread for your get-together tonight.”
“Score! I love Adventure Bar food!”
I reach down for the silver cooler at my feet.
“No, thank you,” Louise says.
I rise back to my full height.
“No, thank you?” I repeat.
“Yeah,” she shrugs. “We’re not that hungry.”
“Speak for yourself, missy!” Calliope admonishes. “Besides, you told me like two minutes ago how hangry you are.”
