Page 108 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Fine. Okay.” She picks up her phone and uses its camera as a mirror.

The bartender comes back with my drink. He places it in front of me, glances at the glass, then smirks. Okay, weird. I pick it up and sniff. I don’t break eye contact with him. This is just alcohol. There is no mixer. Literally nothing. My face must grimace.

“Problem?” He leans over the bar, giving me a sort of half smile. What an asshole. Why do I always meet douchebags?

“No, actually, this is just the way I like my whiskey.” I start to sip.

“Oh, good. Because I gave you top-shelf Scotch. Wouldn’t want to waste Johnny Walker Blue.”

“How much does this shit cost?” I want to lean over this bar and smack him. Maybe I’d feel better then.

“On the house. For you only.”

“Free?”

“Did I stutter?”

“I don’t know. I can’t understand you because of your fake accent.”

He laughs. Jess is just watching us. I feel challenged, so I raise the glass and chug my drink. I think I’m going to lose my lunch.

“Okay, okay. I’m impressed, little lady,” he says.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Should I call you a big lady?”

“You... You’re a smartass.”

“Listen. You want anything else? All these men are paying...but not you.”

“All women drink free?”

“Uh, no. You do, and your friend.”

I look over at Jess. She looks super excited, like she might have just pissed herself. She smiles at me knowingly with her chin up, like she just did something great, like this was all her doing.

“How many women do you say that to?”

“Honestly? I need the money. I can’t lose this job. So, one. I’m taking one risk. Is that okay with you?”

This guy is so damn smooth. Eh, it’s probably just the alcohol hitting me already.

“Okay. Peter, was it? Peter?”

“Yep.”

“Give me something to write on.”

He reaches down behind the bar and hands me a small square napkin. I pull a pen out of my purse and write my phone number down. He smiles.

“How many men do you give your phone number to?”

“Honestly? I don’t need the attention. I’m not a whore. So, one. I’m taking one risk. Is that okay with you?”

I can tell he’s surprised by my comeback. Surprised and impressed.

“I like it.” He folds the napkin up and sticks it into his apron pocket. “I’ll text you, Kara.”

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