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The train ride was anything but smooth, but then again, when was it ever?

Cass exited the station and smoothed what little hair she had. Even though her head was shaved, she still felt the need to put it in place.

She trotted the block to the bar, hoping to get there quickly without working up even more of a sweat then she had in the subway. She was nearly twenty minutes late and she feared that Ari would dip before she could get there. Luckily, she knew the area like the back of her hand after years of drunken bar hopping in college and some work she had done back then too.

She descended the nearly hidden stairs that led to Antler Beer and Distillery off Allen Street. It was a quiet bar with a cozy, wine cellar aesthetic. Cass thought Ari might enjoy its more upscale feel but Cass was thrilled by the relatively reasonable prices.

As she entered the bar, she immediately scanned for Ari. She wasn’t sure if Ari would’ve changed or come straight from work.

Her eyes crawled up the bar, stopping on Ari: now with her hair loose and wavy. It trailed down her shoulders and led Cass’s eyes down her back. She could tell she was muscular even under her shirt.

Taking a deep breath, Cass made her way over to Ari and slid into the bar stool next to hers.

“So, you do wear jeans…” Cass said as she looked down at Ari’s crossed legs, “I guess you can be casual.”

Ari raised her brows at Cass and took a drink, “You’re lucky I hadn’t finished this sooner. I was going to leave.”

Cass leaned in, smelling the whiskey sour on Ari’s breath, “But, we both know you wouldn’t have.”

Her face flushed at the attention.

“What exactly did you have in mind?” Ari said, her voice shifting to negotiation.

To uncross those legs and taste you, Cass thought before she could stop herself.

Cass smirked, “I think we could help each other. We both need a partner for one reason or another. If we just play along, pretend to be what everyone thinks we are anyway, we both get out of a sticky situation.”

“And what happens after that?” Ari questioned.

“Well, we can say it fizzled out. Or we’ll both find people we’re actually interested in and bring them next time,” Cass offered.

The bartender approached and asked, “What can I get going for you?”

“I’ll have what she’s having,” Cass said with a smile, “Thank you.”

Ari shook her head, “How would we even pretend to date? Is the story that we’re in love, is it casual?”

“That’s the part you might not like,” Cass admitted as she took the freshly made drink from the bartender.

Tilting her head, Ari polished off her drink.

“We might have to… actually get to know each other,” Cass said, clasping her mouth as the words left her mouth.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re quite pushy?” Ari asked.

Cass nodded, “Often. Has anyone ever told you that you’re rude?”

Ari thought for a moment, sneaking a glance at Cass as she considered her options. Cass, wanting Ari to notice what she offered, positioned her body for Ari’s gaze, lifting her shoulder and pushing her chest towards Ari.

“They have, but I think most people can’t handle honesty,” Ari countered as she finally gave in and turned toward Cass.

“I love honesty, even if it hurts,” Cass said, taking advantage of the chance to examine Ari, who squirmed under her gaze.

Cass could sense something in her… an untapped authority that a part of Cass thought she might be able to get out of her.

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