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I nodded, wiping my palms on the skirt of my dress. “Okay.”

Now I had to get my heart to slow the hell down and remind my body that it didn’t need to be doing all of that. So much drama.

Using my calming techniques, I slowed my breathing and counted in my head while Reid buzzed around the bar making my drink, ducking around the other bartenders to get what she needed. You could see how her dance training had actually prepared her to pivot behind a crowded bar. All of that balancing on her pointe shoes translated to her balancing shots and carrying them to thirsty customers.

Reid returned with my drink and it had cherries in it and was pink under the lights.

“It’s kind of like what I made the other night, but this one is alcoholic,” she explained, pushing it toward me. “If you hate it, I’ll make you something else.”

I took a cautious sip and closed my eyes as the flavors burst on my tongue. Ohhhh, it was delicious. Just what I wanted.

“Good?” Reid asked as I sucked on the straw.

“So good,” I said with a nod. I pulled my card out of my coat pocket, but she waved me off. “You get the friends and family discount. First drink is free.”

She winked again and then waved before she headed off to serve someone else. I stood there for a few more minutes, carefully sipping my drink and watching Reid. Even though she was smiling, there was a tightness to it that I hadn’t seen before. Anyone else wouldn’t have noticed it unless they’d spent some time with her outside of Sapph.

She was putting on a show and it had to take a toll on her. No wonder she was so tired. Reid raced around the bar with a smile plastered on her face and had to listen while everyone talked at her and demanded things. I had no doubt that later in the night things could get rowdy and people could get ruder as the alcohol flowed.

This Reid was so at odds with the person I knew. The one who loved chocolate and books and reading and fanfic and seemed happy to lounge with me and let me jabber about anything. There was a confidence to her here. A sureness that she’d been doing this for a while, and she was comfortable with it to an extent. But I saw the strain.

I didn’t want to poke at any touchy subjects, but this didn’t seem like the right job for her. Or at least it didn’t seem like it should be her primary job. Maybe if she cut back, it wouldn’t drain her so much.

Someone jostled me and I nearly dumped my drink down someone else’s back. Everyone apologized and laughed, and it was very cordial. The person I’d almost spilled the drink on gave me a slow once over. Oh. This dress was working some magic.

“You’re new,” she said, giving me a slow smile. Her hair was cut short and she wore jeans and a tight T-shirt that showed off toned arms.

Larison and I had spent a significant portion of time trying to figure out what my “type” was, and as much as we’d talked about it, I had decided “I don’t know.” Attraction was still so new for me that it was almost like my brain just ignored it or categorized it as something else. Looking back, I discovered that I’d told myself that any attraction was admiration. Or jealousy. Or some other emotion.

Now that I knew what it was, I was still figuring it out. But this stranger was cute, I’d give her that. She had a sharp jaw and a crooked smile that made my blood rush in my head.

“Uh yeah, this is my first time here,” I said, hating how squeaky my voice sounded.

“And what do you think?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.

“I’ve never been to a queer bar before. I, um, just came out a few months ago. I’m a lesbian.” I said and then almost choked on my straw as I tried to sip and cover my babbling.

That was too much, but I couldn’t take it back.

Instead of giving me a weird look, she smiled.

“You’re cute as hell. I’m Jamie.”

“Sophie,” I said.

“Well, Sophie, do you think I could buy you a second drink? Or maybe we could have a dance?” There was an area of the bar where people were dancing and moving together. I definitely wasn’t ready for that yet.

“Um, I think I’m good for tonight. But maybe another night?” I didn’t want her to feel bad.

“Aw, you’re breaking my heart,” she said, holding one hand up to her chest.

“I’m sorry,” I said immediately, but she laughed.

“Don’t worry about it, gorgeous. Hopefully we’ll meet again.”

She stepped around me and melted into the crowd.

I’d done it! I’d talked to another queer woman in a queer bar and I hadn’t embarrassed myself too badly. That hadn’t even been in my plan for tonight, but I went with it and survived.