Page 3 of Best Wrong Thing

“Was. I finished in June.”

“I work in a bank.” I loosen my tie.

“Bad day at work?”

I shake my head. “It’s what happened after work that drove me in here.”

“It must have been bad.”

“More of an unwelcome surprise.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

I shrug. “It’s not your fault.”

He laughs. “That would be hard, considering I just met you.” He wanders away again.

For the next half an hour, a constant stream of customers keeps him occupied. He’s not the only bartender, but he is the only one I can’t keep my eyes off. He steals glances at me. Is he figuring out how to tell me to piss off?

He’s too young.

If he is twenty-one, he’s fourteen years younger than me. Will we have anything in common? Do we need anything in common to have fun? Will he even be interested in having fun?

“I guess your sorrows aren’t that bad,” Archer says once the rush dies.

“Why?”

He nods at my beer, which is three-quarters full. I’m doing a piss-poor job of getting drunk. “You haven’t drowned them yet.”

“Maybe I’m debating other ways to forget my woes.”Shut up.

He rests his forearms on the counter. “Oh?”

I shake my head. “Forget I said anything.”

“What if I don’t want to forget you said anything?”

Is he flirting with me? Am I flirting with him?

“What if I want to help cheer you up?”

Oh, fuck. I lean forward. “How would you do that?”

He chuckles. “You tell me. Have a think and let me know. I need to serve a customer.” He walks backwards towards the waiting customer, gives me a wink, and turns to give the woman his undivided attention.

I fan myself. Would he be flirting with me if he cared I’m older than him?

As he serves customers with an easy smile and brisk conversation, I trace shapes in the condensation on the glass. I’m no longer interested in drinking myself into oblivion. Besides, by this point, my beer is probably so warm it’s unpalatable.

“And here we are again.” He grabs a cloth and wipes the spotless counter.

I smile. “I haven’t moved. You’re the one who keeps coming and going.”

“Right? Work is such a bore.”

“You don’t enjoy it.”

“Oh, I love it. I get to meet lots of interesting people. Sometimes I even get to meet handsome men.”