Page 4 of The Wisdom of Bug

“Hey, Pen, good to see you too,” she replied when they reached the bar. Penny was already mixing something up for the two women. There wasn’t a single time Evelyn had ordered a specific drink. Penny knew what her customers wanted before they did.

“Feels like a Sidecar kind of day to me,” Penny said, sliding the drinks toward Evelyn and Maggie. “So, Evie, what’s kept you away for so long?”

“Work.” Evelyn was too busy guzzling her drink to elaborate. Penny nodded and moved to serve a couple of women further down the bar.

“So,” Maggie began. “I should say sorry for this morning. Talking about Mindy like that.”

“Should?”

“Okay, I want to. It’s none of my business. But—”

“Apologies with a ‘but’ in them aren’t really apologies, Maggie.”

“You’re right. I was just going to say that I want you to be happy, that’s all. I know things are hard at work right now. I just don’t want you settling for someone because it’s easier than being alone.”

Oof, that was a sucker punch to Evelyn’s heart.

“I’m not settling,” she argued, albeit weakly.

“Really?” Maggie’s soft, understanding voice almost unravelled her.

Throwing the rest of her drink down her throat, Evelyn sighed. She’d never kept things from Maggie, and she wasn’t going to start now.

“I think Mindy cheated on me last night.” The more Evelyn thought about last night, the more obvious it became. Mindy’s lips were swollen, the kind of swollen that only happened after a hot make-out session.

“Why do you think that?”

“When she came to bed last night, I could see her lips were red and swollen. Like she’d been kissing.”

“Did you ask her?”

“Nope, she passed out and imitated a freight train. I haven’t heard from her today either.”

“That little hussy!” Maggie frowned, slamming her hand on the bar.

“Calm down,” Evelyn laughed.

“Calm down? Seriously?”

“Mags, I don’t know for sure.”

“Um…” Evelyn watched Maggie’s face pale, and her eyes grow wide. Turning to follow Maggie’s gaze—which was lasered on something over Evelyn’s shoulder—Evelyn watched as her girlfriend leaned in and kissed a very busty redhead. Mindy’s hand was caressing the woman’s hip, while the other grabbed her arse.

“Well, at least I know now,” Evelyn muttered.

“I’ll kill her,” Maggie hissed. Evelyn reached out to stop Maggie from marching over to Mindy, but she was too late. “Oi,” Maggie shouted.

Well, so much for a night out. They’d be spending their evening in the local police station if Evelyn didn’t get Maggie out of there. Disregarding the mortified face plastered on Mindy, Evelyn grabbed Maggie by the arm and dragged her out of the pub.

“She’s not worth it, Mags.” Sure, Evelyn was pissed, but she wasn’t exactly devastated.

“Evie!” Maggie protested, straining to turn back.

“No, Maggie. Enough. Come on, I want to go to Bargain Booze, grab a bottle or two of wine and drown my sorrows. It’s my prerogative and, as my best friend, you have to support that.”

“Fine, but I’m cutting all her thongs in half,” Maggie stated.

Evelyn laughed. “Deal.”