„Miss Roy, what can I do for you today?” He smiled his even smile. Smug bastard.
“How about a drink, then? The usual. I think we even got a house rule for that.” I pointed at the backboard on the wall.
“Very true. One drink minimum. And, of course, no motorised vehicle usage while inebriated. May I ask for your car keys?” HE held out the little basket of keys.
I merely turned my pockets inside out: “Nooo cars or bikes tonight. Just a lone woman trying to have a nice night out”
He nodded, put the basket back behind the counter and the tequila in front of me.
“Then I hope the friendly atmosphere of the house can provide you with such.” And he walked to serve the next customer.
Mrh.
After about ten minutes, the drink was gone and I called him over again: “Maybe I want to experiment a little bit tonight. Going a little bit deeper into the pub… so, what can you advise me?”
He put down the polished glass and arranged various bottles in front of me: “Since you are fond of tequila, I would advise on a mix with it. Of course I am not entirely knowledgeable of your taste palette, but I can offer… grapefruit or grapefruit soda, lime, blackberry, bell peppers, elderflower, strawberry fizz, rosemary and peach… there are quite a few variations”
“Mmmh, the strawberry fizz might be an interesting option.” It was the strangest, in some ways.
“As you wish, miss Roy,” and we went to mix, hands flying behind the counter.
“Ah, Corey is fine… it’s quite an impressive skill, mixing these drinks so fast , keeping all the recipes in your head.” I smiled at him.
He finished, put the sugared glass in front of me, put a bit of freshly cut mint in and said: “Enjoy, Corey” and vanished once again.
The last interaction repeated itself seven times. Seven drinks!
And it was all tequila. So I kind of slouched on the counter and looked up to him: “… don’t you notice I’m flirting with you?”
He sighed, just a tiny bit: “Well, yes, I do, Corey, yet, you have to understand this in my workplace. I will happily provide a friendly environment, but unfortunately, I won’t reciprocate”
“I bought driiiinks,” I huffed. Waving with money.
“As is the nature of pubs. And I thank you for your patronage.” He smiled and nodded again.
“And you’re so friendlyyyy.” Because he was. He was totally friendly. Just a smug bastard, too.
Another nod: “As it should be”
“And handsoooome” Because he was that, too.
That gave him pause for a second before he said: “Thank you”
“You flirted baaack” He totally did!
“I was merely hospitable, Miss Roy.” He had picked up a glass to polish again.
His voice really did a bit of a trick t calm one’s mind. A little reassuring, that.
“Good evening, Mr. Matthews… a sweet usual, please,” I said and settled in front of the bar.
He nodded and I watched him mix me a honeyed whiskey: “Well, Miss Stewart, it’s been some time since your last visit, I hope everything is in order?”
“… it sure is. But you know how it is, some… conversations are always hard. At some point in the relationship,” I sighed. He knew all about it, after all. Chatty as I had been.
“Mmmmmh,” his bass voice hummed, “… there are different conversations you could have, aren’t there?”
A smile tugged at my lips and I pulled some hair behind my ear: “… I wouldn’t… there are some things no human should know…”
There was a sidelong glance, but he nodded. And hummed again, then, placing the tumbler in front of me: “Enjoy, please”
I took a sip and let the liquid swirl in the glass, staring down at it. Almost golden.
“Adoption is always an option, you are aware?”
My head jerked up. He only stood there and polished a glass. Well, of course he would know.
“I suppose it is,” I took another sip.
There was a heavy sigh and sounds of mixing: “… it’s important to make the best of your time here. Even if that time ends at some point. It’s not pointless.” He placed a Virgin Colada with a tiny umbrella in front of me. In a plastic glass.
He huffed: “You can’t run away from home to avoid conversation, only to have one with *me*. And now hush, it’s to go, you know he loves you.”
Sheepishly, I grabbed the glass: “Thank you.”
He waved me towards the door.
And sure enough. There were other patrons in need of a pleasant voice.
