Pretty Drinks
1292 Words
How could she leave her best friend?!
Elizabeth took a seat at the bar’s area beside some other drinkers. Some who were already on the verge of being wasted? She clicked her tongue, was she a heavy drinker? She sighed and rested her elbows on the counter top. She’s been used to being the one lugging Alice around when she was pissed. But the occasional drink wouldn’t hurt her right?
“Hey,” she looked up to see a familiar countenance. A boyish grin appeared on the man’s face, “Your friend doing better?” he went from the counter to the shelves and getting some bottles and glasses.
A tiny smile formed on her lips, “Yeah, thank you for your help.”
“It is a pleasure to help you- and your friend.” The bartender chuckled as he poured what appeared as dark chocolate syrup into the container and shook it, “Is there anything else I can whip you up Miss? Would you like a chocolate martini?”
Chocolate sounded like a treat.
“Is there something you’d recommend though?” her own eyes met his. His eyes widened for a fraction before he grinned.
“How about a piñita colada?” His eyes were iridescent green underneath the bar’s lights. His grin showed off dimples.
“Isn’t that a piña colada?” Her gaze hardened on the man, “Rum is very strong.” Was that what he was serving to Alice? It was no surprise that she got drunk. Can she blame him though? The man probably just did his job or ogled too much at her friend. She frowned slightly at that thought. Men.
“It’s not going to be strong.” The bartender told her with a smile, “I’ll even give you some crisps on the house.” He winked at her as he poured down the chocolate concoction into a martini glass and gave it to one of the guests.
“Those crisps better be worth it.” Liz’s lips tilted up a bit, she could hold her alcohol right?
“Right on it ma’am.” The bartender returned to his mixing station, his back turned towards her. She blushed slightly, the muscles on his back was something no bartender could have gotten from shaking drinks right? Her eyes shifted lower and immediately looked up. If he wore something else, she would have assumed he was a dancer.
“Here we go.” It was placed in front of her. The frothy and fruity drink filled up in a slender glass. “Piñita colada for the lovely lady.”
She raised a brow at the expectant man, “Hmm?” her fingers pushed back some of her locks behind an ear.
He laughed and returned with a basket of crisps, “With crisps on the house. I hope it is to her tastes?”
“Much better Mister Bartender”
“It’s James.” The man corrected with a flourish of a bow. Elizabeth stopped a giggle, this man was ridiculous. “And you are?” he lifted a brow but smiled, with that awful dimples.
“Elizabeth, but my best friend calls me Lizzie.”
“Ah, how befitting of a lady.” He rubbed his chin, it was smooth. What a baby face. He must be younger than her or took great time with his look.
“You’re quite a flirt aren’t you?” She raised a brow in defiance.
“Only to those that capture my attention.” He immediately diffused her.
“I assume you’ve tried to hit on my friend then?” It had happened, boys be nice to her to try to get Alice's attention.
“W-what? Not at all. She was cute but not my type.”
She raised a brow, “Is that so?”
“I prefer brunettes over blondes.”
“You must love looking at the mirror huh?”
He chuckled, “Ah, please, I’m not a narcissus.” The man waved off a hand and bowed before heading over to take another person’s order.
Elizabeth decided to take a sip of her drink, it was like any piña colada. The tangent taste of pineapple, the sweetness of coconut milk and it was pure. She continued to slurp and only stopped to take a few crisps into her mouth.
Salty and sweet
She must have grossed out some other people with her ordeal but she was satisfied.
“Are you happy with the meal?” The bartender returned with a sheepish smile, it must have been little less than an hour.
“There’s no alcohol in it.” She frowned and eyed him with distrust, “It’s not one of those that kicks you late right?”
“Piñita colada also known as the virgin version of the Piña colada.”
“How nice, I got duped.” She shook her head, “You could have just gotten me a juice box.”
“Ah would you have preferred that? I could go running to a convenience store.”
She smirked and shook her head, “I could have gone by myself, now how much for the drinks and crisps?”
“It’s on the house.”
“I can pay.”
“Seriously, it’s on the house.”
She fell silent for a moment, “The bride and groom are paying for everything?”
“Yep.”
“Of course, Elizabeth.” She smacked a hand on her face, “Why wouldn’t they rent the entire hotel too?” She got too caught up with the man.
“You’re adorable you know?” the bartender chuckled and swiped his hand across the counter top, removing the glass and empty basket of crisps. They locked gazes for a moment before he moved away. He sashayed to the next empty glasses to capture. He knew he had a good behind.
“That’s not going to gain you any brownie points.”
“I only speak from the heart.”
They’re minds were on two different matters.
She sighed and wanted to take her phone out. They had some light flirting here and there but the man was really busy with drinkers coming and going. She was on her third glass of ‘Piñita colada’ by now and he hadn’t slowed down at all. Maybe this work could be a work-out for him as well, his body fluid as he took orders, cleaned counters and made drinks.
“Hey there stranger,” she looked up to the bartender’s tired smile. “You free to go to the dance floor?”
“Aren’t you working?”
“Shift’s over. This guy is a new worker.” He thumbed another brunet guy, he wore dark slacks and white sleeves. The man crossed his arms over his chest and stood in the bar station, could he really be able to serve the guests with that attitude? “I think he’ll do great. Us brunets are pretty smart you know?”
“Really?” Her brows raised as the man offered her a silly grin. He wasn’t serious was he?
“Yeah, don’t worry too much. Fred is coming over too, he’s a veteran.”
A smile crossed her lips, this man was nuts, "Prefer to dance somewhere more private?"
- Writer
