Whiskey Nights

by Fabiola Francisco

  “Hey Beth.” He smiles at me genuinely.

  “Hey.” I try to be nice and return the smile.

  “You want a beer, Sav?”

  “Yes, please!”

  “How about you Beth, you want whiskey? What kind?”

  “Any kind will do. Jim, Jack, Jameson, I don’t discriminate as long as it’s whiskey.”

  “You got a thing for the letter J?” His mischievous smile annoys me. Motherfucker.

  “Only for a few,” I respond, arching my eyebrow.

  Savannah looks between the two of us shaking her head and asking Jake how he’s been. While they catch up, I sip my drink and look around the bar while listening to the music playing. A guy in the corner catches my eye and he lifts his glass in a silent cheer before taking a drink. I smile nicely and keep looking around.

  “Beth, how’s your drink?” Jake’s voice brings my attention back to the bar.

  “Perfect. Thanks.”

  “Sure thing. Things are good at the bakery?” he asks.

  “Yeah. We’re busy everyday. I can’t let Savannah down.” I bump my shoulder with hers.

  “As if you ever could.” She half hugs me. “Atlanta is growing on me and I love having Em nearby, but I miss you guys. You should visit soon!”

  “I’ll try. I already promised I’ll make it up there for the grand opening,” Jake tells her.

  “Yes! Beth you need to come up for that too! You can carpool with Jake. The drive isn’t bad.” Savannah’s excitement bounces off of her. I’m not worried about the distance. Any time alone with Jake would be sweet torture with how he has consumed my thoughts lately.

  “I’ll see what I can do. Who would I leave in charge of the bakery?”

  “Lacy. She’ll be fine for a few days,” Savannah responds, and I smile at her laid back attitude. It wasn’t that long ago she wouldn’t take one Saturday off to enjoy herself without thinking the bakery would burn up in flames.

  “I’m so happy to see you more relaxed,” I tease.

  “Oh shush! I am happy and things are going perfectly, so no need to stress.”

  “Cheers to that,” I clink my glass to her bottle and we drink.

  “We’ll make it up there,” Jake promises, and I eye him suspiciously.

  “Great—” Savannah’s phone starts singing a country song, and she looks at the caller ID excitedly. “It’s Parker! I’ll be right back.” She answers the phone as she walks outside to talk to him.

  I grin awkwardly at Jake who is smiling like a fool while I finish my drink.

  “Want another one?”

  “Yes.” I breathe in deeply and try to avoid his eyes. Jake chuckles and moves to fix my drink while I regain my composure. All I can think about while I sit here waiting is that five-second kiss we shared. Dude, let it go.

  “Here you go.” Jake hands me my glass, our fingers brushing and he leans over the bar. “Do you still think about that kiss the way I do?” His voice is lower, huskier than before, and his face is inches from mine. Seconds pass by and I stare at him while my heart races out of my chest. I can lie or be honest. The question is, is he fucking around with me or serious. I can’t tell.

  “Don’t fuck with me, Jake,” I spit at him. Choosing neither option, bitch mode takes over.

  “I’m not fucking with you, Beth.”

  Before I can question him, he moves away and pretends he is drying a glass. Confused, I just stare at him.

  “Sorry about that.” Savannah takes her seat again, and I understand his distance. He doesn’t want anyone to know either. Well, that doesn’t help the situation. Is he ashamed of what happened and lying that he can’t get it out of his mind? Or does he want to keep it between us until we discuss what happened months ago? Man, we’re pathetic.

  “It’s okay,” I respond. “How’s Parker?”

  “He’s great. They won their game tonight and he was telling me about it. I’ll call him later. He says hi. Jake, he mentioned something about losing a bet.”

  Jake laughs and shakes his head. “No way, I’ll call him tomorrow.” Savannah and I look at each other and shrug. Who knows what bet those two came up with?

  Savannah and I leave an hour later and hop in my car. “Spill it!” Savannah says as soon as her door closes.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I saw you two. You can’t fool me, Beth. What’s going on?”

  “What are you talking about?” I repeat myself trying my best to pretend that I think she’s lost her mind.

  “Before I walked back into the bar after talking to Parker, I saw you two up close and personal. Jake wasn’t just handing you a drink. And that comment about you having a thing for J’s, not excellent at hiding it.”

  “You’re crazy.” I’ll admit my response isn’t the best one, but I have no idea what else to say.

  “What happened?” Savannah softens her voice and looks at me sympathetically. She knows how much I hate getting hung up on a guy.

  I slump my shoulders and focus on the road. “We kissed.”

  “What? When? Why did you not tell me?” I cringe at her reaction.

  “New Year’s Eve,” I give her a sideways glance waiting for the explosion.

  “That was in December!”

  “Yes, Sav, New Year’s Eve is usually in December. You know, when one year ends and the other begins.”

  “Don’t give me your sass now, Beth. Why didn’t you tell me?” I see the hurt in her eyes.

  “Sorry, babe, I didn’t tell anyone. It was right after the countdown, and I had closed my eyes a second to breathe in the New Year and I felt lips on mine. It was so fast, but I’ve been hung up on it ever since. You know I hate that. Jake is such a cocky asshole.”

  “You know he’s not an asshole. So he just kissed you? Then what?”

  “Nothing! He walked away and that’s it. I’ve been avoiding him ever since and trying to control my emotions. I’m not sure why he did it and tonight he told me he’s still thinking about it, which I doubt because he’s probably found someone else to entertain him.”

  “Beth . . .” Savannah looks at me seriously. “I told you Jake isn’t like that. I also wasn’t lying when I said I think he actually likes you. He’d always ask me to bring you with me when I would go to Southern. Yes, he’s a flirt but mostly with you. So what did you tell him when he said he’s been thinking about the kiss?”

  “I told him not to fuck with me and he said he wasn’t. Then, you appeared and we didn’t finish our conversation.”

  “Oh my God! You need to finish that convo! How amazing would it be if you two got together?”

  “Calm down, Sav. It was one kiss, with no tongue. Five seconds max.”

  “Yet you’re still hung up on it,” she points out.

  “Well, you know I’ve been going through a dry spell. Anyone would be.”

  “That guy you dated a while back didn’t get you all worked up with his kiss.”

  “He sucked! Literally, he sucked my lips like some kind of fish. It was definitely not the good kind of sucking.”

  Savannah laughs loudly, and I roll my eyes but laugh with her. “It was terrible,” I emphasize.

  “Jake and Beth,” Savannah says thoughtfully. “I can see it.”

  “Stop trying to see it. You’re going to add to my obsession.”

  “Obsession, huh? Thought you didn’t care.”

  “Why did you come to Tuscaloosa?”

  “Because you miss me!” We both laugh, and I agree.

  I do miss her, but I don’t want to think about Jake anymore. I am curious about his comment. He wasn’t fucking with me. So what? Is he really hung up on the kiss the way I am? Is he waiting for me to come around? I have been avoiding Southern all together so maybe he found his chance tonight. Why didn’t he say anything the other night when he ran into me by the bathroom? Why do I have so many questions when I keep telling myself I don’t care?

  I need to sleep.

  I drop Savannah off at Car
oline’s house and we make plans for lunch tomorrow. She’ll be at the bakery in the morning, and we’ll grab a bite to eat from there. I needed girl time more than I realized.

  I yawn as Savannah gives me detailed plans about the bakery she’s opening in Georgia. She decided to name it Sweet on You, and I approve of the name. It’s perfect.

  “Am I boring you?” She smiles at me with raised eyebrows.

  “No, sorry,” I stifle another yawn, and she laughs. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

  “Was your mind busy with thoughts of someone?” she mocks me, and I hate her now that she’s happy in love and can tease me about this.

  “No!” I roll my eyes like she’s crazy. Okay, I don’t hate her for being happy in love. I love her and am so happy for her, but she used to be my anti-love pal. Now I’m all alone to deal with this, and I’m not sure what this is. Do I have feelings for Jake? No, that can’t be it.

  “I don’t even know what I think about his kiss. I’m so torn up about it, and it’s so not like me. You know I don’t put up with BS.”

  “Well, you haven’t been putting up with bullshit. You just haven’t been putting up with anything. Remember when you told me to go live my life and have fun?”

  I stare at my reflection on her sunglasses, while the sun shines down on me in the outdoor sitting area of the small café we came to for lunch. I take a sip of my sweet tea and digest what she’s saying. I see the truth in my reflection.

  “I do remember that. I guess you’re right. I haven’t put up with bullshit because I’ve been avoiding the possibility of it. I guess I’ve been avoiding a rejection of sorts. I usually don’t care about this crap. It was a simple kiss. I just can’t help but wonder why I’m so hung up on it.”

  “Well, for starters, these southern guys can kiss. Secondly, whether you want to admit it or not, the tension has been building between you and Jake for a long time now. You act indifferent and sarcastic, and he flirts with you endlessly. It’s part of your routine. You both like it.” She says this so matter of fact that I begin to wonder if she’s right.

  “Huh.” I nod, lost in my thoughts. Have I always enjoyed Jake’s flirting and dismissed it as annoying because I think I’m a hard ass? “I am curious if he meant what he said last night.”

  “I think you should find out. I’m sure you have some wicked ways to get it out of him.”

  “You’re terrible!” We both laugh and continue with our conversation as my mind secretly wanders to the dark side, where I demand Jake tell me what he really thinks about the kiss by tying him up and . . . Snap out of it, Beth! This dry spell is taking a toll on me.

  As we leave the café, Savannah tells me she’s having supper with Caroline, her grandmother, but we make plans to go out tomorrow evening since I don’t have to wake up early on Sunday. Maybe then I’ll be able to talk to Jake. My stomach flutters at the thought of seeing him again, and that is a new sensation. I shake it off and go back to the bakery before heading home.

  Needing some time to myself to clear my mind, I change once I get home and drive to my local yoga studio for a much-needed class.

  Feeling much more relaxed and confident after yoga, I jump in my car and check my phone. I cringe when I see a text message from my mom. It’s been a while since I’ve gone to visit them, and I know it is time to make a trip over to see them. I send her a quick response accepting her invitation to supper and go home to shower and change. Family time will be good, only if they don’t ask me about my dating status.

  “Do you want another glass of wine?” I look up at my dad’s brown eyes and smile.

  “Yes, daddy. Thanks.” I’ll admit I’m a total daddy’s girl.

  “Anything for my girl. How’s the bakery?” My dad’s smile deepens.

  “It’s good. Things are going really well. You know spring is always a busy time. Savannah is here for a few days, so she’s been coming by and we’ve been hanging out.”

  “That’s wonderful, darlin.’ I’m glad she’s making the time to come back and see her friends and family,” my mom says smiling.

  “It is, momma. How’s work?”

  “Good. I started reading The Scarlet Letter with my class. It will be interesting to see how these high school students interpret the story and to hear their opinions with the mentality of today’s society.”

  “Ha! That should be interesting. You should show them the movie Easy A afterwards. They can compare the themes from two different societies and beliefs.”

  “That’s actually a good idea. You sure you don’t want to teach?” my mom teases me. I make a disgusted face and shake my head. She laughs knowing very well that teaching was never an option for me. I admire her career choice, but I definitely did not want to deal with children all day. I love the freedom of baking and creating treats people enjoy. Savannah and I bonded quickly over that passion.

  After some delicious peach cobbler, I say goodbye to my parents and go home happy that neither pestered me about relationships. I love my parents but ever since my brother started having children, I was expected to follow right behind him. I just haven’t found Mr. Right, and I’m tired of dealing with Mr. Right Now.

  I walk into the bakery more relaxed and rested than I was yesterday and begin to prepare the pastries for the day. Lacy and I get lost in conversation while we cook, and I tell her to join us tonight at Southern for some girl time with Savannah. It will be nice for the three of us to get together outside of work and hang.

  Savannah comes in mid morning and catches up with the other employees and our usual customers. They ask her about Georgia and Parker, and I smile seeing how happy she is. Maybe I should sign up for online dating so I can meet a hot guy randomly. Ha! I wouldn’t last half a day. I don’t know how she put up with that.

  Once I close up shop, I go for another round of yoga. I love the feel of being on the mat away from the world and just allowing my heart and body to flow through the movements. This really does keep me sane. I chat with a few people at the end of class before I go home to hit the shower. I’m ready to go out tonight and just have fun.

  The music is pumping in Southern, and Savannah, Lacy and I have been enjoying our first round of drinks while having girl talk and people watching. The bar is full so I haven’t had to purposely avoid Jake, or put up a front about not caring about his interest in me.

  “So Lacy, how are things with you? Have you met anyone?” Savannah asks.

  “Ugh! No. Dating sucks, I’m over it. I’m going to live as a spinster and work at your bakery until I die.” We all laugh.

  “Not true! You’ll meet someone. I’m sure some hot chick will walk into your life and sweep you off your feet.”

  “Savannah, you have become a true romantic. I’m impressed,” I tease her.

  “Whatever! It could happen to you,” she raises her eyebrows, “if you let it.”

  Lacy looks between the two of us with suspicion in her eyes, “What the hell is going on?”

  “Nothing. She’s talking crap. So, about your love life?” When I first met Lacy, I wouldn’t have guessed she was into girls, but she has definitely kept things interesting with her stories.

  “Nice try. Spill it. Something’s going on.”

  Savannah cocks an eyebrow, and I scowl at her.

  “You ladies need another round?” Just who I needed to appear at that moment!

  “I do.” I hand him my empty glass.

  “Three times in one week. If I didn’t know you liked whiskey so much, I’d almost think you were here to see me,” Jake jokes, and I clench my jaw.

  “Don’t flatter yourself,” I shoot back and the tension is obvious.

  “You do it for me.” He walks over to fix my drink and hands it back with a wink.

  “Oh my god!” Lacy squeals.

  “What—”

  “You! And,” she points at Jake. “Something is going on, isn’t it?”

  “You’re crazy! Why the hell would you think that?”

 
“It is! Am I right, Sav?! The other day we were here and you didn’t want to sit at the bar. It was odd, but I let it slide. Then, I brought him up in conversation just to tease you and you totally blushed. Holy shit! What happened?”

  I roll my eyes and look away from her, silently praying that she drops it. When she doesn’t, I give her a brief explanation.

  “You should totally go for it! I already told you he’s hot.”

  Savannah laughs. “If Lacy thinks he’s hot, then you know he totally is. I told her the same thing.”

  As I try to change the direction of this conversation, “Sweet Home Alabama” comes blasting through the speakers. I thank the heavens for cuing the music at that moment. Savannah drags us onto the dance floor to line dance. I love dancing, but Savannah is in a league of her own.

  Three songs in, Savannah is still going strong, Lacy is talking to some friends she ran into, and I need another drink. Pushing my way back towards our saved seats, I sit back down and wave down a bartender.

  “What can I get ya?” Slightly disappointed Jake isn’t the one serving me, I order a Kentucky Mule.

  “I got it, Dave.” Jake winks at me. “I know how she likes it.”

  I take in a deep breath trying not to picture just how I would like it with him and say, “Don’t ya wish you knew.”

  “I’ve got an idea or two.”

  I notice Dave shake his head and pat Jake on the shoulder. He leaves him to fix my drink.

  “Here you go darlin.’”

  “Jake . . .” I warn.

  “You shoot me down every time, but one day you’ll realize I’m not all talk. Until then, I’ll just have to fantasize about that brief kiss. Or you can give me another one to make the memory sweeter.” His face is inches from mine, and I feel my breath catch in my ribcage.

  “You’re such a flirt. You wouldn’t know what else to do if I gave you the chance.”

  “Trust me, I’d know plenty.” I watch his jaw clench and his arms flex under his t-shirt, a piece of his tattoo peeking from underneath the sleeve. What I’d do to see the entire thing. His baby blues are staring at me intently, and I squirm involuntarily. He smiles at my reaction and I curse at myself. So much for not letting him get to me.