“Another,” I slurred while raising my hand to attract the barman’s attention.
“Ma’am, don’t you think you’ve had enough?” He asked with concern in his voice as he took away the empty glass that was in front of me.
I gave him a withering look. “I’m old enough to know when I’ve had enough but not old enough that you should be calling me ma’am!”
He must have gotten the message I was trying to deliver as he sat down another glass and poured in an excessive amount of whiskey.
I may have put up a brave face at the prospect of being cut off, but the bartender’s soft reprimand had made me self-conscious. Afraid I had made a scene; I looked around the horseshoe bar trying to notice if anyone was watching me. Quit being paranoid Sara? At this late hour, no one cares what you’re doing. Everyone that hasn’t hooked up and left is drunker than you are.
Suddenly, a much too perky voice rang out from behind me. “Sara? Sara Curtis is that you?”
Ugh, I was so hoping that no one would recognize me; I thought but what came out of my mouth was “Heather long time no see.”
“I know, I know,” the perky blond waif said as she sat on the stool next to me. “I’ve practically been M.I.A. since I started dating Max. He’s such a great guy. And the sex is… Well, if he weren’t on a business trip right now I would be home getting my bell rung.”
Heather then raised a hand to get the bartender’s attention. “Cosmopolitan, please.” She ordered as though she was exhausted and the only thing that could revive her was a fruity vodka drink. “So what are you doing here alone, dressed up, and drinking whiskey straight?”
I picked up my glass of Jameson and stared at the amber liquid intently. If only the answer were written on the bottom of this drink. Oh well, bottoms up. I gave the whiskey a swirl before downing it in one gulp. “Another,” I barked as I pushed the cup toward the bartender.
“Had a Tindr date. Guy seemed nice when we messaged back and forth. He was supposed to meet me at seven but never showed,” I said relaying the story as I gave the slow bartender the evil eye.
“His loss,” Heather replied as the barkeep finally refilled my glass. “But that doesn’t explain why you’re still here at a quarter past ten getting sloshed.” Heather then stirred the straw in her Cosmo before taking a sip. “Ah yeah, that’s the good stuff. Don’t tell me you couldn’t stand to be in your big empty apartment all alone.”
I picked up my newly refreshed drink and smiled at it like it was a man across the bar that I found interesting. “If my apartment were empty I would be there in pj’s eating rocky road straight from the carton. But it’s currently occupied by my son.”
“Your son? I thought you only had him during holiday breaks?” Heather mused as she finished off her cocktail.
“Not anymore. He lives with me now. He wants to go to Washington State. His dad and I decided it would be best if he moved out here to get acclimated to the area. But I think my cheapo Ex just wants to make sure he qualifies for in-state tuition,” I said before killing my latest drink of whiskey. “Anyway he and that girl Laura he’s been seeing were going out on their six month anniversary, and he was going to bring her back to my place after dinner. I’m trying to be the cool mom and let him have his space.”