Page 123 of Soft Launch

“Sort of.”

“No way. You ever meet anyone famous?”

I shook my head. “Where are you from? Your accent reminds me of where I grew up.”

“Just outside of New Orleans. How about you?”

“Virginia.”

“A Southern gal in the city! I dig it.”

“How’d you end up in New York?” I asked. I genuinely missed the art of conversation. Especially without Charlie.

“I’m a playwright. Well, I’m trying to be. I studied theater at Tulane, then worked as a bartender in the French Quarter. I became something of a local celebrity there, and the owner of this bar poachedme. Convinced me I’d make more money in Manhattan and be closer to the theater action.”

“How’d you become a local celebrity?”

“You’ll laugh.”

“I promise not to.”

“I got pretty famous for my pisco sour, and the Food Network did a segment on me forBartender Battles.”

“That’s amazing. Can you make one here?”

“We’re mostly a wine bar, but I keep all the ingredients handy in case anyone recognizes me.” He winked.

“Now I can say I’ve met someone famous. Can you make me one?”

“If you let me put in a panini. Not to overstep, but you’re a wispy little thing.”

I laughed. “Okay. One panini, please.”

I learned that Pete was working on a revival ofThe Three Musketeers, only with two women and a transgender D’Artagnan. It was up for a slot at the prestigious St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, a feeder for shows that eventually swept the Tonys.

“Now you know everything there is to know about me. How come you’re here talking to me on a blustery Friday afternoon?”

“Isn’t that what New York is all about? Popping into a bar by yourself and meeting a celebrity bartender on his way to becoming the next big playwright?”

“Sure. You just seemed on a mission there with that bottle of wine.”

“You’re not wrong.”

I watched him chop lemon wedges as I mentally replayed everything that had brought me to Pete’s bar.

Reliving the last time I’d seen Charlie made my chest hurt.

“I hurt someone,” I said quietly.

“Did they deserve it?”

“No. Not even a little bit.”

“Did you apologize?”

“I didn’t get a chance to. He moved to help take care of his mom. Who has cancer.”

Pete winced. “You hurt the guy who moved home to take care of his sick mom?”