Page 73 of Make or Break

A woman in her late thirties, maybe early forties sat down at the bar a few stools away from Duane. I put a glass of ice water on a coaster in front of her. “I’m Mickayla. What can I get for you?”

She stared at me a beat too long. “Sorry. That’s an interesting name, I’ve never met anyone named Mickayla. I’ll have an appletini.”

“Coming right up.”

While I mixed the cocktail, Alexandra came in with Jasmine and Ivy. The three of them settled on the side of the rectangular bar opposite Duane. “I’ll be right with you ladies.”

I poured the drink into a martini glass, garnished it with an apple slice, and took it to the dark-haired woman.

She thanked me while keeping her eyes on the menu.

“I’ll be right back,” I said.

I wandered over to Duane. “Another beer?”

He twisted his lips to the side. “Why not? And a bowl of chili, Miss Mickayla.”

I got him a beer and entered his order into the system.

After a nod at Alexandra, I went back to my new customer. “Have you decided on some food?”

She looked up and gave me her food order.

“That’ll be out shortly,” I said.

“Is it happy hour?” she asked.

I offered her a small smile. “Unfortunately, no. We only offer two-for-one drinks on Sunday during brunch.”

Alexandra caught my eye while I stood at the POS machine. “We’re having the nachos and a bucket of Blue Moon. A club soda for Jasmine.”

“Got it,” I said, starting their tab.

I put their drinks in front of them and leaned against the bar. “What’s the occasion?”

“Fishing expedition,” Jasmine said.

My head reared back. “About what?”

Alexandra’s hazel eyes twinkled with her grin. “Your new boyfriend.”

I shook my head. “There’s nothing to report because I don’t have one.”

Ivy narrowed her green eyes. “You haven’t been seeing someone?”

Jasmine shot Ivy a look. “Or did she cut him loose? She knows exactly what she wants, which makes things more challenging for her.”

“Does it though?” I asked.

Alexandra scoffed. “You cut guys loose faster than I change songs in the car.”

I laughed. “Not that fast!”

Ivy shrugged. “As the business gurus say, success comes from failing faster.”

Jasmine tucked a lock of her dark brown hair behind her ear and picked up her club soda. “You certainly decide a date’s a fail way faster than the rest of us.”

A bell dinged and I saw three orders up on the pass-through counter. “I’ll be back.”