Love Is Red by Sophie Jaff Read Free Book Online Page B

conversations going on around me.
    How does he get into their apartments?
    Gin and tonic.
    I’ll have two Stellas.
    Just a glass of water.
    What’s your name?
    Can I buy you a drink?
    I can’t tell you, I’ve never been so happy to have a roommate.
    I know, first time I was like “Thank God I’m poor!”
    We have a lovely Pinot Grigio for the lady.
    Yeah, that’s cool, and a pilsner for me.
    I think it’s a cop.
    They think he’s a locksmith.
    Mike, the bartender, puts down a glass of whiskey in front of me.
    I look up.
    â€œFrom that guy over there,” says Mike, aiming his head in the corner’s direction.
    I turn but I can’t see the guy he’s referring to. I steel myself to be nice, to be grateful, to make conversation, to talk about the invisible boyfriend I have, to explain why I’m drinking alone, to the “yes, this is my local bar,” and the “yes, I’m just thinking,” to the inevitable “yes, it has been a long day,” but I still can’t see who sent me the drink. I raise my glass in the general direction and hope that he’ll be satisfied with that.
    I take a sip and the sip is golden and burning and lovely. It tastes of peat and wood. It tastes expensive.
    â€œDo you like it?” He is next to me.
    â€œDavid!”
    He grins down at me. “You know, Katherine, you just have to stop stalking me. I mean I’m flattered, but no means no, take the hint.”
    â€œOh, shut up.” I punch him lightly on the arm. “What are you doing in the deepest darkest borough of Queens?”
    â€œMy friend heard about this place, heard it had a ridiculous selection of beers. We thought we’d risk it, just this once.”
    â€œMy friend,” huh? Male or female? “Yeah, this is my local.” I give a tired shrug, a little smile. I’m world-weary. I don’t care that he’s come here with some other woman who might or might not be just a “friend.”
    David turns to Mike. “She’s a local?”
    â€œYup.” Mike moves to take another order.
    â€œHe’s crazy about me,” I tell David.
    â€œOf course.” He is straight-faced. “Who wouldn’t be? So how have you been?”
    â€œCan’t complain. You?”
    â€œGood, but insane with work. Forgive me for not calling sooner.”
    â€œNo worries, my workload has been insane too.” This is a total lie. I desperately need more work. I would kill to have too much work. I’m trying to remember what David does, something to do with technology law, I think. I can never remember that kind of stuff.
    â€œWe’re actually in the middle of a big project, but we needed a break and so I dragged him here for a drink.”
    The friend is a “he.” Thank God.
    â€œCome join us?”
    My heart lifts. He wants me to meet his friends already. That’s a good sign. Apparently I don’t want to drink alone after all. “Really? I don’t want to intrude on your male bonding.”
    â€œMale bonding happens on Wednesdays.”
    â€œWell, if you’re sure . . .”
    â€œCome on.”
    Holding my whiskey carefully, I follow David, shouldering past the growing crowd to the most desirable tables at the back.
    â€œHey,” he says, “move over, we’ve got company.”
    A dark curly-haired man looks up from his phone.
    Oh shit.
    â€œSael, this is Katherine. Katherine, meet Sael.”
    Get up.
    â€œActually I think we may have met before.” His voice is expressionless, polite, but his pale eyes gleam.
    â€œOh really, where from?”
    Stop.
    Sael stares at me, pretending to think about it.
    Come here.
    Finally, “I think it was Jerry’s party.”
    â€œWhat party?”
    â€œIt was one of those shitty ABC, no-clothes things.”
    Take off your jeans.
    â€œHey!” David turns to me. “Is that the costume party you were telling