Slices of Life by Georgia Beers Read Free Book Online

him work, amazed as she always was by the efficiency of most bartenders. He wrote nothing down, mixed drinks in no time flat, smiled and laughed, flirted with men and women alike, and kept the whole area clean and wiped down. She wondered absently if he made a decent living, thought he probably went home with a nice pile of tips.
    On the bar, her phone vibrated and she opened the text from Amy. It said simply, “She there yet? I haven’t heard anything.”
    “Oh, you have got to be kidding,” Cassidy muttered, her lips pressed together in a straight, thin line. Was this really happening? Was she really being stood up? Didn’t that only happen in movies and romance novels? Who did that in real life? Then a worse thought occurred to her: What if Deb had peeked in, seen her, then turned around and fled? Cassidy knew she was an attractive woman, but this uncertainty was messing with her head, and she felt her self-esteem circling the drain.
    “Nothing yet?” Jason’s voice yanked her out of her wallowing, and she looked up to meet his gentle eyes.
    “Nope.” She sighed, trying to hide her embarrassment.
    “Seriously? No text or voicemail or anything? Who does that?”
    Cassidy loved his indignation on her behalf and felt a sudden urge to hug him. “I know, right?”
    “Well, screw her. Him?” He cocked an eyebrow at her and she smiled.
    “Her.”
    “Well, screw her. It’s her loss.” He topped off her glass.
    “You’re damn right it is,” she said with a nod, hoping she sounded tougher and more determined than she felt.
    Jason hustled down the bar to take care of a customer. Cassidy unlocked her phone and opened it to her Facebook page, trying not to dwell on the anger, hurt, and embarrassment that was beginning to blanket her like a fog. She couldn’t help herself; she went to Deb’s page, but there was nothing incriminating there. She’d learned by watching her students that most people were rarely careful about the information they posted and who might see it. Deb’s status hadn’t been updated since yesterday, so there was nothing saying she was at some club or out to dinner with friends or avoiding the date she was supposed to be on right now. Cassidy wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad about the lack of material; it would be nice to know one way or another. Wouldn’t it?
    A thought came to her and her thumbs were moving over her keyboard before she could stop herself. She updated her status.
    How long can a beautiful woman sit alone at a bar before somebody offers to buy her a drink?
    She reread it, smiled, and hit Post. At least Amy would see it. And if Amy saw it, Deb would eventually hear about it. Passive-aggressive? Oh, yes, Cassidy thought. My mother taught me well. And I’m totally okay with it.
    She set down her phone and picked up her wine just as Jason approached her with a small plate and set it in front of her along with a rolled napkin containing silverware.
    “Just a little something to help the wine sit okay,” he said. “On the house.”
    Touched, Cassidy didn’t know what to say.
    “I repeat—screw her. She obviously doesn’t know what she’s missing.” He went off to tend to his clientele.
    “If I was a guy,” Cassidy said under her breath, “I’d totally ask you out.”
    The plate before her had a small variety of appetizers…some bruschetta, raw veggies and a generous dollop of what looked like homemade hummus, and a ramekin of warm artichoke dip. It was only in that moment that she realized how hungry she was and dug in, trying hard not to think about the sympathy she always felt for people she saw eating alone in a restaurant. How many of them had been stood up?
    The food was outstanding and Cassidy wondered if she was making any humming noises as she ate; it was that good. The hummus was smooth and flavorful, the garlic there but not overpowering. The bruschetta was tangy and delicious and the artichoke dip was so warm and creamy, she considered abandoning