My Favorite Mistake (A Love Like That #4) - R.L. Kenderson Page 0,2
need rumors floating around that I slept with customers, and I didn’t need someone getting clingy with me and wanting more than I had to give. It would look bad.
Plus, I found that the illusion of me and my bartenders being unattached kept the single women coming to my bar. And if single women came, the single men followed, and they were the ones who really brought in the money. My regulars who lingered through the week kept the lights on, but it was the Friday and Saturday night singles crowds that made it possible for me to pay for everything outside the bar, like food and clothes.
Albert scanned me up and down. “You remind me of when I was your age. Good-looking. You work out and own a business. You can’t tell me the ladies don’t like you.”
Madeline laughed and leaned over to get closer to Albert. “You’re right. Our friend here is an S-L-U-T.”
I frowned at her.
She shrugged and sat up. “What? I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s just a statement of fact.” She took a drink. “I’m thinking of becoming a slut myself.”
“Becoming?” I teased.
“Ha-ha, Griff. You’re hilarious.” She stuck her tongue out at me. “In case you forgot, I just got out of a year-and-a-half relationship.”
“True. But you have to remember, I’ve known you forever. I remember how you were in high school and heard plenty of stories from college.”
She smiled wistfully, as if she was reminiscing about the past. “Yeah, I had some good times.”
“I like loose women.” Albert sighed. “But they don’t seem to like me much anymore these days.”
While I laughed, Madeline almost choked on the beer she’d sipped on when Albert spoke, and she patted his hand after she was able to stop coughing. “Hang in there. I’m sure you’ll find someone.”
Not if he kept coming to my bar every day rather than putting himself out there, but I wasn’t complaining.
I propped my elbows on the bar and moved in close to Madeline. “How are you doing? Really?” I asked in a low voice.
She picked at the label on her beer bottle before meeting my eyes. “I’m good. Really.”
I raised my eyebrows.
She rolled her eyes. “Of course, I’m a little sad, but things hadn’t been good with Harris for a long time. I only wish it hadn’t taken me so long to realize it.”
“So, what did you tell him?”
She snorted. “Well, after he told me he was going to be out of town for my birthday—”
I winced. Jackass.
“I told him not to worry about going out to celebrate Friday or Saturday.”
“What did he say?”
“He asked if I still wanted my birthday present.”
“And?”
She grinned. “I told him that I was already giving myself the best birthday present. I was breaking up with him.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “I bet he loved that.”
“Not so much.”
I laughed some more, picturing Harris’s face as she’d delivered her birthday line. I wish I could have been there.
“Aren’t you the least bit curious as to what he got you for your birthday?”
Madeline scrunched up her nose. “After Christmas, no.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
Harris had gotten her a new vacuum after her other one broke. It was top of the line and expensive, but…dude.
“Even I’m not that clueless.”
She wiggled her eyebrows at me. “So, what are you getting me for my birthday?”
“I read online that all women want is a dress with pockets, so…”
She laughed.
“Seriously though, I’m still waiting for you to text me your list.”
Madeline always picked out her own presents, and I just bought what she’d told me to. It made both of our lives easier.
She took a drink of her beer as someone on the other end of the bar flagged me down. I held up a finger in the universal sign to wait a second.
“I haven’t decided what I want yet. I’ll send you some ideas soon.”
I straightened, walked around to her side of the bar, and put my arm around her in a half-hug. “Sorry about your breakup right before your birthday.”
She rested her cheek on my chest. “Thanks, Griff. It’s for the best though.”
The same customer from the other end of the bar was starting to get impatient, so when she lifted her head, I kissed her on the temple. “I have to go help another customer. I’ll be back.”
Three
Madeline
Griffin went to help another patron, and I took my phone out of my purse. I opened my calendar and began deleting all the things I had planned with Harris. After