of moss. It looked like a hobbit’s dream home. There were even some bird and squirrel statues cemented into the sidewalk out front. The place was so weird it was endearing.
The sign above the red door said The Treehouse Bar and Grill, and I waited beside it for Taylor to show up.
Thankfully I didn’t have to wait long.
“Dude, have you been crying?” she asked when she approached, her voice a mix of shock and concern.
I covered my face with my hands. “Ugh, if you noticed, that means everyone at the office probably did too.”
She scoffed. “As if. You said they don’t pay any attention to you anyway.”
“Did you just say, ‘As if’?”
She rolled her eyes. “Clueless was on last night.”
“Aw man, I missed it?”
“Maybe if you spent a little less time macking on Drew, you wouldn’t miss these important moments.”
At the mention of his name, my face fell.
“Oh no, are you going to cry more? Because I can get you some…grass,” she offered, gesturing at the wall.
I stared at her, and she held my gaze for a second before we both burst out laughing.
“Seriously, what even is this place?” she asked between laughs.
“I don’t know. But trust us to find it.”
“True story.” Taylor pulled herself together and opened the door with a flourish. “After you, m’lady.”
“Why thank you, madam.” I stepped inside the place, and when my eyes adjusted to the dimness, I stopped in my tracks, causing Taylor to bump into me from behind.
“What now?” she asked. She was so close to me, I could feel her body shift as she took in her surroundings. “Oh wow.”
The entire place was covered in fairy lights. They twinkled from the exposed-beam ceiling, giving the place an ethereal look. The tables were all fairly low, which made sense because all the chairs were beanbags. At the center was a circular stairway that led through a small opening, like a hatch. The decorations were mostly things you’d expect to find in a tree house: binoculars, cups connected by a wire, comic books, board games.
It was possibly the coolest place I’d ever stepped inside of.
“Grass bar for the win,” Taylor whispered behind me.
“Can I get you ladies something?” the bartender called, breaking us out of our trance.
“Uh, yeah. Definitely,” I said as we made our way to the wooden stools that surrounded the bar.
It wasn’t busy—only a few people scattered around the bar and a couple tables occupied—but it was early yet. The seats had a rough-looking wood grain that had sealant over them to give them a glossy finish. They also had no backs, which I thought was potentially dangerous for drunk people. Like I expected to be soon.
“Do you have any specials?” Taylor asked as she slid onto the stool beside me.
“Three-dollar martinis,” the bartender said.
Taylor put a hand up. “I’m sorry, did you just say three-dollar martinis?”
The man smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Are you trying to kill people?” she asked.
“What she meant to say was,” I interrupted, “that we love martinis. Can I have an apple one?”
“Sure. And you?”
“Raspberry,” Taylor answered. “Thank you.” Once the bartender walked away, Taylor turned to me. “We’re coming here every day.”
I huffed a laugh. “It’s probably just a special for Fridays.”
“Every Friday, then. I seriously may move here permanently depending on how well he makes this drink.”
“You’re ridiculous. But I am also ridiculous and will totally come here every week with you.”
“That’s what I like to hear. I’d also like to hear about your nervous breakdown today. Feel free to start anytime.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but our drinks arrived. Taylor wasted no time taking a sip of hers.
“Mm,” she moaned. She looked up at the bartender. “Are you married?”
He laughed, a deep rumble that made Taylor squirm in her seat.
“No.”
“Do you want to be? All you have to do is make me these for the rest of our lives.”
His smile grew, and he leaned against the bar. “That’s an interesting proposal.”
“Not the most interesting one I’ve heard in the last month,” I muttered, but they both ignored me.
Though I guess Brody hadn’t actually proposed to Veronica. Whatever. Semantics.
“I’m Jasper,” the bartender said as he extended a hand toward Taylor, who gripped it and shared her name. He then turned to me, and I introduced myself.
Jasper was tall and lean with a smile that looked more like a smirk, dark hair, and blue eyes. He was attractive, and Taylor was doing the art of interested female, twirling her blond hair around her index finger like