Dani grabbed the water from Jonah’s offered hand, but Mae showed up at that time. “We’re swamped. Can you help behind the counter?”

“Yeah?” Dani glanced to the rest of the group. “You guys wouldn’t mind?”

Kate waved her ahead. “And have our own personal bartender? Go. Now! We won’t have to wait in line anymore.”

Dani just laughed, then waved to everyone. She moved through the crowd, bypassing Robbie who was heading back to the table with Lori in tow.

Dani used to help bartend when she was younger, before her mom died, and Aunt Kathryn took over. Mae seemed to vanish from their lives then, but Dani worked behind the bar in her travels. It was a job where she could pick up some extra cash whenever she needed it. The crowd was insane, but she didn’t think it’d be too hard before she picked it back up, just like old times.

Aunt Mae yelled in her ear, patting her on the shoulder, “Hope you didn’t go rusty with your time away.”

Dani merely shook her head. “Never!” Then she began filling an order, and the first hour went fast. The rest of the night passed just as quickly, but the last thirty minutes were always the worst. The drunk got drunker and the one-nighters became more brazen with sharing their numbers.

Jonah had taken residence at the end of her counter space. Every time a girl approached and her hand lingered down his arm, he’d shoot Dani a look and she’d move in. The first few were deterred when Dani announced that he’d come with her. And then one took it as a challenge to throwdown, and Dani changed tactics. Now she merely slid them a watered-down Coke and pointed across the bar. She told ‘em it came from the gentleman in the blue.

There were too many gentlemen in blue to count.

The girls loved it, didn’t notice it was watered-down soda only, and went off in search for their mysterious gentleman. After the fifth girl, Dani slapped a towel in front of Jonah and suggested, “Must be hard. Having to literally fend them off, huh? Or having another chick to do it for you?” His rich laugh was her reward, and she rolled her eyes. She gestured to the towel. “If you really want to get rid of them, just get busy. I’m sure Mae will need all the help she can get to clean up.”

Robbie heard the last words as he approached the counter. He noted Jonah, who was leaving to start clearing tables. “You and Jonah seem to get along.”

“For now.” She winked at him. “What’ll you have?”

“Water and a Diet Coke.”

“Lori’s had enough, huh?” Dani murmured as she filled the glasses. Robbie lingered afterwards, gazing back to that table where the group was still hanging out. “Something wrong, Robbie?”

“Yeah.” He hunched over the bar, folding his arms on the counter. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure. Although we really only met tonight.”

“That’s why I want to ask you. You’re objective. You might have a different set of eyes.” He leaned closer. “Do you think…coming from your first impression, do you think Lori would make a good mother?”

“Whoa. What?” Dani slid a drink to another customer. “I barely remember Lori, and I haven’t talked to her at all since getting back here. It’s only been a few days.”

“Yeah, but look at her. Does she look like good mother material?”

“Uh.” Lori was pretty. That’s all Dani thought. “Look, I can only tell you what I do think, and if you’re asking the bartender about the girl you’re dating, you’re probably dating the wrong girl.” Kate was watching them talk, but trying not to make it obvious. She ducked behind Bubba. Dani let out a breath. “Go for the ones who scare you. Maybe there’s a reason they scare you.”

“You think?”

Dani lifted a shoulder up, picking up a washcloth to dry out a glass. “I don’t think I’m one to give advice. Trust me.” Two men. One who left her, and one she left. And speaking of, karma wasn’t on her side.

Jake walked into the bar.

He and Robbie crossed paths, and did the whole guy head-nod thing, and kept on walking. Spotting her, he slowed, an unreadable mask falling over his face. “Mae likes an extra hand at closing time.” He nodded to Mae as she came down the counter. “Heya, Mae.”

“Jake.” Her eyes skimmed over him and Dani, then slapped the counter. “You know, thanks for coming tonight, but I think we’ll be alright. Jonah’s here, and Katie’s over there, too.”

Kate laughed at something Bubba said, slapping him on the shoulder. She looked at Robbie, who was standing by Lori, and missed the first half of Bubba’s huge shoulder. Her hand slipped off, and she fell off her bar stool.

“Yeah, Kate’s drunk. I think I’ll stick around for a bit.” He jerked his head toward the kitchen. “Got some coffee back there?”

“Help yourself!” She moved to close tabs for waiting customers.

Dani kept drying glasses, and Jake returned, holding a white Styrofoam cup. “You seem to be getting along pretty well with some folks.”

That wasn’t what he wanted to talk about. “I don’t want to talk about Julia.”

“Noted.” He glanced around, frowning. “Is that Jonah wiping tables?”

“Yeah.” Dani grabbed another washcloth and tray. “You can help him.” Then she headed to the back, and she stayed there washing dishes the rest of the night. Jonah came to help at one point. She loaded up the trays of dirty dishes, put them through the cleaning machine, and he’d pull them out. She tried to tell him he didn’t need to help, but Jonah just ignored her as he began putting the dried dishes where they belonged.