Chapter 9
Kathryn
Pancakes. Pancakes made everything better, and the fact that Crystal and I had worked together to make chocolate chip pancakes kicked it up a notch, sending waves of pleasure through my body with each delicious, unhealthy bite.
“I can’t believe he was so rude!” Crystal repeated, talking as she chewed. It was a bad habit she had, and I had learned to ignore it. “I mean, come on! He invited us. He was all sorts of into you the other night. There’s no excuse.”
I shrugged. “It was a mistake to go.” I took a bite, chewed, and swallowed with a gulp of the magical coffee. “I don’t know what his problem was, but he was completely distracted. And even when he was paying attention, he wouldn’t answer any of my questions. He was cryptic and vague.”
She stuffed a huge bite in her mouth and pointed her fork at me. “I’m telling you, he’s got a girlfriend.”
“He said he didn’t.” We had covered this already, three times.
She rolled her eyes. “That’s exactly what someone with a girlfriend would say, Kathryn. It’s the most obvious sign that a guy is lying. It’s called denial.”
Maybe she was right and I was the one in denial. But something about it just didn’t sit right with me. I remembered the way Jarrett acted, and Alexander’s behavior didn’t match up. “I don’t buy it. There’s something he’s hiding, but I don’t think it’s a girlfriend.”
Crystal’s eyes lit up. “You know what I think? I think Christian hired him to see if you were faithful.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Christian’s style didn’t involve that kind of test. “No way.”
“Hold on a minute. Think about it.” She put down her fork, and I waited for her to say her piece, gulping at my coffee. She took another bite and said, “Didn’t he insist you go to that dive bar to start with? The Purple Dragon? He wanted you to meet Alexander. He wanted to see how you’d react to him, and he wanted to see if you’d be drawn to temptation. But Alexander decided he didn’t like lying to you and backed off. You did the right thing by leaving. Now, Christian is going to hear back that you walked away, and you passed the test.”
I laughed. “You’re crazy,” I told her. “You have no proof and no reason to believe that.”
She deflated. “I think it makes sense.” But then she brightened again. “He’s a conman.”
“What?”
“A conman,” she repeated. “When he finds a woman he thinks might have a bank roll, he goes after her. He must have figured out you weren’t rich and changed his mind. What did you say to him that would have clued him in?”
I sighed. “I was trying to draw him out, like I told you, and I mentioned my parents and what they did for a living. But he was withdrawn before that, Crystal. That’s not it, either.”
“He could have run a background check,” she tried, and I knew she was grasping at straws.
“You sound like a conspiracy theorist,” I told her. “Look, we’ll probably never know the truth, and that’s fine. I don’t care anymore. I’m finished with this. I don’t want to deal with anyone who can’t be up front with me. I’m happy and healthy and have everything I need.”
“Sure, except a little excitement and stimulation,” she mumbled.
I gave her a sharp look over my coffee mug. “You just told me I did the right thing by walking away and being faithful to Christian, and now you’re ragging on him. I thought you were on my side!”
“I am,” she assured me. “I’m sorry, I just think you’re selling yourself short. And that bartender seemed like the perfect answer. I’m disappointed he turned out to be a dud. You know, maybe there’s a clause in his job description that says he has to act single at all times on the job so he doesn’t disappoint other women. Getting girls into a club is a serious business because then men will follow. And what normal woman keeps making gooey eyes at a guy who works in the bar if he’s spending all his time with some other woman?”
“If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have asked me to come. Either way, I’m not interested. I have a boyfriend who pays plenty of attention to me, and I don’t have to wonder what he’s hiding.” I finished my coffee and stood, carrying my mug and my empty plate with its remnants of butter and syrup into the kitchen. I shoved the plate in the sink and ran water on it while I refilled my mug.
Crystal followed, though she didn’t get more coffee. Instead, she started washing the dishes. I grabbed a rag and cleaned the counters and stove from our disastrous cooking.
“So, what are you going to do now?” she asked when she stopped running water.
“About what?” I asked, though I knew what she meant.
“About Alexander. Christian. The whole situation.”
“What am I supposed to do?” I asked. “I think the answer is obvious.”
“You aren’t going to give Alexander another chance?”
I scoffed. “No way. Like I said, I’m over it. I shouldn’t have ever been curious in the first place.”
“Does that mean we’re never going back to The Machine?” I could hear the disappointed ring in her voice and felt a little guilty.
“I’m sure we can go back at some point, but I’m not interested in going anytime soon. I promise to make it up to you. We’ll find another exciting location where you have a tribe of men to choose from.” I smiled at her in reassurance, and she perked up a little.
With a sigh, I told her, “I’m going to get past this in a hurry. I had a momentary slip and made a bad judgment call. I’m going to rectify the situation by reminding myself of how good I have it. I’ll call Christian this afternoon and find out when he’s available, and I’ll schedule a nice, satisfying date with him. And if things go well, I might actually take the next step.”
“Really?” Her eyes bugged out of her head, knowing how adamant I’d been about not getting physically involved with Christian yet. I still wanted to hold back, even though I knew I was letting my trauma get to me. But I couldn’t seem to drum up the courage – or the desire – to sleep with him yet.
But to make Crystal happy, I told her, “I’m not making any promises. But I’ll consider it.”
“Maybe that’s where he hides his excitement,” she said with a wink, and I laughed. “Seriously, sister, I can’t imagine someone being boring in every area of his life. And he certainly is boring sometimes.” Before I could chide her for finding more traits to complain about, she gasped and whirled to face me. “Oh, Kathryn, what if he’s boring in the bedroom? What are you going to do?”
I rolled my eyes, but the thought had crossed my mind that he wouldn’t have a lot of creative ideas. But I didn’t believe that was my reason for holding back. “Come on, Crystal, now you’re just being mean.”
She wrinkled her nose. “What if he never does anything but missionary? Could you settle for that?”
I refused to listen to this anymore. “I suppose it’s going to take a while to find out. Now, I’d like to go shopping for a new dress, and I know you’ll be offended if I don’t start with your shop. So finish up here, and we’ll go out.” Usually, shopping, especially in her boutique, distracted her from wild ramblings, inquisitions, and conspiracy theories.
Giddy now, she practically bounced up and down. “Now, that’s exciting. Let’s go!”
I went to my room to pick out something to wear, giving Crystal a chance to shower first. I checked the time and decided it wasn’t too early to call Christian. As I dialed, an amazing idea came to me, and I knew it would make me feel a lot better. I smiled to myself as the phone rang. “Hello?”
“Hi, Christian, how are you?” I put on my sweetest voice. It had been a few days since we talked.
“Much better now. I’ve missed you.”
His words warmed me, even though I felt a little guilty. I hadn’t exactly missed him. “Well, how would you like to remedy that?”
“Are you saying you want to see me?” he asked, trying to sound playful.
“Oh, I suppose I could make arrangements. When is your friend leaving town?” I had almost forgotten the reason I’d been free to see what Alexander wanted from me.
“He flies out tomorrow morning, but I need to catch up on some work, so I’m working late tomorrow and Tuesday. How would you feel about Wednesday?”
I sighed. “I guess I’ll have to wait, then. Wednesday would be perfect. I was thinking we could try out that Thai restaurant we saw last time we went out.”
“Actually, there’s a new place across town that just opened. It’s a Thai fusion restaurant, and I’ve heard nothing but raving reviews about it. If you’re in the mood for Thai, I think we should check it out.”
I frowned. Christian never argued with me if I suggested a place. I didn’t want to go across town. I needed to dine in the general vicinity of the Purple Dragon. I couldn’t make a case to go there after dinner across town, but if we were already down the street, I could tell Christian how interesting I thought the place was and talk him into taking me back.
I wanted to go specifically because I was over Alexander, and I wanted to flaunt just how much I didn’t care about him right in front of his face. Only then could I be sure there was nothing between us, and I could finally put the whole Alexander issue to rest.
“I really don’t want to go all the way across town on a Wednesday night, though,” I said. “We’re adults, and we can choose to go out in the middle of the week because we’re adults. But being an adult also means I have to work in the morning, and the further I am from home, the less time we have together.” It was a silly, flawed explanation, but I hoped it would work.
“I don’t know, Kathryn. I haven’t heard the best reviews about that place we passed. I think our best bet for Thai is this new place that just opened.”
A bit frustrated and tired of arguing – something we never did – I said, “You can’t always trust reviews, you know. A lot of times, people only write bad reviews because they’re angry. The only reason you’ve heard all this good stuff about the new place is because it’s new.”
“Kathryn, are you all right?” he asked, sounding concerned. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just want our time together to be positive and not tainted by poor service or mediocre food.”
I clenched my teeth against his apology. I didn’t want to fight, but I didn’t want Christian to be such a placating pushover, either. At least in this instance, I got something out of it.
“Look,” I said, “I just want to be able to see you and enjoy myself without worrying so much about the time. And I am craving Thai food. But if you want to try the place across town, it’ll have to wait until the weekend.”
I knew Christian. He wouldn’t put off a date we’d already scheduled, and in his mind, just talking about Wednesday meant it was already on the calendar.
“If that’s what you want, Katie, then that’s what we’ll do,” he said, and for the first time, I heard resignation and disappointment in his voice.
I let the nickname “Katie” slide, since it seemed to make him more comfortable to use it. “If it makes you feel better, I’m going shopping today to buy a new dress, just for the occasion. I want to look my best for you.”
“You always do,” he laughed. “Should I pick you up or meet you there?”
“Meet me at the coffee shop at seven. We’ll walk over from there. I’ll see you soon.” I hung up before he could say anything I might regret hearing. I didn’t want him to drop the ‘L’ word or anything.
Half an hour later, we bounced out the door, Crystal far too excited for my current energy level. I insisted on stopping at the coffee shop on the way. She gaped at me. “You had four mugs this morning! One of these days, you’re going to start growing coffee beans instead of fingernails.”
“That would be a blessing,” I countered. “Then, I wouldn’t have to spend so much on coffee. And four mugs are not enough for me to keep up with you in this mood. I need a shot of espresso or two in a large coffee.”
“It’s going to stain your teeth, Kathryn,” she warned as I deliberately turned into the café.
“I use whitening strips on my teeth. I’m not worried about it.” With our coffees in hand, we walked back out of the café.
Crystal turned to face me. “All right, sister. You want to get dolled up and think fashion forward, I’ve got a lot of ideas. We have a whole new designer we just brought in, a local girl, and her style is perfect for you.”
Here we go, I thought. Crystal was going to start talking a hundred miles an hour and not stop for hours.
I raised my hand to get in the last words I would probably get for the rest of the day. “I just want to be a knockout, Crystal. I don’t need anything unique or haute couture. I just want Christian and every other man who sees me to drool.”
Crystal raised her eyebrows and giggled. “Now you’re living dangerously. Atta girl, Kitty-Kat. Trust me, I’ve got what you need. By the time I’m done, you’re going to be the hottest chick in Houston.”
Now we were talking.
Chapter 10 – Zane
I hadn’t put enough weight on the bar, and I stood up to add a forty-five pound iron to each end. The shiny black weights on the chrome setup reflected in the mirrored wall with far more appeal than I did, sweat already dripping from my temples and down my spine. And I’d barely even started my workout.
Lying back down on the bench, I tested the bar again, finding it sufficiently weighted, and I took several deep breaths before lifting it and pumping up and down. The adrenaline fueled me, and it burned more than just calories. The more lactic acid my muscles produced, the less figurative weight I felt on my shoulders.
Twelve reps, and I set the bar down, sitting up and heaving for oxygen. It felt good, normal, the pain one of my choosing. And exercise didn’t require a lot of thought or active decision making. The most difficult choice was which exercise to do first or maybe how much weight to use. And if you chose wrong, it didn’t impact the next seventy years or so.
Another set of bench press and I turned to pull ups. I had specialized weights that wrapped around each ankle and another weight belt I put around my waist, which added a total of twenty pounds. I’d gotten to the point I could do too many reps to lift my own weight, and I had to create a different challenge if I intended to progress.
Plus, I needed a certain level of difficulty to help me purge.
Three sets as I watched myself in the mirror went fast. I cursed my reflection as I worked, loathing my indecisiveness and my lack of commitment to anything. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. I committed myself to my workouts, and to the club. But when it came to desire, I couldn’t seem to find my determination.
Kathryn had me confused and arguing with myself. One side of me argued I’d made a mistake ever inviting her to The Machine, that I should have left her to her life and happiness with her mediocre boyfriend. We would both have been happier never even considering anything further than a chance meeting at the Purple Dragon.
But the other side of me raged that I should have tried harder Saturday night to keep her interested. I felt like I’d missed out on my old escape from the monotonous, unsatisfying, and somewhat depressing prison I lived in.
Still not satisfied, I stepped on the treadmill and chose a four mile trail I’d programmed, with a four degree incline for the first mile, flat ground at a higher speed the next, a six mile grade for another mile at the higher speed, and flat ground on a cool down at the original speed for the last. I had several different programs, but I wanted a hefty challenge that would work up a thick sheen of sweat and last long enough to burn off the rest of my frustration.
Kathryn proved the point that I held no control over my own life. I consciously asked her to come to my club, knowing I shouldn’t but feeling it was the right thing to do. And then I choked because my nerves got the best of me. The angel of fate on my left shoulder told me she wouldn’t have walked into the bar in the first place if I wasn’t meant to take notice and make a step toward freedom. But the devil on my right reminded me that I was like a werewolf in silver chains, unable to escape to any better destiny. He laughed and told me I’d earned this torment, the taunting of a prize I couldn’t have.
I ran furiously as the treadmill rose, like I could outrun all my mistakes. Whether for better or worse, I’d made a mistake when it came to Kathryn, and both the angel and devil that I battled with knew it. I’d taken a chance I shouldn’t have taken and given up on the opportunity that presented itself right in front of me when I took that chance. The treadmill sped up, and I broke into a sprint up that high incline. It matched my constant uphill battle that, like the treadmill, took me nowhere. I was running in place here, just as I did in life.
But by the cool down, I let it go. I couldn’t change anything now. I hadn’t been able to make a change in years, and when I shut the treadmill off, I wiped myself down and threw my towel over my shoulder as I turned off the track lighting.
My top of the line weight room set off the kitchen, behind the four car garage, and I stopped for a quick glass of milk and a pear. I sat in the middle of the glossy black appliances, surrounded by matching gray matte granite counters on an ergonomic backless barstool. The black marble flooring glistened brilliantly, a sign the maid had been in this morning and done her quiet duties as usual. It probably meant the cook had filled the freezer and fridge with prepared meals to either shove in the oven or reheat in the microwave for the next three days.
When I finished, I dumped the core of the pear in the garbage, placed the glass in the sink, and padded through the living room. I considered taking a nap – the overstuffed leather armchair in the corner called my name. I could pop the top on a brew, set it on an ivory coaster on the coffee table, and watch some sports on my big-ass television.
But the sweat would start to itch, and I couldn’t stand the thought of hanging out in my own bad body odor. So, I kept going, until I reached the master bathroom. It had a huge whirlpool tub, with an oversized glass and chrome shower.
I stopped to shave over the polished stone sink. The mirror stretched across the entire wall, and I averted my eyes from my reflection, no longer wanting to feel that self-loathing that had plagued me all morning. Then I shed my clothes and crossed to the shower. The water was instantly hot.
I let the spray cleanse my body, mind, and soul before I scrubbed and climbed out. Drying and wrapping the towel around my waist, I could finally face myself again and smile. It was Wednesday, after all, and I was bartending at the Purple Dragon tonight. I didn’t have to dress to impress, and I didn’t have to pretend to come from any particular pedigree.
I could relax, find my ‘thought for the night’ in some woman who walked into the bar, and contentedly shake off all my troubles for the next two shifts. And I still had a couple of hours to prepare. Maybe I could lie back on the couch with a beer and something delicious the cook had left behind after all. And I’d skip the sports in favor of a comedy or maybe a thriller.
The hours passed quickly, and before I knew it, I had dressed in a long sleeved black polo and dark wash jeans and sat behind the wheel of my metallic blue Mercedes SL550. It was probably the biggest splurge of all my luxuries, and it rumbled beneath me as I drove calmly and quietly to the bar. I didn’t race it; I was typically a courteous driver, and I arrived a few minutes early, parking in the back and entering through the kitchen door, which was propped open as Emil, the cook for the night, dragged out the garbage.
I looked around, making sure everything was clean and ready to go as I entered. I didn’t like working in an unsanitary environment, and while I trusted the other bartenders and employees with the task of cleaning, I had higher standards. I wove between the pool tables and through the sitting area, making sure there were no new stains or trash anywhere, and I stepped into both the men’s and women’s restrooms to check they were clean and smelled good.
Content, I finally made my way to the bar in front and went through my ritual of a quick inventory, unloading the dishwasher and making sure I had a full case of frosted mugs, and then completely sterilizing the bar. I checked some random glasses for spots and set out the bar mix – pretzels, nuts, and other crunchy bits tossed in a powdered Cajun spice – and threw a clean bar rag over my shoulder. As I tugged at my cuffs and cleared my throat, I looked around to see if anyone else noticed my tic, Crystal’s words ringing in my head.
And that brought forward an image of Kathryn. Wouldn’t it be prophetic if she actually showed up again? I guess I’d have to take it as a sign in the end, if she kept popping up to see me. I just had to pay more attention to what the universe seemed to be throwing in my face.
But I knew she wouldn’t. She’d made it clear she was done with me, and I knew she would avoid the Purple Dragon and The Machine in an effort to ensure she never saw me again. That was fine; I didn’t need complications.
And as I expected, there was no sign of her. It grew late, and I typically closed early on Wednesdays because it was so slow. But tonight, I had a few stragglers. Willy, working with me tonight, offered to stick around and close up for me. But I turned him down, liking the quiet of a couple guys chuckling together at the bar and a couple more in the back, playing a calm game of pool.
Besides, I would do almost anything to get away from what waited for me at home.
I said goodnight as he waved and walked out the door, turning to check on my two drinkers, and I heard the door open again. I smiled and turned to ask Willy what he forgot, but I froze with that stupid grin.
Kathryn.
But my shock quickly turned to amusement as I took in the situation. She laughed riotously at something her boyfriend – who followed her in the door – said, drawing her fingertips down his arm. I knew very well that guy couldn’t tell a joke to save his life, especially one that would make her laugh like that.
And if I’d thought she looked amazing before, I obviously hadn’t realized her potential. Her eyes were highlighted with a dark blue smoky shadow and cattail liner, and her lips were a silvery-pink shade that shone in the light and made her lips fuller and more tantalizing than ever. She’d done something to make her hair glossier, too.
But her body…the goddess dress didn’t shimmer or anything. It was simple light cotton, dyed in various shades of orange with a low cut V-neck and the sleeves tied up on her shoulders with the same gold braiding that also wrapped low around her waist. The smooth material flowed down her legs so her feet barely peered from beneath, showing ballet style slippers.
As she draped herself over her boyfriend’s arm, I smiled and laughed inwardly. She could put on a show if she wanted to. I was game, although I certainly had no plans to play into her hand. I’d give her a run for her money and see how far she was willing to go to try to make me jealous.
She led him to seats almost directly in front of me, despite the bar being practically empty, and Christian gave a lazy salute just before Kathryn planted a very sensual kiss on his lips. “Hey, man. Good to see you.”
I tried not to roll my eyes at his familiar address, as if we were old friends. “Welcome back. What brings you in tonight?”
He made a face and stroked Kathryn’s hair. She responded with a purr and leaned into his touch as he said, “I need to wash down some bad Thai food. Give me something stout.”
Kathryn pouted her pretty lip out at him and batted her long, thick lashes. “It wasn’t so bad, was it? I really enjoyed it.”
Wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her into an awkward position on the stools, he countered, “You ordered some sort of spicy chicken. It’s hard to mess that up. I ordered fish. It was undercooked in the middle and burnt on the ends.”
“Maybe try the chicken next time,” I quipped quietly, earning a scowl from him and a surprised expression from her. She hadn’t expected me to entertain the conversation. “How stout do you want it?” I asked as I turned to grab a glass. I wanted to pour a Four Horsemen or something like Jägermeister straight up.
“Good advice,” he said. “See, honey? Bartenders always know the right thing to say.”
“So do you, darling,” she cooed at him, and I wanted to gag.
“I’ll take a double Crown and Coke,” he said finally, and I just nodded. I couldn’t turn around and watch the travesty of it all. It didn’t matter that I’d resolved to be done with her and ignore her little show. Jealousy crept up my spine and settled in my chest and throat, choking me up for a moment.
I cleared my throat as I mixed his drink, unable to speak past the green monster to ask Kathryn what she wanted. By the time I turned back around, I’d gathered myself and gave Kathryn my best charming smile. “So, what will it be this time? The cherry-lime twist? An electric blueberry? Or something new?” I saw her panic at the mention of the drink I’d made her at the Machine. Obviously, her boyfriend had no idea she’d been out.
“What do you think, sweetheart?” she asked him, her smile fake, her blush fake. Everything was for show, and sadly, it still ate away at me.
“He’s a good bartender. Let him surprise you.”
That was probably the first smart thing the man had said in all the time I’d been around him.
I gave Kathryn a mischievous look. “I’ve got just the thing.”
I grabbed the peach schnapps, mango juice, and grenadine with a cocktail glass. I shook the mixture and poured it over ice, decorating it with two neon pink straws. With a wink, I told her, “Let me give you a Rocky Kiss on the Lips.”
Her boyfriend laughed. “Now, that sounds like a great drink. I bet it’ll make your lips sugary and tasty.”
I thought so, too, but I didn’t want him tasting it. Kathryn glared at me but picked up the drink and tasted it. Despite her attempt to hide it, I knew she was in love, at least, with the drink. I gave a satisfied nod and told the pair, “I’m going to check on the guys in the back. I’ll check in on you in a few.” It was a chance to get away as she tongued the straw, her eyes locked on her boyfriend’s.
I was falling apart, losing control, and I fought to forget about her as I walked up to the young guys who looked like they were about to wrap up their game of pool. “How is everything back here?”
“Great. Hey, man, can we get one more round before we call it a night?” the taller of the two asked.
I shrugged. It didn’t look like I had to leave anytime soon. “Sure. Same?” They had ordered the same draft all night, and I asked out of courtesy.
“Yeah, thanks.” He handed me the cash, and I quickly filled the order and brought it back, not allowing myself to look directly at Kathryn. I could see enough from the corner of my eye, and it made me sick to my stomach. She played with his fingers, interlacing hers with his and tracing her nails over his palm and so on.
Where was Lynn when I needed her? I had no real interest in my admirer, but she’d turned into a friend over time, and she would at least have distracted me. It was rare she didn’t show, and of course, on a night when she would have kept me sane, she was MIA.
Reluctantly, I rounded back behind the bar, cashed out the two men still sipping their last orders, and took my dear, sweet time cleaning the far end of the counter. I listened to the ridiculous back and forth between Kathryn and her boyfriend, and I probably would have gone into less of a sugar shock if I drank an entire bottle of syrup and chased it with cotton candy.
I breathed a sigh of relief when three women walked in, the late night crowd. I’d seen them before, but they didn’t come in on my watch very often. I distracted myself a little longer filling their simple orders and asking them about their nights. But eventually, Kathryn’s boyfriend wanted a second drink, and he called me over.
I was tempted to tell him it was after last call, but as I checked the time, I realized that, legally, that wasn’t true. There was still another hour and a half to suffer through, if someone demanded it. And even as I hesitated, he stood and kissed Kathryn’s forehead, saying, “I have to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back, darling.”
She grinned broadly at him. “Sure thing, sweetheart. I’ll be right here when you get back, pining away for you.” I turned my back to mix the drink so she wouldn’t see me roll my eyes. But that only took a minute, and as I delivered the drink to the empty seat, our eyes locked.
The awkward silence drove me crazier than the raging jealousy that held me captive, and I caved. “Okay, Kathryn, you win.”
She blinked at me with wide, innocent eyes. “What are you talking about?”
I clenched my jaw. “You know what I’m talking about. I can’t stand it anymore. You win.”
She laughed sarcastically. “Sure, Alexander. Whatever you say.” She gazed toward the bathroom anxiously, sipping at her drink frantically, as if she had to finish it.
But I needed her to understand. I put my hand over hers, resting on the bar, and her head whipped around, staring in shock first at my fingers on hers and then at me. I forced her to lock gazes with me, and I said in a low, no nonsense tone, “I mean it.”
Her humored expression faded, replaced by seriousness and a bit of nerves. She started to look over her shoulder, but I captured her chin in my fingers, gently but firmly holding it so she couldn’t look away. And on a wing and a prayer, I leaned across the bar and planted a demanding but quick kiss. She made a surprised sound but didn’t pull away. She tasted like mango and peach, and I reveled in the short moment.
But I pulled away as I heard the familiar sound of the door to the men’s restroom open and close, turning quickly to wipe down the taps and eyeing my customers from my peripherals on both sides. I didn’t get to see Kathryn’s reaction, but I noted two of the women who had just come in sitting up a little straighter and exchanging glances. Apparently, I’d turned their night into a soap opera, and I had to watch myself before I started some real trouble.