Sleet Sugar by S.J. Tilly

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

IZZY

The Booze Hooch is our favorite place to get drunk. We don’t often go out with the main goal of getting tipsy, but - when we do - we want to enjoy it. This place has the best of everything. A small, but good, farm-to-table menu. An ever-changing list of handcrafted cocktails that taste good and mess you up at the same time. The lighting is dim. And the atmosphere is killer. It’s set up like a prohibition bar, with lush velvet seating, dark wood, and free-hanging Edison light bulbs. The play on the word hooch is the addition of artwork surrounding the myth of the St. Bernard brandy-carrying dogs. The bathroom walls are papered with what looks like old newspaper clippings about the dogs saving lives in the Alps way back in the 1500’s. I fear that I have often spent extra time sitting on the toilet engrossed in the tales. Needless to say, it’s a fun place to hang out. And it’s off the beaten path, so it’s never too crowded.

I spot Meghan and Katelyn as they enter. I already ordered a pitcher of apple cider sangria, and am half a glass in. I wave a hand, but they’ve already spotted me in our favored half-circle corner booth.

They slide onto the bench seat on either side of me, so I’m trapped in the middle. But since I called this emergency drink fest, I’m not going to try to escape.

“Start talking.” Meghan demands, as she fills glasses for herself and Katelyn.

So I do.

I tell them the whole sordid story. From tossing my folders at him, to kissing him, to going to lunch with him, to my dad’s idea that I should work with him. I don’t pause, and they don’t interrupt. I’ve finished my drink, started a second, and am still just as stressed out as I was when I got here.

“Wow.” Meghan says, staring at me.

I nod.

“Yeah, that’s quite the turn of events," agrees Katelyn.

I nod.

We sit for a moment as I drain my second glass of sangria.

Katelyn is the first to break the silence. “Okay, so I know I was the first one who told you that you couldn’t date someone who played for your dad. But… I mean… you like him. Right?”

I slump in my seat. “Of course I like him. But all of those reasons for not dating a player are still true. If my dad found out, he would freak. And if he found out that Zach and I met because we had a one night stand... That I literally screwed Zach after knowing him for only a couple of hours... Seriously. I don’t even want to think about how much he would lose his shit.” They both slowly nod their heads. “Obviously, my dad likes him and wants him to play for us. I can’t be responsible for a man losing his job.”

“You could date in secret. Or if you don’t want to date him, you could just bang him in secret?” Meghan helpfully suggests.

“Oh, gee, what a great idea. Why didn’t I think of that?” I say sarcastically.

Meghan just rolls her eyes, not offended or deterred. “Why not? Yeah, I agree, there are still lots of reasons why you shouldn’t. But it could be worth a shot. I mean, how did you do today? Do you think you could play it cool around Zach?”

“Well…”

My phone rings with a local number. I used to not answer calls I don’t know, but now that I have new clients, I pick up.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Sugar.”

Shit. It’s Zach.

“Oh. Umm… ”

My brain seizes, and I hang up.

Deliberately setting the phone face down on the table, I look up and see the girls watching me.

“Uh, what the hell was that?” Meghan asks.

“That...? That was Zach...” I admit with a shrug.

They both burst into giggles. With the booze flowing through my veins, I start to giggle too.

“Okay.” Katelyn chokes out. “To answer Meghan’s question, No, Izzy clearly does not possess the ability to play it cool around Zach.”

My phone rings again.

“You gonna answer that?” Meghan asks.

I shake my head.

Then I realize the error of leaving my phone on the table when Meghan snags it.

“What are you doing?!” I whisper at her.

She’s scooting away from me while she puts the phone to her ear. “Hi, Zach.”

Meghan talking to Zach is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea.

“No, sorry - Sugar,” she looks at me with wide eyes, “is unavailable.”

Okay, so I didn’t tell them everything. I remember how much we all teased Katelyn over Kitten and I didn’t want to be next.

“Yes, she’s sitting here, but we’ve been drinking. Heavily. Which is your fault, by the way.”

I love Meghan, but she’s a loose cannon. I can’t allow her to talk to him, especially like this. Her head lulls to the side, and I’m able to quickly snatch my phone back.

I stare at the screen for a second trying to think of something to say. Making up my mind, I hang up again.

Meghan is grinning at me like a fool. “He calls you Sugar.”

I roll my eyes. “I know.”

“Aww!” Katelyn clasps her hands together.

“No!” I slap my hand down on the table, too hard, since now my palm stings and I have to rub it on my thigh to get the tingles to go away. “No. No, aww. No, lovesick puppy dog smiles. This can’t happen. I can’t date him. And I can’t just casually sleep with him. I’m not cut out for that on a good day, let alone trying to keep it a secret. I’ll fail and it’ll blow up in my face. Yeah, I like him, but it’s not like I actually know him. For all we know, he’s not interested in a relationship. And if I’m being honest, that’s what I want. I want a boyfriend. I’m ready for one.”

“Okay!” Meghan slaps her own hand down on the table. “Operation Get Izzy a Boyfriend starts tonight.”

Another pitcher of sangria later, I find myself signed up for a speed dating event that’s set to take place next week.