“Yes, I’d like that.” As a shy smile played on his lips, he leaned into me. “But we’ll talk more later.”
“Okay. Dad, what’s your take on the Cowboys?” I had to change the conversation, and Dad could talk nonstop about football.
Mom sighed and rolled her eyes. “Here we go.”
After a pleasant afternoonwith my parents and a hearty dinner of Mom’s lasagna, we took an Uber to Sixth Street to meet with Dante. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and we’d be with family, including my brother. Plus, it would be a busier night for Dante.
I strolled on the sidewalk with Colton, hand in hand, passing the squarish, two-story buildings mostly in brick. This area of town was quaint and historic with its turn of the centuryarchitecture, like a throwback to the older days of Texas. “So, the bar Dante works at now is called the Midnight Cowboy. It’s got a speakeasy vibe and the drinks are amazing.” We were almost there.
“Speakeasy? That sounds cool.” Pulling on my hand, he leaned in and kissed my cheek. “This is amazing, being out with you publicly, kissing and not caring who sees us.”
“It is.” There’d be no more hiding for us. I stopped at the nondescript bar with only a round sign resting over the doorway depicting a statue of liberty. “It’s here.”
“Here?” Lifting his brows, he faced a carved wooden door.
“Yep, it’s a speakeasy, remember?” I chuckled and swung the door open for him. “After you.”
He stepped inside the long, narrow room, filled with tufted black-leather booths and marble tables. “This is cool.”
“Yeah.” I placed my hand on the small of his back, guiding him toward the end of the room where a small bar sat in dark wood with gold accents. The walls had patterned wallpaper, reminiscent of the nineteen-twenties, and ornate tin tiles adorned the ceiling. “Keep walking. The bar is in the back. There’s only four chairs back there and when Dante texted me, he said he saved two of them for us.” It was still early and not crowded yet.
We ambled toward the back, Colton scanning the craft cocktails sitting on the tables where patrons drank as we passed. “Those cocktails look amazing. That one was in a gold-stemmed glass.”
“I know.” With a chuckle, I urged him further. “Dante just started working here about a year ago. He was at a regular place that booked rock bands before.” The last time I’d been here was when I was visiting over the summer in June. That was before Grey had moved in and things had gotten so complicated. But now, everyone seemed happy.
Dante rounded the end of the bar, his arms outstretched, his black shirt pulling across his shoulders and slacks hugging hiships. “Colton, so good to see you.” He gave Colton a quick hug and a peck on the cheek before setting his sights on me.
“Hey, Dante. Good to see you.” I hugged him and gave him a brief kiss.
“I saved you stools right here, so I can chat with you both while I work.” He held his arm out to two barstools with tufted leather cushions.
“Looks comfy.” I hitched onto a stool while Colton did the same and rested my elbows on the dark marble bar top. “So, what do you suggest we try first?”
Eyeing the other bartender, a blonde woman who was making a flaming drink in a tall, metal cocktail glass, Dante said, “We have some amazing tequilas here for our specialty drinks. Let me give you my favorite first.” He patted both our shoulders and strode behind the bar. “Colton, you’re going to love this.”
Dante grabbed two pear-shaped snifters, poured the tequila from a tall ceramic bottle and slid them to us. “There. You’re supposed to sip this, not shoot it.” His eyes twinkled at us. With a glance at a ticket on the bar, he grabbed a shaker and filled it with ice and liquor.
“Here you go, babe.” I held up my drink to Colton for a toast. We had a few matters to discuss after the conversation we’d had in front of my parents.
“To our future?” He offered a broad smile.
I’d never seen him so happy. “Yes, our future together.” I tapped my glass on his and we both sipped the tequila. After a slight burn, notes of vanilla floated across my tongue. “Damn, it’s strong, but it’s way more mellow than what I’ve had for a shot.”
Dante ticked his chin at us. “Yeah,güero, it’s not Jose Cuervo.” He barked out a laugh and went back to work, filling glasses with fancy cocktails with square ice cubes and colorful garnishes.
With a tsk, I said, “I’ve had others besidesthat.” I sipped more tequila, warmth sliding to my belly and a light buzzfloating through my head. “Colton, I wanted to follow up on our conversation we had with my parents.” We shouldn’t get caught like that again. We should have a plan in place. My brother would surely bring it up again tomorrow.
“What’s there to talk about? You’ll find out what team you’ll be playing for in April, and I’ll still have a month to finalize interviews with companies.” He twisted his glass on the bar top.
Apparently, he’d figured it all out. “Okay. But what if you can’t find a job in the city where I’ll be based?” I gauged his reaction. Had I asked the right question? I’d only wanted to be sure he’d be working at a job he enjoyed, not taking one because it fitted the city I’d be in.
“What do you mean?” He eyed me.
“I want you to pick the right job for you, not the first opportunity that comes along.” I fingered the short stem of my glass. “You know, I’ll have a substantial bonus to start out. You won’t have to find a job right away. You could take your time. Find something you’ll really love.”
“So, you’re offering to support me after graduation? Until I find the right job?” He wrapped his hand around my forearm.
I gazed deeply into his stunning green eyes. “Yes, I am.” Holy hell, I loved him, and I only saw it deepening now that we could be together publicly. “I’m serious about you, Colton. About us. I want a future with you. I want to plan a future where we’re both doing what we love, where our lives are exactly the way we want them to be. No settling for anything less.”