“Thanks. You too.” Mari held the door. “Do you want me to carry that?”
“I’m good right now. I may before we’re done. Art store or food next?” She was easy. This was heaven.
“Food. I’m hungry now that you suggested soup. By the time we get there you’re going to be ready to sit anyway.”
“Yeah.” No shit on that. This was hard exercise. Way more challenging than the gym. “I think you’re right.”
“Whitewater Tavern. That place looks good.” And it was right here. “That’s…wait, is that bar we were at last night?”
“Uh-huh.” At least she thought so. It was a little fuzzy.
“I thought it looked familiar. Well, they had a big menu, so…dare we?” Mari winked at her.
“I bet the daytime staff is totally different.”
“Mari! Beks! Our singing duet of love!”
Oh goodness.
“Hi!” Mari smiled and waved, then leaned close to her and whispered, “Wait. I don’t remember her name, do you?”
“Nope. We called her ‘pretty tequila girl’.” At least that was her recollection.
“Right. Shit.” Mari took a few steps ahead of her and smiled at the woman. “No singing today. We’re just hungry.”
“Aww…that’s a shame. We had fun last night, didn’t we, ladies?”
A huge group cheered.
“More fun than we can really remember.” Mari chuckled. “Right, pretty?”
“You know it, babe, but we were sore this morning, so it was fun.” She winked over, teasing hard.
“Grab a booth, and I’ll bring you some menus. What are you drinking?”
“Water,” Mari answered quickly.
“I’ll take a Diet Coke for now, thanks, honey.” Bekka wasn’t sure she was ever drinking again.
“When you’re drinking, the first round is on me!” The grin she got was pure wicked, from a flannel-shirted buff woman holding a pretty lady on one arm, a leash in the hand. The leash led to a wagging hound dog that looked happy as a clam.
Mari’s eyes lit up. “Puppy! May I?”
“Sure! He’s a sweetheart. His name is Goober, and he loves attention.” The woman winked at the pretty little thing in her arms. “These two were having a good time last night while I was in here with Evie. I’m Lars, by the way, and this here is my better half, Charlotte.”
“Hi. I’m Marissa, this is—uh…” Mari actually glanced at her. “Sorry. This is mygirlfriend, Rebekka.” Marissa shook their hands quickly, then bent to play with Goober, who was all lolling tongue and love. “Oh, you are the best aren’t you?”
Goober licked her, butt wiggling, tail going ninety to nothing.
“Good boy. I love that they allow dogs in here.” Mari stood up again and hooked an arm around her, letting her lean. “Beks needs to sit down. Are you just walking in? Did you want to join us for lunch?”
Lars glanced at Charlotte, who smiled and nodded. It worked for Bekka, barring the whole struck-dumb-by-the-girlfriend thing.
She did manage a smile and a nod.
“Good, come sit. We’re still not drinking yet, though. We overdid it a little last night. Are you okay in a booth, Beks? Or there’s a table right there.”
“I’m cool in a booth. Less ways to bump into me. Last night was a hoot, wasn’t it?” They headed over and sat, stashing her crutches and settling.