‘I’m actually looking for the rear exit,’ she replied, as she pointed at the door.
The chef and the porter exchanged a curious look.
‘Is someone out there bothering you, miss?’ the chef asked. He was a large man who, judging by the size of his waist, clearly enjoyed the food he cooked. ‘If you show me who he is, I can go and have a word. We don’t allow that kind of behavior in here.’
Mary smiled back at the chef. ‘Thank you, that’s very kind of you to offer, but it really isn’t necessary. I know him from work. He’s an OK guy, but sometimes, when he’s had a few too many,he can get a little too insistent, you know what I mean? I find it easier to just avoid it. He probably won’t remember any of it tomorrow.’ She indicated the door again. ‘Do you mind if I leave through the back?’
The large chef shrugged. ‘Sure. Be my guest, but don’t make a habit of it, OK?’
‘I won’t,’ Mary said, as she crossed the kitchen in fast strides. ‘You’re a lifesaver. Thank you again.’ She pushed the door open and finally stepped out into the night.
Eighteen
‘I can see that you’re not only a talented musician,’ Vicky said, as Luke swirled her around before bringing her back closer to him. ‘You can also certainly lead on the dance floor.’ She pressed her hips tighter against his body.
Luke half blushed.
She moved her lips closer to his ear. ‘I wonder what else you’re good at.’
Luke replied with a subtle ‘who knows’ movement of the head, while his eyes moved over Vicky’s shoulder to look in the direction of the door that led to the bathrooms. Mary still hadn’t come back.
The song that they were dancing to came to an end and it was smoothly mixed into the next track – another slow song. Luke let go of Vicky’s body, but she quickly pulled him back towards her.
‘Oh, c’mon,’ she said, locking eyes with him. ‘This is a great song. You’re not going to just leave me here on the dance floor all by myself, are you?’
Luke glanced back in the direction of the bathrooms – still no Mary. He began wondering if maybe there was something wrong. Shewasacting a little different since they walked back into The Whiskey. Maybe she wasn’t feeling too well… or maybe she was trying to avoid him.
‘C’mon,’ Vicky insisted. ‘One more dance?’ She batted her eyelids like Betty Boop.
Luke finally smiled back at her. ‘Sure.’
Throughout the whole song, every chance he got, Luke’s stare would ping back to the door leading to the bathrooms.
No Mary.
As the song drew to an end, Luke nodded at Vicky. ‘Let’s go back to the bar, let me get you one last drink before they shut for the night.’
‘Yeah,’ Vicky replied. ‘I’d like that.’
All the G.R.I.T.S had already left, except for Pam.
‘My turn,’ she said, reaching for Luke’s hand, just as they got to the bar.
Luke clearly wasn’t expecting that.
‘Umm… how about we get a beer first? I think they’ll be closing soon.’ He raised a hand at Josie.
Pam looked a little disappointed, but she agreed to the beer.
‘Last orders, y’all,’ Josie announced, getting to their end of the bar. ‘We’ll be closing in five, OK?’
Luke ordered three bottles of beer and as he did, he leaned over the bar and whispered something in Josie’s ear.
Josie nodded back at him before serving them three bottles of Bud. She then walked out and around the bar and disappeared through the door that led to the bathrooms. Less than a minute later, she was back.
‘She’s not in the bathroom, Luke,’ she told him, as she began wiping down the bar counter.
Luke frowned back at Josie. ‘Did you see her leave at all?’ he asked, turning around to check the dance floor.