The Recipe of Us.

06 | the bartender

< "Bonds that are woven in sadness are stronger than the ties of joy and pleasure." >

The loud slamming of the door pulled me out of my thoughts and I quickly positioned myself with a book and smiled innocently as Avalon appeared with shopping bags.

"You don't have to pretend like you weren't daydreaming. I get it." She said as she dropped her bags on the kitchen island and I ditched the book.

"You will not believe who I just saw." She said with a smirk on her face. "Is this the part where I guess?" I asked and she nodded before smirking.

I scanned the look she had on her face and thought for a while until my face fell.

"No-"

"Yes!"

"You're joking right. Please tell me you're joking."

"I'm not jokinggg!" She answered in her sing-song voice and I groaned.

"Nolan Grey!" She confirmed and I sighed heavily as she stood in front of me. "He was in the Louis Vuitton with his little sister..."

"Melanie," I finished for her and she nodded as she pointed at me.

"Yeah, and she wanted a new purse so he was buying one for her." She finished and I pushed the cushion I picked up to my chest. "Did you speak to him?" I asked and she shook her head.

"No, but he saw me. So he knows I'm back and here for you-"

"Which means he knows something's up. Great." I finished as I stuck my head into the pillow. "I'd give him two days until he decides to call to 'check up on you'." Ava added and I sighed as I lifted my head from the pillow.

"But he hasn't changed at all since I last saw him. I mean he's still super hot-"

"Thanks. Ava. Thanks for pointing that out." I said over her as I ran my hands through my hair. "You're so lucky. You got to choose between the billionaire bartender and Gio," She sighed longingly and I raised my eyebrow.

To say that Nolan is a billionaire is a very big exaggeration, otherwise what would he be doing as a bartender? He just has a lot more money than he knows what to do with.

"Are you assuming that Gio doesn't do anything?"

"Don't get defensive. He fucked you over remember?" She reminded me and I sighed. "I actually didn't want to remember but thanks," I mumbled as I looked down at my hands.

"Fine. Remember my birthday last year. That was fun," Avalon moved towards me and sat down. "You want me to remember the day we met Nolan?" I asked her and she nodded encouragingly.

"It'll make you take your mind off...him."

༺♡༻

"I'm gonna get more shots!" Ava yelled over the loud music and I tugged her back down in her seat next to me. "You are going nowhere. I will get the shots." I warned and she pouted.

"I wanna dance!" She yelled and I looked to her boyfriend, Ethan, for help. "Get the shots." He assured me and I sighed and tugged my dress down before approaching the bar.

My hair tickled my bare back and I adjusted the chains that hooked around my neck, holding the front of my dress up.

I rested my elbow on the bar and leaned forward as I looked around aimlessly. Bars never really scared me.

Sure there's that pit feeling when a slightly drunk, and very horny guy approaches you with intentions to rape you, but other than that...

"Hi, how can I help you?"

I looked back towards the bartender that stood in front of me and I smiled. He was wiping down the area near me but stilled as his eyes locked onto mine.

"Hi, could I get a round of shots for table 11?" I asked nicely and he nodded. I turned around to leave but he called for me so I turned back around.

"I didn't get your name." He said and I smiled.

"It's Riley"

"I'll see you later, Riley."  He said and I waved before turning around and hurrying back to our table. Avalon was resting her head on her palm with her elbow on the table.  "You okay?" I asked as I pushed her hair past her shoulders and she waggled her eyebrows at me.

"What?" I laughed as I sat down next to her. "Bartender was totally flirting with you," She sung over the music and I shook my head. "He was not." I retorted and she didn't seem convinced.

"I'm not interested anyways," I added and she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, cause you have Giovanni," She grumbled and I pushed her hair aside as I smiled to myself.

I have Gio.

༺♡༻

I slowly opened my eyes and sighed to myself as Avalon watched me. "Does it help? Thinking about the past?" She asked me in her serious voice and I turned to look at her.

"It does." I replied with a nod.

"So you don't really need me I guess," She sighed and I rested my head on her shoulder. "I do need you. You being here makes it a whole lot easier," I assured her and she pulled me towards her.

"You don't need to talk about what happened?"

"I don't want to," I sighed heavily. "Right now, I just wanna think," I mumbled.

"Tell me about the show," I suggested, changing the topic. As expected, she went on a ramble about her role and play and I sat silently and listened.

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