Marlow had seen his fair share of the odd, goofy, and somewhat sad things as a bar tender.
But a woman in a wedding gown, ready to walk down the aisle, was now seated at the bar. She was definitely getting stares.
It was around 11:00pm on a Saturday. For the upscale bar Marlow worked at their customer base was usual gone by then. The younger crowd usually spent their Saturday evenings down on North Ave. where all the pubs and hipster bars were.
Marlow stretched, and headed over to the bride.
"So what can-"
"You're most expensive whiskey on the rocks, make it a double" she said cutting him off. She refused to look up.
"Would you like to start a tab um..."
"Hitch" she said sharply, tossing her credit card on to the bar.
He took the card, opened the tab, and poured her drink.
He was surprised when she downed it in 2 gulps. "Another please"
Marlow obliged.
"You're a guy, so answer me this. Why are all men f*ck boys" she asked, looking up at him.
This was the first he saw her face. Her eyes were puffy and red, with the mascara stains on her cheeks.
"To be honest, most of them can be." Marlow said picking up an empty glass from the empty seat a few spots down from Hitch.
"Bartender when your ready?" She said waving her empty glass.
Marlow was keeping a count in his head. He made her a single this time.
By now most of the patrons were gone.
"So.... You wanna talk about it?" Marlow asked trying to make this woman slow down.
"It's one thing for your future husband to cheat on you...but to catch him f*cking your maid of honor in the bathroom at your wedding reception" she said bitterly, taking a sip of her drink. "8 years of my life....in gave to that that..."
"F*ck boy" Marlow answered.
"Exaccccttllyyy" Hitch said, slurring her words a bit.
"So she's a light weight" Marlow thought, "best be careful and cut her off soon"
She finished off her drink, and Marlow was quick to replace it with a glass of water. She shot him a glare.
"Look I gotta protect my job" he said. "But trust me, I know how you feel"
Hitch sipped the water. "I just assumed you were just as bad as the rest of them"
"Not to be one of those 'not all men' but we can get our hearts broken too."
Hitch let out a sigh, "ugh I'm starving ya'll sell any food here?"
"Kitchen closed at 9 unfortunately, but there's a great diner about a block from here open until 3. I get take out there a lot when I'm working closing, just be careful in that dress, its beautiful, but looks like a handful."
Hitch looked a bit deflated. "I just assumed you would go with me"
Marlow felt his face flush. "Well I-I uh..."
"Don't want to be stuck with a jilted bride"
"No no nothing like that, I just didn't want you to think I was a creep or trying to take advantage of the situation" Marlow stammered. "If you can wait about an hourish I'll be done here and we can go."
"Another drink then?" Hitch asked.
"Only a single"
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