The Jump

11 Possibilities

Two weeks later as the night was winding down, Lucinda wiped the tables and swept the floor while Raif counted out the register. The night had been busier than expected with the local senior citizen chess club using the place for their weekly tournament again. The game had run well over closing time, but Raif let the members finish up, happy that they brought in business for the night. Later once they were all gone, he appeared from the back office with Lucinda's share of the tips.

"We did good today. What do you say we visit Chuck over at the Riptide?"

"I'm really tired Raif," she replied with a droop of her shoulders. "I just want to get home."

"Oh come on Lucinda. You've been working hard for the last two weeks. You deserve to have a little fun. Just one drink... I'll buy." He smiled.

"Ok... but just one," she huffed, trying to hold back her own smile. "My feet are killing me."

He grinned at her. "Didn't have to twist your arm much, did I?"

"Oh hush!" Lucinda narrowed her eyes at him. "I could change my mind and just go home instead."

He held his hands up. "Ok, fine, fine. I won't push it. Now let's get out of here."

After locking up, Raif and Lucinda walked over to the Riptide a few doors down and were greeted with a cheery welcome from Chuck. A few of the locals who frequented the Barrel Wave, gazed up from their pint glasses and nodded in their direction. It was the first time Lucinda had ever been inside the Riptide and she was suprised by its decor. She had imagined it being a dark dive bar with scuffed wood floors, tattered faux leather booths and barstools with deflated cushions. Except it was actually charming with it's two toned colored walls meant to resemble the ocean and sky. There was even a mural on one of the walls, showing life under the sea with crustaceans crawling along the sand, fish swimming in clusters, and sea otters playing in a forest of kelp. A row of pub tables ran down the middle of the room and against the walls were booths with each of them having glossy surfboards as table tops. Scattered about the ceiling were wrought iron chandeliers, which had been carefully bent and crafted to look like octopuses giving off dim light.

"It's so nice in here." Lucinda regarded as she and Raif settled onto a barstool.

"Thanks, hun," Chuck replied and slid a pint of amber beer in front of Raif. "What's your poison, Lucinda? That way I can start making it for you as soon as you walk through the door next time."

"Um..." She thought it over, except she had no clue what to order. She hadn't been inside a bar since being with her ex fiancé and even then he always ordered for her because she never knew what to get. "I don't know. I've never been good at figuring out what I like."

Chuck narrowed his eyes as if studying her and then slapped the bartop. "I think you look like the kind of girl who enjoys a fruity drink, but with a kick."

"Sounds good to me." She smiled with a bounce of her shoulders.

She watched him go to work as he did bottle tricks that consisted of juggling liquor bottles while simultaneously letting the fluid stream into the mixing tin on the counter. When he was done with the theatrics he slid her a yellowish, orange colored drink in a pint glass.

"That will put some hair on your chest." Chuck winked. He was right. The drink was strong but still tasted like passion fruit, which was a perfect mix for trouble. She turned to Raif and raised her glass to him.