“You shock me,” Lena admitted as she pulled her car into the parking lot. “In a good way.”
Rachel unfastened her seat belt. “I appreciate the invitation. You’re right—it’s time for me to get out a little.”
When her friend had phoned to suggest they go out to a bar for the evening, Rachel had found herself wanting to accept the invitation. Josh was celebrating the end of school with a sleepover at a friend’s house for the night. She’d thought she might hear from Greg, but she hadn’t. She was still trying to work through what had happened at the tasting dinner two nights before. Going out with Lena had seemed like the perfect distraction.
They got out of the car. “Did I tell you that you look great?” her friend asked. “You do.”
“Thanks.” Rachel self-consciously smoothed the front of her dress. Her reduced calorie diet and morning walks were paying off. She’d lost ten pounds and was back in a dress she hadn’t worn in maybe three years. Despite her long day at work, she felt good. She’d taken extra time with her hair and makeup. Not that she was interested in impressing anyone. Instead, she’d done it for herself.
Lena paused outside the entrance. “We need a game plan.”
Rachel laughed. “We’re going to go inside, have a couple of drinks, and then we’re going home.”
“What if you see a good-looking guy?”
“We’ll giggle about it.”
Lena groaned. “What if he asks if he can buy you a drink?”
“Not gonna happen.”
“What if it does?”
She knew what her friend was trying to say. That it was time for Rachel to get back out there. She’d been divorced for nearly two years. She wasn’t that old, so finding someone to spend the rest of her life with made sense. There was only one problem—she wasn’t over Greg.
“I’ll thank him and say no.”
“I knew you were going to say that.”
“Hey, at least I got dressed up and came out with you. Baby steps.”
“You’re right. I’ll take what I can get.”
She pulled open the door. Harry’s Bar was located down by the pier. The clientele was a pretty even mix of locals and tourists. For Los Lobos, it was considered fairly upscale—with nice finishes and decent lighting. In addition to the usual drink selection, there was also a menu of light bites and a flatbread of the day.
They took a table by the windows. Rachel scanned the cocktail menu, then passed it to her friend.
“What looks good?” Lena asked.
“I’m going to try the blueberry mojito.”
“Wild woman.”
“I’m trying.”
Rachel looked out at the hundred-plus-year-old pier where families and couples were enjoying the warm late-June evening. The beginning of tourist season. The town’s population would swell, and businesses would be busy for everyone. Especially at the hotel.
Thinking about the hotel made her think of Courtney.
“Uh-oh,” Lena said. “What?”
“I still can’t wrap my mind around Courtney. About getting her GED and going to college. She and I talk nearly every day. We hang out. We’ve always been close. What happened?”
“I don’t know,” Lena admitted. “I can’t imagine keeping something like that from my family or you. Have you talked to her?”
Rachel shook her head. “She’s left me some messages and a few texts. At some point I’ll have to answer. I honestly don’t know what to say to her.”
“I get you’re upset. I would be, too. But don’t stay mad too long. You two have a great relationship. I’d hate to see you lose that.”
The server came by to take their drink orders. Rachel used the interruption to change the subject.
“How are the vacation plans coming?”
Lena and her family were planning a four-week road trip. It was Rachel’s idea of hell, but she understood that some people enjoyed hours and hours together in the car.
“There are maps everywhere in our house,” Lena said with a laugh. “Right now the discussion is about how long to spend with Toby’s parents. I love my in-laws, but anything more than three nights is too much.”
Lena spoke for a few more minutes, then excused herself to use the restroom. Rachel sat alone at the table and realized she wasn’t sure she’d ever been in a bar by herself. She’d married so young. By the time she turned twenty-one, she was a mother. Going to bars didn’t fit in with her lifestyle.
She felt her purse buzz and pulled out her cell phone. She had a text from Greg.
What are you up to tonight?
She studied the message. If only he’d asked a few hours ago. As it was...