Chapter 7

           “Drinks tonight?”        

            Ava looked up from her desk to seeLibby standing in the doorway of her office. “It’s ten a.m. and you’re alreadytalking about alcohol. Have you ever considered that you might have a problem.”Ava smiled.

            “You need to get out.”

            “Thanks for reminding me,” Ava said.“I’m always so thankful when my married friends point out all of myshortcomings.”

            “I’m buying.”

            “Then I’ll be there,” Ava said.“We’ll leave from here?”

            “Works for me.”

            “Our usual spot?”

            “But, of course,” Libby said. “Iwouldn’t want dear Francis the bartender to think we’d been swallowed by ablack hole. We haven’t hit him up for obnoxious amounts of extra olives inalmost two weeks.”

            “Do I hear something about a girls’night?” Much like an early period or a tax audit, Harriet appeared unexpectedlybehind Libby in the hallway. It wasn’t until Ava saw that Harriet was wearingbright blue Capri pants, a bright blue turtleneck and a blue turban that sherealized it was only Wednesday. Wednesday was Harriet’s blue day.

            “Just making time for a little girltalk, Harriet,” Libby said.

            “That sure sounds like fun.”

            “Would you like to join us?” Libbysaid. Ava would have pinched Libby if she weren’t so far away.

            “Thanks for the invite, but Ican’t,” Harriet said. “I’ll be working late.”

            “That’s really too bad,” Ava saidand Libby shot her a look that said she wasn’t doing the best job of keepingthe glee out of her voice.”

            “Idon’t know where you girls find the time,” Harriet said, and she tsk-ed a bit. “Youmust not have enough on your plate, Ava. Why don’t you send me some ideas forthe holiday issue then?”

            “No problem,” Ava said. “What wereyou thinking?”

            “Oh, five pages or so should besufficient.”

            “I’ll have it in your inbox by theend of the day.”

            “Lovely,” Harriet said.“Single-spaced, please.” Then she turned and walked back down the hallway. Avabent over her desk and began banging her forehead against the keyboard over andover again.

            “At least we’re having drinkslater?” Libby said.

            “At least.”

            “I’ll meet you in the parking lot at5:30.” Libby said, and she scooted the other way down the hall towards heroffice.

            With a new assignment on her plate,Ava abandoned her pity party (and head banging) and decided to start thinkingof holiday story ideas: Makeup to Giveand Receive, Holiday Parties With a Purpose,Glossy Gastronomy …

            At least there was the promise ofthat drink – or three – or five.

            “You notice Harriet didn’t feel likeloading you down with work as a punishment for having a life,” Ava said. Sheand Libby were at their usual spot, Sparky’s. It was a terrible bar with aterrible name, but it was close enough to the office to provide easy accessafter work and the low-brow establishment also had the bonus of being a spotneither Harriet or any of their other co-workers would be willing to be caughtdead in. Plus, the liquor was cheap, there was an air hockey table if the womenneeded to blow off some steam and Francis the bartender waited on them hand andfoot. (It helped that Ava and Libby were the only women and the only patronsunder the age of 50 who ever visited Sparky’s.)

            “She’s jealous of you. She couldcare less about me.”

            “I’m sure,” Ava said.

            “I’m a writer by trade. You’re oneby vocation,” Libby said. “Harriet is just like me. She can put words together,but she doesn’t move people. She’s just like me, but she’s always wanted to belike you.”

“So, in her admiration she decides to make memiserable,” Ava said. “Awesome.”

“And you make it look easy, and she hates you forit. So, she punishes you. Sorry O Gifted One, but you do have a sensibilitymost writers like me would kill for.”

“Talent or no, we’re still all working for the samemagazine.”

“Harriet and I work there because we have to. Youwork there because you’re scared.”

“Right,” Ava said.

“You’re scared to fail, and you know it,” Libbysaid. “As soon as you decide to believe in yourself, you’re out of there.”

“It’s funny you should bring that up,” Ava said.“I’ve wanted to tell you more about that meeting I took for you on Monday.”

“Is this where you kill me?”

“No, I actually learned a lot from your contact,”Ava said. “I think I might spend some more time with her.”

Libby almost spit out her drink. “You can jokearound all you want Ava Carson, but at least have the decency to wait untilI’ve swallowed. I refuse to waste perfectly good vodka because you’re pullingmy leg.”

“I mean it,” Ava said. “She had some reallyinteresting stuff to say. I may even want to write about it.”

“Really? What would you write?”

“Well, we started talking about the family courthere in town …” Ava was just about to share the finer points of what she’dlearned in the past few days when Libby’s eyes went wide and Ava could tell shewas no longer listening. She followed Libby’s gaze to the front door ofSparky’s and saw two young, attractive men in business suits enter the bar.“Shit,” she said, under her breath.

“Do you know them?” Libby asked.

“Not exactly,” Ava said.

“Well, I think you should then,” she said.“Good-looking men never walk into this bar. It’s a sign.”

“It’s a strange, random occurrence,” Ava said asshe turned her back to the door and put her head down.

“It’s a sign,” Libby said. “And the single cannotafford to ignore the signs.”

“Really, Libby,” Ava said, but Libby had alreadybegun waving frantically at the two young professionals. “What are you doing?”

“I’m married. I can make a complete fool of myself.Besides, complaining about your embarrassing friend is a great ice breaker.”

            Ava saw the men approaching andslunk even lower in her seat.

            “What brings you two to Sparky’s?”Libby said. “And, by the way, I’m Libby, and this is my incredibly talented andavailable friend Ava.”

            “Hi,” Ava said.

            Both men wore dark suits. Theshorter one was  blond with brown eyes,and the other was a brunette with incredibly piercing blue eyes.

            “I’m Mark,” the blond said. “And wecame to Sparky’s because we never thought we’d be discovered here.”

            “What a coincidence,” Libby said.“We like this little bar for the very same reason. Do you work around here?”

            “Not really,” Mark said. “Butfinding an old school air hockey machine isn’t as easy as it used to be.”

            “I had no idea,” Libby said. “Andwho’s your friend?”

            “I’m sorry,” the brunette said toAva. “But do we know each other?’

            “I don’t think so,” Ava said,avoiding eye contact – which was pretty damn hard with the baby blues on thatone.

            “Do you read Gloss magazine?” Libbysaid.

            “Sometimes,” the brunette said.

            “Ava here is the features editor,and I’m the beauty editor. Maybe you’ve seen our photos in the magazine.”

            “I don’t think that’s it,” thebrunette said, and he continued to study Ava’s face.

            “Are you an animal lover? Ava’salways volunteering at some sort of Humane Society event or other.”

            “I do like animals, but that’s notit either.”

            “Where’d you go to school?” Libbysaid.

            “Geez, Libby,” Ava said. “Give it arest already.”

            “That’s it,” the brunette said, “NowI know how I know you – you’re the one who called me a jackass in open court.”

            Libby turned to Ava, mouth openwide. Mark wore a similar facial expression.

            “Guilty as charged,” Ava said.

            “You called him a jackass?” Libbysaid. “In court?”

            “It’s a long story,” Ava said. “And,in fairness, you know it is one of my favorite words.”

            “I’m Eric, the jackass, by the way,”he said, extending his hand to Libby.

            “Nice to meet you,” Libby said.

            Eric turned and extended his hand toAva. “Eric – in case you’d like to know how my friends usually refer to me.”

            “We like jackass, too,” Mark said.

            “Ava. Ava who can’t keep her mouthshut.”

            “It’s nice to meet you, Ava,” Ericsaid.

            “Is it too late for an apology?” Avasaid.

            “It’s never too late for an apology,but I might mull it over a bit before accepting.”

            “Fair enough.” Ava couldn't help but think that this was just her luck. Not only did the stranger she insulted show up at her favorite bar -- making it forever again uninhabitable -- but he also had to be attractive, wedding ring-less and accompanied by an equally attractive friend.

            Mark and Libby seemed to think thisexchange was just a hysterical and delightful way to begin a conversation, butAva couldn’t get over her humiliation. And from the very little that Eric addedto the group conversation, Ava was pretty sure that Eric didn’t think theincident from the day before was quite so funny either. Libby and Markcontinued to talk about the upcoming college football season, city councilelections and the latest in reality TV, but Ava found the first possible excuseto leave when she finished her drink.

            “Why such an early night?” Francissaid as she paid her tab.

            “I just think it’s time to go beforeI do or say something I’ll regret,” Ava said. She left off the “else.”

            “Have a good night, sweetheart,”Francis said.

            “You too.”

            Ava felt Eric’s eyes boring a holeinto the back of her head all the way out the door.