She locked the apartment door behind her and rode the elevator down to the lobby.
What was she so afraid of? She’d been through hell the last few years. She could do anything!
That got an earworm started in her head, the song by Hedley that also told her she could do anything, but it was a good refrain to play over and over as she sat in the taxi.
Lovey was already there with her friend Jillian. Introductions were made, Amber hung her jacket on a hook near their table and sat to look at the drinks menu. “What are you drinking?” she asked Lovey.
“A Porn Star Martini.”
Amber blinked. “Is it good?”
“It’s awesome. Here, taste.” She slid the glass across the polished wood table.
Amber took a sip. “Wow, that is good.”
“I’ve got a mojito,” Jillian said. “Lovey likes to try new drinks all the time.”
Lovey grinned. “Maybe I’ll try one of everything on the menu tonight.”
“And who’s going to carry you out of here?” Jillian asked. “Your big, buff boyfriend’s not around.”
“I’m the one who should be drinking everything on the menu,” Amber said. “I’m celebrating tonight.” She told them about her new job.
“Oh, congratulations!” Lovey jumped off her stool and came to throw her arms around Amber, startling her. “That’s so great! I’m happy for you!”
“Thank you.” Amber smiled and hugged her back, a little shimmer of happiness going through her that her new friend cared. “I think I’ll try a Rasmopolitan. I don’t usually drink cocktails. I’m more of a beer girl. But that sounds good.”
Lovey’s other friends, Dior and Leigh, arrived together then. More introductions and drink orders and congratulations ensued. As the others chatted, Amber sat back a little and listened. Jillian and Leigh and Dior had known one another for a long time; Jillian and Lovey had gone to college together in Madison and had just reconnected a few months ago when Lovey’d moved to Chicago. Leigh was quieter than the others, especially quieter than Lovey, who was so bubbly and energetic.
“Tell us about your date last night,” Lovey asked Dior.
“Oh my God.” Dior put her head in her hands. “Another disaster. I don’t understand why I’m cursed like this.”
“Oh no. What happened?”
“Well, we went for dinner. And the waitress was his ex-girlfriend.”
“Ack!”
Amber made a sympathetic face along with the others. “Did he know she worked there?”
“How could he not? He didn’t seem really surprised to see her. Then he asked her to join us after her shift was over.”
“Sweet cheese-its,” Lovey breathed.
Amber cracked up at Lovey’s funny expression. “Sweet cheese-its?”
Lovey grinned. “Hey, I can’t help it. Grew up on a dairy farm.”
“She says that stuff all the time.” Jillian waved a hand. “You get used to it. Go on, Dior.”
“I got out of there as fast as I could,” Dior said. “It was so awkward. Later on, he texted me and told me he had a really good time.” She rolled her eyes. “Sure he did, he was with his ex. Then he said, and I kid you not, ‘You have really nice boobs.’?”
Shocked gasps filled the air. Then Lovey burst into giggles. “Shut the front door! He did not say that!”
“Oh yes he did.” Dior made a mallard mouth, nodding, and pulled out her phone to show them. They all read the offending text message.
“I can’t believe that!”
Amber laughed and commiserated too.
“The last guy I went out with showed up for our date dressed as a Ninja,” Dior told Amber.
Amber choked on a laugh. “What? Why?”
Dior shrugged. “No idea. He thought it was cool, I guess. I could go on and on about my bad dating luck. But hey, enough about that. Tell us more about your new job.”
“Have you heard of the Chicago Communities Program?”
Jillian and Leigh shook their heads, but Dior said, “I have. I work for a nonprofit too.”
“Oh cool.” She told them more about the organization. “We help neighborhoods develop partnerships to address challenges around things like employment, education, housing, and safety. My job as a program manager will be acting as an intermediary to bring together different organizations to plan and implement various improvement projects. I had ideas when I was interning with them that I hope to get to work on.”
“That sounds really amazing,” Jillian said. “You make me feel so shallow. I just sell beer.”
Amber laughed. “Beer is very important. And before I start my job, I have to get through school.” She grimaced. “Exams and thesis project to finish. Oy.”
“You’ll do fine.” Lovey gave a firm nod.
“Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
They ordered food and watched the game, cheering loudly when the Aces scored, much to the amusement of the other bar patrons.
“They think we’re puck bunnies,” Lovey smirked at one point.
“You are,” Leigh said, pointing at her with a French fry.