He nodded. “It’s an antique the original owner put in. Solid mahogany and everything. Business has really picked up this summer, so it seems like the right time. The problem is my bartenders are already over worked.”
“That sounds great, but I have no idea how to bartend.”
Max laughed. “I know. Maddy said you’d say that. She’s going to work with you. I’ll cover the front for an hour a night so you can watch her. Does that work for you? We can start it slow up there too, even just make it beer and a few drinks at first.”
“So you’re really offering to hire me as a bartender?”
“Yes, contingent on you learning the ropes. Take your time. I have Dale and Alana pulling some extra shifts the next few weeks.”
“The next few weeks? So you’d want me to start that soon?”
“If you can.” He smiled. “I knew I could count on you.”
“Thanks.” I smiled back before he turned and walked away.
I barely had time to contemplate the possible new job before Maddy showed up. “Hey, did Max talk to you yet?”
“Yeah. It looks like I’m going to get to bartend after all.”
“Do you want to shadow me tonight or wait until tomorrow night?”
“If you don’t mind, I’m kind of jumping at the chance.”
She laughed. “Okay, tonight it is.”
Max showed up again twenty minutes later, and I took a slow walk out to the tikki bar where Maddy was working. The place was hopping, and I hoped I didn’t slow her down or anything.
“Hey. You can take a seat.” Maddy gestured to a stool.
I decided to stay standing. It was easier to see that way. It wasn’t like I hadn’t watched Maddy work before, but it was different watching from behind the bar. Maddy seemed to grow more confident behind it. I felt intimidated. It was like every patron was looking at me. They probably were wondering why I wasn’t helping her.
She mixed something in a blender and turned to me. “Could you grab three Coronas from the fridge?”
“Sure.” I searched around for a second until I found the beer fridge. I pulled out the three bottles and then awkwardly waited until she finished ringing up a customer to talk to her again. “Am I supposed to open them?”
A guy around my age laughed. “I’m hoping this is your first night.”
Maddy glared at him. “And I’m hoping you’re not expecting service if you bother her again.”
He held up his hands in defense. “I was just joking. I have no problem being patient for a pretty girl.” He ran his eyes up and down me. I was glad Max had ordered some more medium shirts. At least my breasts weren’t quite as vividly on display when I worked anymore.
She turned her back on him and rolled her eyes. I stifled a laugh.
“It’s easier if you use this.” She pointed out the built in bottle opener.
“Nice. Thanks.” I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed that myself.
Maddy got swarmed, but she tried to give me a play by play of everything she was doing. “Remember to always set out a cocktail napkin for every drink.”
That seemed basic enough, but I wished I could get away with taking notes. As the crowd grew I felt bad just sitting there. “Isn’t there anything else I can do?”
“He just wants a gin and tonic. Want to make one?” She gestured to a man waiting with his arms crossed.
“Uh, how do you know how much gin and how much tonic to put in?”
She smiled. “I’ll show you.”
“First grab a glass. Oh, also remember at the beginning of each shift to check to see that you have enough clear barware.”
“Gotcha.”
“Fill this with ice.” She pointed to the glass.
“The ice is…” I could feel my cheeks heating. It was my first time back there, but shouldn’t I have been able to figure that out on my own?
She pointed out the ice, and I waited for the next instruction. “It’s just a single shot of gin, and then tonic. I’ll do it now to save time.” I stepped back to let her work. “Then it’s just adding the lime and stirring.”
I nodded. “Got it.” All right, I had a lot studying to do. I was going to have tons of drinks to memorize.
The night wore on, and I could tell I was more in Maddy’s way than I was helping. I slipped back out to the front.
“How’d it go?” Max asked. The only new customers coming in were heading to the bars, so he didn’t have to do much.
“Horribly. I have no idea what I’m doing.” I don’t know why I was so honest with Max. He was just the kind of person you wanted to be open with.
“You’ll learn. Here, come with me for a second.” He headed back toward his office, and I followed. He went over to his bookshelf and grabbed a weathered book that looked like it had been through a lot. “This is the book I learned from. Most of it’s still the same, and you’ll figure out the rest.”
“I can bring it home?”
“Of course. You’re living with Macon and Brody now, aren’t you?”
I nodded.
“I’m sure Macon wouldn’t mind helping you.” There was a twinkle in Max’s eye I decided not to read into. Whatever he was implying about Macon, I didn’t really care. I at least I had something to work off of.
“Thanks so much.” I held the book against my chest as I made my way back outside. Things had quieted down a little.
Maddy chewed her bottom lip nervously. “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”
“It’s fine! You were so busy. I’m going to practice at home,” I held up the book.
“Practice at home?” She took the book from me. “Where did you get this?”
“Max said I could borrow it.”
She smiled. “He’s sure a softie.”
“Yeah, well I appreciate it. Maybe I can learn some on my own before I try it here.”
“That’s a really good idea. I took a class during college so I didn’t have to learn on the spot. Feel free to come by anytime if you want help.”
“Thanks, I’ll probably take you up on that.” I made my way back up to the front. I was going to learn. I’d made it through four years of college, hadn’t I? How much harder could bartending be?
***
“I need your help.” Those four words were hard to say to anyone, let alone Macon, but Brody didn’t really drink and was out of town, so I didn’t have any one else to ask. Besides, Max had suggested I ask Macon for help.