"Please, you'll be the bartender in no time." She rolled her eyes. "Girls leave better tips when the bartender's hot, and they spend more time around the bar trying to flirt with him. Trust me, I know this." She chuckled a little to herself, grinning back at him. "It's just earl grey, nothing fancy."
His hand on her shoulder was warm and immediately familiar. "Oh, gorgeous, I hope he's not upset. I hope wherever he is he's happy. And I want you to be happy too, which is why I'm trying not to be too stupid about this. If you end up with me or an entire cheerleading squad, you owe it to everyone to show off your ridiculously gorgeous smile." She offered him some of the tea so he could try it. "I have regular vodka and some sort of berry kind."