Chapter 28: The Date - Georgie

For the fifth time, and without meaning to, I lean back a little to catch my reflection in the mirror behind the bar.

It's not easy, only a partial view, blocked by ranked bottles of spirits and liqueurs. Besides, I've already checked myself over in the bathroom. I know that my make-up is well applied, my clothes look good and there's no spinach poking from between my teeth. I started the evening with my hair up, fussing with a complicated knot-work of braids for nearly an hour before I decided it looked just too complicated...

Casual venue...

Trying too hard...

... then spending another twenty minutes with comb and tongs smoothing it all out again. Now it drapes over my shoulders, the glossy black of a raven's wing, catching highlights from the spots.

The door swings, and on autopilot, I lean to see who entered...

Just some stranger...

One eye on the mirror again, I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, hesitate...

No, it looked better before...