James
“I’m Collette.” She stuck her hand out in an introduction, completely throwing me off.
“Carp. Nice to meet you.”
“I haven’t seen you here before.” She paused to get the attention of one of the males behind the counter, who simply nodded as if he knew what she wanted without asking. Then she turned her bright eyes back to me. “First time?”
“Yeah. You a regular?” I didn’t think I’d ever get used to the difference in women in New York versus those in the South. I welcomed the more forward approach—it took off some of the pressure.
She laughed. “You could say that.”
Bridgette returned with a smile that could light up the room, although it wasn’t directed at me. “Hey, Letty. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Turns out I have no life outside these walls.”
“You need anything?”
“No, Eric got it. Thanks.”