“I’m nothing if not worthy,” Violet said, feeling testy.
The parking lot of Ace’s was already full, lines of trucks parked beneath blue security lights. Her stomach did a little flip. Because what the hell was she even doing?
“I’m gonna ride that bull,” she said, gripping the steering wheel tight.
“Oh, don’t ride the bull,” Clara said. “It seems like a good idea when you’re going through a crisis, but it only ends in embarrassment.”
“Maybe it’ll be sexy. Maybe some guy will think it’s sexy.”
“Violet,” Clara said. “No. Also, the guy that thinks it’s sexy is maybe one you should avoid.”
“Why can’t I make a bad decision?”
“Youcan,” Clara said. “I’m not saying you can’t. It’s just... Don’t make a really bad decision. Make like a slightly questionable decision. One that won’t scar you for life, or leave you with a disease.”
“I am given to understand that’s what condoms are for, Clara.”
“Indeed. But condoms don’t help with herpes of the soul.”
Violet narrowed her eyes. “What does that mean?”
“I think it’s self-explanatory.”
“It is not. It isnotself-explanatory. I do not know what it means.”
“Well, I’m not going to explain it to you.”
The two of them got out of the car and headed into the bar.
“I want to get a fancy drink,” Clara said. “Something with like eight cherries and a cup of sugar.”
“Isn’t that...the only kind of alcohol you ever drink?”
“It’s why I rarely drink. I can’t stand beer. And wine is disgusting.”
“That must go over well what with the fact that your sister-in-law owns a giant winery.”
“Yeah. Well, there’s a lot of very nice free wine that is wasted on me.”
They walked into the bar, and Ace, the owner of said bar, was behind the counter. Ace had once been one of Copper Ridge’s most notorious bachelors. But he’d settled down since. Didn’t mean he wasn’t still incredibly good-looking, though.
“What can I get for you?” he asked, smiling broadly.
“I’ll have... I’ll have...whiskey.”
Yeah, she would have whiskey. So there.
“Something really sweet. With cherries.”
“Can I get you a Shirley Temple, Clara?” he asked.
“No, I want something with booze.”
“Do you, though?” Ace pressed.
“Well, no. Especially now that she ordered a whiskey. You were supposed to designated drive,” Clara said.
“I know. But it’s my emancipation.”