“Yeah. I can put things in it and they don’t get stuck in the loop.” I wave a hand. “It’s confusing, I know.”
Bee interrupts. “Hold on hold on, let’s back up here. What happens other than work, dealing with Chad, and helping Dolly here?”
“That’s . . . generally it. I mean—”
“Baby, let me see if I am getting this straight. You have a lifetime to get this day right, and so far, you’ve worked at keeping a desk job, avoiding a creep—who you could avoid by just, I don’t know, giving up the desk job—and the only marginally interesting thing you’ve done is make a costume for Dolly here?”
“Not entirely. There is a man,” I admit, blowing out a breath. “A much better man than Mark, er, Chad, and it doesn’t matter because it’s doomed before it can begin.”
“Who are we talking about now?” Dolly asks.
“This guy that I’ve liked for a long time. He likes me too, but we can never actually be together. Because tomorrow, I’ll wake up and it will be Monday again and even if I get him to ask me out every day for eternity, then what? We’ll have one date over and over and never move beyond that.”
Fifi nods. “That describes most of my adult relationships.” She pauses. “Except without the prude stuff. Mine are just sex over and over. So really, it’s nothing like your situation.”
I laugh.
Bee rolls her eyes. “No wonder you’re in a time loop. The universe is telling you to shake things up, honey.”
“I have shaken things up. I have really put myself out there. But it still doesn’t work out.”
“I want to meet this lover boy.” Bee slaps the table with a palm. “Where is he at?” She glances around, like he’s hiding in the woodwork.
I shake my head. “Oh, no. No no no.”
“Why not?” Dolly asks.
“I’m trying to stay away from him. I get too . . . involved. Obsessed. First, I was obsessed with keeping my job, and then I was obsessed with Alex, and now I’m obsessed with Dolly.” I jerk my thumb in her direction.
Dolly puts a hand over mine, her eyes serious and regretful. “Honey, I’m gay.”
I laugh. “I know, but . . .” I can’t exactly say, you cry every night and I’m trying to help you. It’s not my place, and I don’t want to embarrass her.
“Bartender!” Bee yells. “Let’s have another drink and go meet this magic man.”
“I don’t think—” They all whoop and cheer and order another round and I sigh.
Probably the worst decision I could make, but I miss Alex. I’ve been missing him. I want to see him. And I’m buzzed.
We take an Uber, and getting out of the car is a hassle because Dolly has decided the Uber driver is her new boyfriend. He finds it hilarious and even gives her his number.
We finally get her out of the car and the driver leaves, but before we make it to the door, Fifi spots a picture of Patrick Swayze taped to a pole on the corner.
“Oh my, Dolly. Look, it’s a sign!” She points at the picture with one long manicured finger.
Dolly struts over, tripping only a little on her super high heels and then puts her hand on her head dramatically. “It is a sign.”
“Oh, here we go,” Bee mutters, walking over to join them.
Fifi and Dolly start fighting and bickering over who loves Patrick more, Bee shushes them, and I burst into giggles.
“Jane.” I spin around at the sound of my name.
Alex is standing near the door of the Saloon, staring at me with wide eyes. “Jane? Is that . . . what are you doing here?”
“Alex! You invited me.” A delicate burp slips through my lips.
Oops.
I cover my mouth with my hand.
A crease forms between his brows, one side of his mouth quirking up in a half smile. Dammit he’s cute.
Oh, wait. I didn’t go to work today, so he couldn’t have invited me.
Dammit. This is why I don’t drink.
“I didn’t see you this morning. Presley said you didn’t show for the meeting. What happened?”
“I’m not going back. I quit.” I grin. “Now we can be together.”
Okay. Really need to stop drinking.
“Are you . . . ?” He steps toward me, the confusion now turning into concern. “Are you drunk?”
“I loved Patrick Swayze. I really miss that guy.” Dolly is hugging the pole with the picture of Patrick Swayze.
“I’m not, but they are.” I point to the queens.
“Girl, you don’t know who’s been doing what to this thing.” Bee is doing her best to yank Dolly away from the Patrick picture.
I snort out a laugh.
Oh, shit. I’m screwing this all up. “I’m sorry. This was a bad idea. We should go.”
Fifi decides at that moment to come up beside me, lacing her arm with mine and fluttering her thick lashes at Alex. “Oh, honey, he’s cute. You should definitely go full peanut butter for him. Creamy peanut butter.”
“Hi.” Alex sticks out his hand. “I’m Alex.”
“This is Fifi,” I tell him.
Fifi gives him her fingers and Alex shakes them.
“Dolly is the one over there humping the pole, and Queen Bee is trying to get her to stop. We should probably go.” I tug Fifi with me toward the other queens.
“Wait, how did you know I would be here?”
“That’s a very good question.”
“She has a magic closet,” Fifi tells him. “I wish I had a magic closet at your age, because then coming out of it might have been a lot easier.” She hoots out a laugh.
“Nurse!” Queen Bee yells. Dolly is on the ground, long legs straight up in the air.
Fifi runs over and pulls on Dolly’s hands to yank her to her feet.
“Do you ladies need a ride home?” Alex asks, eyeing Bee and Dolly, who are now falling all over each other with laughter.
I nod. “That might be a good idea.”
Alex somehow procures a cab for Fifi and Bee, who both live in Pacific Heights, and gets them sent off. Then Dolly and I get into the old Bronco, me in the front and
