Bar Love

Every Saturday, Elise and her mother, Marianne, attended the same traveling event. It was a grand spectacle—a massive venue pulsing with lights, live music, and a sprawling outdoor fairground. But before the gates opened, guests had to wait.

The waiting area was a spacious courtyard lined with sturdy wooden benches, a place where eager attendees gathered and watched the world pass by. Elise and Marianne always arrived early, taking their usual spot. Marianne, ever the lively and playful woman, filled the time with conversation and laughter. Elise, more reserved, hid behind the curtain of her dark brown hair, and golden eyes quietly observing the people around them.

At last, the gates swung open, and they stepped onto the vibrant fairgrounds. A lush expanse of green grass spread out before them, dotted with booths selling trinkets, carnival games, and—most importantly—the bar. It was tradition for the mother and daughter to stop for drinks before heading inside for the concert.

Marianne wasted no time ordering her usual glass of wine, while Elise opted for something simple and sweet. But as she placed her order, she noticed a new face behind the bar.

The bartender was tall, with jet-black hair tied back in a short ponytail, a shadow of stubble on his freshly shaven face, and dark brown eyes that held a quiet charm. He met her gaze and gave a small nod before sliding her drink across the counter.

"Thanks," Elise said softly, her fingers brushing the cool glass as she took it.

He smirked. "Enjoy."

Though naturally shy, Elise found herself speaking with him between customers, their conversation easy and light. His name was Caleb, and he had just started traveling with the event. He was confident but not overbearing, and something about his presence made her feel comfortable. Before long, the concert began, and Elise and Marianne left for the night.

The next evening followed much the same pattern—waiting on the benches, watching the roads, and stepping into the fairgrounds when the gates opened. But this time, as Elise approached the bar, Caleb lifted a hand in a casual wave.

Elise felt heat creep up her neck. She hesitated for only a second before shyly waving back.

"You should go talk to him," Marianne whispered, smirking behind her wine glass.

Elise shot her a look but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at her lips.

That night, she and Caleb talked even more. When the bar wasn’t busy, he challenged her to a drinking race—him with a beer, her with her usual sweet cocktail. She lost spectacularly. Laughing, Caleb slid another drink her way, this one on the house.

"You’re trying to get me drunk," she accused playfully.

"Maybe," he teased, leaning on the counter.

What neither of them noticed was Marianne sitting back with a knowing smile, taking note of every blush, every lingering glance, and every quiet laugh Elise shared with the bartender.

By the third night, Elise was in high spirits, singing loudly with Marianne as they waited on the benches. The two harmonized, earning amused glances from strangers. Elise didn’t care—she was enjoying herself.

When the gates opened, she spotted Caleb right away, waiting at the bar. Marianne gave her a playful nudge before slipping away to play carnival games, leaving Elise to her own devices.

Tonight felt different.

Caleb had a rare break and took the seat beside her, a bottle of whiskey in hand. Elise surprised him by ordering a whiskey with caramel drizzle, something bolder than her usual sweet drinks. He raised an eyebrow but poured her one anyway.

They sat at the far end of the bar, away from the crowd, where Elise felt most at ease. Anxiety had always gnawed at her in packed spaces, and that was the real reason she drank before the concert—to take the edge off. Caleb didn’t pry, didn’t push, just sat with her, close enough that their knees touched. Neither of them moved away.

As the night stretched on, the concert began, but neither of them left.

Elise swirled her drink, watching the way the caramel blended with the amber liquid. “I wish this event wasn’t leaving tomorrow.”

Caleb exhaled through his nose, setting his glass down. "Me too."

She glanced up, and he met her gaze. Without thinking, he reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll see you again,” he promised.

Elise blinked, startled, but before she could overthink it, he pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and pressed it into her palm. His number.

For the rest of the evening, they wandered the fairgrounds hand in hand. When it was time for her and Marianne to leave, Caleb walked Elise to the exit. Just as she turned away, he leaned down and stole a kiss on her cheek.

(Time skip—one year later)

The event had returned, and Caleb was back at his post.

He polished glasses absently, dark eyes scanning the growing crowd. He had spent the past year thinking about Elise, replaying their last night together in his mind. Would she be here? Would she even remember him?

As the crowd settled, his heart sank. No sign of her.

Disappointed, he turned back to the bar. But then—

“May I have a whiskey with a caramel drizzle?”

His head snapped up so fast he nearly knocked over a bottle.

There she was.

Before she could react, Caleb vaulted over the counter like a man possessed and sprinted toward her, scooping her up in his arms. Elise let out a startled laugh as he spun her around, her feet leaving the ground.

As soon as he set her down, she started to speak, but he cut her off with a kiss—firm, certain, and long overdue.

Elise stiffened for only a second before melting into him, fingers curling into his shirt.

A chorus of cheers erupted around them—Marianne and Caleb’s coworkers hooting and clapping like they had been waiting for this moment all along.

Caleb grinned against her lips, pulling back just enough to look into her golden eyes. “Took you long enough.”

Elise rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling.

The event had returned—and so had she.

The end.