Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Gareth parted his lips to respond, but the instructor made it back to the front of the room and started explaining how to make a mojito for the next cocktail. I smiled up at Gareth, before dutifully returning to my notes. And after we were done, we had another beautifully crafted cocktail to taste.
“You don't have to drink that,” Gareth said as we clinked our tall glasses together.
“I know I don't,” I said confidently, the certainty in that statement washing over me.
“Trust me, with you, I don't do anything I don't want to do. Because you've given me that option, and I still don't quite know how to thank you for it.”
I brought my drink to my lips, curiously tasting the bubbly concoction as the flavors of mint and rum and soda water danced on my tongue. Gareth mimicked the move before setting down his drink.
“You know you never have to thank me,” he said. “Especially for things that are inherently your right, like making choices of your own. You don't owe me anything.”
And yet despite those sweet and endearing words, I felt like I owed him something. Not out of any debt that he hung above my head, but because of my own sense of repayment. He certainly had offered me far more than I'd ever be able to offer him, but I hoped with time I could become something equal to him in this relationship.
“I really love the mint in this,” I said tapping my fingers on the tall glass. “And the soda water,” I said. “The rum isn't bad either.” I tilted my head. “This may be my new favorite.”
Gareth smiled down at me, bending to kiss me quickly, and yet it was still enough to make me gasp.
“Tastes good on you,” he said.
My entire body flushed with heat, the combination of the chemistry we shared and the friendship we'd built grew inside me so much I thought I would burst. It was hard to describe how intensely I felt for this man, but I had a good idea what the feeling was. I was just too terrified to admit it out loud.
The instructor took that moment to encourage us to create our own cocktail, now that we’d gotten the basics of mixing down.
I immediately set to work, an idea taking shape in my mind as I looked over the wide array of ingredients we had at our disposal.
In a mixing glass, I muddled some of the extra mint we’d used with the mojito, then added freshly squeezed lime juice, a good dash of passion fruit puree, and a little agave. I shook the ingredients together before filling another tall glass with ice and using a sifter over the mixing glass to pour the liquid over it. I filled up the rest of the glass with soda water and garnished it with a fresh sprig of mint.
By the time I was done, I was brimming with excitement and pride, really hoping the creation I made would taste good. I took a quick sip and smiled at myself, trying my best to not feel ridiculous at such a small accomplishment.
“What'd you make?” I asked, eyeing Gareth’s lowball glass and the amber mixture inside with a hint of red to the tint.
“I made an old-fashioned my way,” he said sliding the glass toward me.
I took a sip, my eyebrows raising as the flavors hit my tongue. It certainly was different from the original we'd made in the beginning. The bourbon flavor was still prevalent but there was a good deal of orange and cherry that would’ve made it almost too sweet if not for the extra bitters he'd added.
“It tastes like a dessert,” I said grinning up at him. “What are you going to call it?” I asked, since the instructor said we'd need to name our cocktails.
Gareth furrowed his brow, picking up his glass and taking a sip. “How about The Maxfield?”
“I love it,” I said handing him my drink. “How about you try The Serenity,” I said.
“I can already tell you, she's delicious,” he said before he'd even brought the drink to his lips.
A flush danced over my cheeks, and that craving for him that never really went away intensified at the way he looked at me as he took a sip of my drink.
He nodded, smiling as he handed the drink back to me. “Just like I said, delicious. Sweet and bubbly with just enough bite from the mint. There's no alcohol in that, is there?”
I shrugged, taking another sip. “I thought it'd be fun to make a mocktail,” I said. “You know, to see how it would taste in comparison to the others. I like both, and I think it's fun to have an option for when people aren't in the mood to drink. Is that ridiculous, given that we’re in a mixology class?”