Mary considered his question with surprise. Was she bummed that John thought she was too old for him to date? “No. Not at all. We’d never have worked out. He’s too judgy. He’s growing on me as a friend, though. I like him.”

“You like everyone, Mary.”

She laughed as she and Sebastian clinked beers. “True.”

“So, if it wasn’t a love connection, then why did you let his comment get to you?”

Mary sighed. “I think it was kind of John in one ear and my mother in the other.”

“Ah. The root of the problem.”

“Exactly. She’s been even more on my case lately. Depressed because my thirties are over.”

Sebastian scoffed. “Over? You’re thirty-seven. My God.” He scowled into his beer. “What a warped sense of reality.”

“Well, that’s my mother. Warped. She still wears her beauty pageant tiara every once in a while.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“I wish I was.”

“Like, around the house?”

“Only in her bedroom with the door closed, but I’ve caught her doing it three separate times.”

“Somehow that’s way, way worse than wearing it where people could see it.”

“I know.”

Sebastian thought for a second. “If she’s so stressed about you being single in your thirties, then shouldn’t she be thrilled that you’re getting back out there and dating again? It’s been a long time since Doug.”

“Shh!” Mary clapped a hand over Sebastian’s mouth. “Don’t say his name in this bar! It’s like Beetlejuice. He lives around the corner and might show up!”

She had less than zero desire to see her cheating ex tonight in this bar. But she also had less than zero desire to let the ghost of his infidelity chase her away from one of her favorite bars in Brooklyn. She made it a point to come here at least once a month.

“And to answer your question, I have not mentioned to my mother that I’m dating again. First of all, she’s horrified by the idea of me dating anyone younger than I am. Oh, the indignity of it.” Mary rolled her eyes. “And second of all, she’d give herself a heart attack finding me acceptable suitors. She’d have me on the train up to Connecticut every weekend for stodgy dates with men who have roman numerals after their names. Pass.”

“Yeah. That sounds...not fun.”

“I’m headed there tomorrow for the night, though.”

“In the middle of the week?”

“It gives me an excuse to get back here faster. I have to mind the shop.” Mary sighed. “Which is just another thing my mother refuses to understand about my life.”

“What does she have against your shop?”