His drink was gone, and so was hers. His head felt a little detached from his body, but when she gestured to the waiter for a second round, he didn’t contradict her. “Where are you from?” he asked.

“Worcester.” She pronounced it “Wistah,” instead of “Wooster” like everyone else in New England, marking her as someone who’d grown up there. The waiter brought their second round and food. Josh’s drink tasted even better now.

“So what do you do, Cammie?” he asked.

“A little of everything, frankly,” she said. “I’m a hairstylist part-time.”

“Your hair is very pretty,” he said. “So shiny.” Was that a dumb thing to say? Probably.

She beamed. “Thanks!” Maybe not, then. She picked up another piece of cheese and nibbled on it with her perfect teeth. Her lipstick somehow did not smear on the cheese, or her martini glass, for that matter. Women and their magic. Their good smells and lotions and makeup and hair stuff.

He liked women.

Josh realized he was a little drunk. Not necessarily a bad thing in his case, socializing-wise, and he’d walked here, so driving would not be an issue. “What’s your dream job?” he asked, surprising himself. Thanks, alcohol!

“Oh, my God, I can’t believe you asked that. What a great question! Most men are just interested in . . . well. You know.” She straightened up. “I would love to have my own business. A salon, but also a cocktail bar, right? Get this, though. It’s just for women.”

Josh sat back, the better to listen (and not wobble).

“So you come in, see, and you get your nails done or hair cut”—Cammie gestured extravagantly—“and there’d be this makeup bar, like at Sephora? Except not grubby. Super clean. And so you could beautify right there for a small fee after your mani or haircut, with a consultant or not. Your choice. And then—this is the genius part if I do say so myself—you go to the back room, or maybe the front room, and there’s cocktails and a cute bartender!”

“Amazing!” Josh said.

“Right? So you could talk with your friends, make some new acquaintances, maybe, and hang out.” She sat back, pleased by her pitch. “I’m gonna call it Shine, because, like, your nails, your hair and your personality can all shine.”

“What a great idea,” he said sincerely. “I would go there. I mean, if I were a woman.”

“I know! Tell me the truth. Your wife would’ve loved a place like that, wouldn’t she?”

“She definitely would have. And all her friends would’ve, too.”

“See! I just gotta save some more money, and then it’ll happen. Dream big, my ma always says. So in the meantime, I do a little of this and a little of that. I’m saving up.” A big smile.

He did like her. Very much.