Orders another drink

Still, one more drink couldn't hurt. They made better drinks here than I could make at home.

And, besides, I liked admiring the scenery. Some of the younger college studs weren't bad...

I signaled to the bartender and she nodded at me and started mixing.

A few minutes later, while I traced the grain of the sticky wooden table before me, a drink appeared in front of me.

I looked up, slowly, and slurred "ttthank you."

Except the bartender wasn't standing there.

A short, muscular latino with a greying goatee and sideburns stood there.

"Ma'am," he said, tipping his hat, "the bartender said I should join you, although of course I don't want to impose. We're both regulars. I'm Luis. Better to have company while you're sad, than be sad alone, no?"