Several more minutes had gone by, and at this point it seemed Bernadette and Ethan were really getting into the conversation.
In fact, it was less like a formal meeting and more like a long-overdue catch-up.
Bernadette talked and laughed mostly. Maybe it was the alcohol loosening her tongue, but she was proving to be a surprisingly cheerful adult.
"You know," Bernadette said in between laughs, "The first real beating I ever took was from Irene."
Ethan looked amused, leaning forward with genuine curiosity. "Do tell."
"Oh, the dragon's rage…" Bernadette began, shaking her head as though the memory was both painful and hilarious. "So here's the thing—Nathan was an incredibly fine man, and I'd had a crush on him for a very long time."
She paused, her expression turning wistful as she stared into her glass. "Boy, did I want that man inside me so many times."
