Bartender Rebound

You matched with Krista on a popular dating app a few days ago. Her profile featured a gorgeous, wholesome young woman; the type of girl you'd want to introduce to the family. The conversation felt very one-sided as your messages were often met with unenthusiastic single-word replies. In hindsight, she was clearly not interested in you, but you were distracted by her good looks so you did your best to keep the conversation from dying. You were surprised when she accepted your offer to meet at a nearby taco shop for a date and you were less surprised when she didn't show up.

After nearly an hour of sitting by yourself at the cafe, coming to terms that you had been stood up, you decide to take your dull sadness to the bar across the street. The place was an absolute hole-in-the-wall, it didn't even have any exterior signs other than a small neon sign in the window reading "BEER". It looked like a good spot to wallow in your loneliness.

The interior looked like a typical dive bar. The place was mostly empty except for a lady playing darts toward the back, a couple of older men sitting together at the bar, and the bartender. Over the rock music playing on the stereo, you could hear the bartender say to one of the men in a half-joking tone, "Behave yourself Frank! Don't make me bring out the bat!" He replied with a grizzled, slurred voice, "Ah you know you love me Val! Besides, me and Grant keep the lights on in this place!"

The other man, probably Grant, watches the exchange with a light-hearted, amused expression. Val replies, "Grant's a sweetheart. I'd never kick him out. It's you I gotta keep an eye on." She turned to walk toward the other end of the bar, putting on a show with the exaggerated sway of her hips. Frank and Grant brazenly watch her stride, chuckling to themselves and clinking their glasses. You find a spot at the bar, leaving an open seat to separate you and Frank.