Chapter 18 We’re Done
It was already late at night when Juliet finally left the mall.
Wearing a pair of sunglasses and carrying several shopping bags, she stepped outside with a satisfied smile on her face. The trip had been far more successful than she had expected, and the thought of showing Cassian everything she had bought only put her in an even better mood.
The bags swayed lightly against her legs as she walked across the parking lot, humming softly under her breath. Every now and then her thoughts drifted back to their conversation, and each time they did, the smile on her face grew a little wider.
She had just reached the edge of the parking area when her phone suddenly began to ring.
Juliet pulled her phone from her purse as she walked across the parking lot and glanced at the screen. The moment she saw the caller ID, her brows lifted in surprise. Without hesitation, she accepted the call and brought the phone to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Juliet, this is Timothy from Phantom Bar. The bartender. Remember me?"
Juliet immediately slowed to a stop.
A smile spread across her face as soon as she recognized his voice, and she shifted her shopping bags higher on her arm.
"Timothy!" she said warmly. "Of course I remember you. How are you?"
"I'm great," he replied with a chuckle. "Actually, I called you for something."
Juliet adjusted the handles of the shopping bags in her hand and listened curiously, her pace slowing completely as she waited for him to continue.
"You remember that wine you tried the last time you came here? The one you kept asking me about?"
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Yes!"
"Well, good news. It's finally available again. We just got a shipment today. If you want to taste it, you should come tonight before it runs out."
For a moment, Juliet simply stood there staring ahead.
Then excitement exploded across her face.
"Oh my God, are you serious?"
Her voice rose several pitches, drawing curious looks from a few people walking nearby, but she barely noticed. Her free hand flew to her chest while a huge smile spread across her face.
"I'm coming right now," she said excitedly. "Please don't let it run out before I get there."
Timothy laughed at her reaction.
"I'll do my best. Get here quickly."
"I'm leaving right now."
The moment the call ended, Juliet lowered the phone and let out a small excited squeal. Unable to stop smiling, she hurried toward her car, her shopping bags swinging wildly against her legs as she practically rushed across the parking lot.
She couldn't believe it.
She had been thinking about that wine for months.
The moment she reached her car, she quickly climbed into the driver's seat and tossed her shopping bags onto the passenger side before starting the engine.
Just as she was about to pull away, the bodyguards accompanying her stepped forward.
"Miss Gray, where are you going?" one of them asked.
Juliet barely sat still long enough to answer. Her fingers tapped impatiently against the steering wheel while excitement practically radiated from her face.
"Let me drive."
The bodyguard frowned.
"Miss Gray—"
Juliet waved a dismissive hand.
"Don't worry about it. I'm just going to a bar."
The bodyguards exchanged uncertain looks.
"You can head home first. I'll be back soon."
Before they could argue further, she shifted the car into gear and drove away.
The entire ride to Phantom Bar felt painfully slow.
Every red light seemed longer than usual, and more than once she found herself glancing at the clock, silently willing traffic to move faster.
By the time she finally arrived, anticipation was bubbling inside her so strongly that she could hardly contain it.
The moment she stepped through the entrance, her gaze immediately swept across the room searching for Timothy.
When she spotted him behind the counter, her entire face lit up.
"Timothy!"
She lifted both hands and waved enthusiastically as she made her way toward the bar.
The blond bartender looked up and immediately laughed.
"Well, someone seems excited."
"You have no idea."
Juliet practically hurried the rest of the way to the counter before sliding onto a stool.
Her eyes were already searching for the bottle.
"Thank you for calling me," she said sincerely, leaning forward against the bar. "Oh my God, I've been waiting forever for this."
"I know," Timothy replied with a grin. "That's why I called the moment it arrived."
Reaching beneath the counter, he pulled out a bottle and placed it in front of her.
Juliet's eyes locked onto it immediately.
Every ounce of her attention followed the bottle as Timothy uncorked it and tilted it over a waiting glass.
The deep red wine flowed smoothly into the crystal glass, and Juliet watched with almost embarrassing concentration, her fingers curling around the edge of the counter while she waited.
Timothy glanced at her and chuckled.
"You look like you've been stranded in the desert."
"I practically have been."
The moment he slid the glass toward her, Juliet reached for it without hesitation.
She wrapped both hands around the stem and lifted it carefully.
Before she even tasted it, the familiar scent drifted toward her.
Her expression softened instantly.
For a brief moment, she simply closed her eyes and breathed it in.
Then she finally took a sip.
The second the wine touched her tongue, her eyes fluttered shut again.
A contented sigh escaped her lips.
The tension left her shoulders completely as she savored the flavor she had spent nearly a year thinking about.
For several seconds, she couldn't even find words.
When she finally lowered the glass, she looked at Timothy with such emotion that it almost seemed like she might cry.
"Oh my God."
Timothy burst out laughing.
"That good?"
"It's perfect."
Juliet immediately took another sip before reluctantly setting the glass back down.
Her smile kept growing wider with every second.
"It's exactly the same."
She shook her head in disbelief and looked down at the wine again.
"It tastes exactly the way I remembered."
Another sip followed.
Then another.
"Oh my God, how long has it been?"
She paused thoughtfully before answering herself.
"Almost a year."
Timothy nodded.
"Sounds about right."
Juliet stared at the glass affectionately before taking another slow sip.
"I seriously don't understand why you don't keep this available all the time."
She pointed dramatically at the wine.
"This should be permanently on the menu."
The bartender laughed.
"I'll pass the complaint along."
"I'm serious."
Juliet immediately wrapped both hands around the glass and pulled it closer as if someone might try to take it away.
"The first time I tried this wine, I fell completely in love with it."
Taking another sip, she practically melted against the bar stool, looking happier than she had all evening.
"And now this is only the second time I've ever had it."
Shaking her head, she looked at Timothy with complete sincerity.
"If you kept this in stock all year, I would probably live in this bar."
Timothy burst out laughing while Juliet happily lifted her glass again, taking another long sip and savoring every drop as though she had just rediscovered the greatest treasure in the world.
"I'll let the owners know," Timothy said with a laugh.
Juliet's eyes immediately lit up.
Leaning forward across the counter, she lifted her empty glass and held it out hopefully.
"Can I have one more glass first?" she asked, smiling so brightly that it was impossible to refuse.
Timothy shook his head in amusement.
"Of course. Give me a moment."
He reached for the bottle and poured another glass, the deep red wine catching the soft glow of the lights above the bar.
Juliet's smile widened the moment he slid it toward her.
"Thank you."
Wrapping her fingers around the stem, she lifted the glass and took a slow sip. The familiar taste instantly spread across her tongue, and she let out a content sigh before settling more comfortably onto the bar stool.
The soft music drifting through the bar blended perfectly with the relaxed atmosphere. Juliet found herself swaying lightly to the rhythm without even realizing it, her shoulders loosening as the stress from the day slowly melted away.
"This is so good," she murmured, glancing down at the wine almost affectionately.
Timothy rested his forearms against the counter and watched her with amusement.
"You're making it sound like a life-changing experience."
"It is a life-changing experience."
Her serious expression lasted barely two seconds before she laughed and took another sip.
The bartender shook his head, chuckling under his breath.
Several minutes passed comfortably.
Juliet enjoyed every mouthful, occasionally humming along to the music playing overhead while tapping her fingers lightly against the side of the glass.
When she finally drained the last drop, she immediately slid the empty glass toward Timothy again.
"One more, please."
Timothy stared at her for a moment before bursting out laughing.
"Anything for my favorite customer, my lady."
Juliet grinned unapologetically.
"You're the best."
Shaking his head, Timothy picked up the bottle again and poured her another glass.
This time Juliet took her time.
She wasn't in a hurry anymore.
Instead, she sat comfortably at the counter, enjoying the music and the warm atmosphere around her. Sometimes she would close her eyes for a moment, letting the familiar flavor settle on her tongue before swallowing.
A small smile remained on her face the entire time.
By the time she reached the bottom of the glass, her mood had improved so much that she felt lighter than she had all day.
Setting the glass down carefully, she turned toward Timothy, who was wiping down the counter nearby.
"By the way, Timothy."
"Hm?"
Juliet straightened slightly.
"Can I buy a bottle of it?"
Timothy paused and looked up.
"A bottle?"
Juliet nodded immediately.
"Yes."
The smile on her face softened as her thoughts drifted toward Cassian.
Wrapping both hands around the stem of her glass, she looked down briefly before smiling to herself.