The atmosphere in R&R on Saturday was electric. Katy couldn't keep the broad grin off her face as she watched her mother and aunt behind the bar, laughing together as they served the punters who were clamouring for attention. Tina was around somewhere, as were the other members of staff that Katy had given the day off to enjoy the celebrations properly. She'd even caught sight of Ben and Callum in the crowd, shooting her cousin a small smile as their eyes met.
"How's the non-label t-shirt holding up?" She shouted in her mother's ear, passing her to get to the other end of the bar where Isaac was leaning, looking a little uncomfortable.
"Shut up!" Ronnie laughed, swatting at her arm. "Although I think I prefer Whit's design."
"Yeah, me too, but I didn't have much choice this year."
Sending her a sad smile, Ronnie squeezed her daughter's upper arm sympathetically, before turning to serve the waiting customers. Shaking her head to get rid of the sudden gloom that had filled her at the thought of her best friend, Katy moved to lean on the opposite side of the bar from Isaac, reaching over it to give him a kiss. He grinned, threading his fingers through her hair and holding her still so that he could deepen the kiss.
"I think I've just upset some of your admirers." Katy told him with a grin, glancing over to several men who were watching them with clear disappointment.
"They'll get over it." He assured her, leaning in to kiss her again.
"Oi! I thought we were here to help, not do the job for you." Roxy teased, interrupting the moment and throwing an arm around her niece's shoulders. "Nice to see you being out and proud about this, though," she motioned between the couple, "excuse the pun."
Katy laughed, rolling her eyes at her aunt before moving away to help behind the bar. Shooting glances in Isaac's direction every now and then, she was thoroughly amused to see her barman and his boyfriend joining him, teasing Isaac mercilessly. Ronnie nudged her as she passed, seeing where her daughter's attention was focused and laughed, asking whether she wanted to take a break.
Shaking her head, Katy carried on with what she was doing for a while longer. She loved the nights when the bar was heaving – not just because of the effect it had on the accounts. Some nights, when it wasn't quite so busy, there was no justification for her leaving the office to work behind the bar and Katy found herself daydreaming about the days when she'd been a humble barmaid. She loved the crush of the customers demanding attention, the harmless flirting – although it took a very different form these days – and the energy of a busy shift.
"Working like this looks good on you." Someone told her, apparently reading her thoughts.
Katy grinned at Graham who had managed to find his way to the front of the queue. She leant across the bar to press a kiss to his cheek, before turning to pour him his usual. Nodding her head towards the opposite end of the bar from where Isaac was standing, she grinned and asked whether he was enjoying himself.
"Not as much as my kids, I don't think." He laughed, motioning towards the crowd. "Turns out maybe I am cramping their style after all."
"I doubt that very much."
"You take your parents on nights out often, do you?"
Katy arched an eyebrow at him. "I don't think you can compare my relationship with my parents to any one else. Besides," she glanced along the bar, "that's my mum there, with my aunty."
Graham let out a low whistle. "Good looks run in the family, then. I'd have never guessed she was old enough to be your mother."
"We age well. You should see my gran… you'd never know she was seventy. Although never tell anyone I told you that; Glenda's still claiming she hasn't hit sixty, yet." Seeing that his gaze was still fixed on Ronnie, she arched an eyebrow. "She's seeing someone, by the way. Besides, she doesn't trust you at all."
Holding up his hands, he chuckled. "Hey, I'm pretty sure I can only deal with one Mitchell woman in my life."
"Glad to hear it because Amy snapped the heel off my Louboutins, so I'm gonna need a new pair." Katy joked, shooting him a wink. "Refill?"
When she returned with his drink, waving away his offer to pay for it, Graham had been joined by another man that Katy vaguely thought she recognised. She smiled politely, turning to head away, when she heard the newcomer saying her name. Curiously, she looked at him properly, trying to work out where she knew him from.
"John Lewis," he told her, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand, "no, not that one."
"If you were that one I'd be getting you to pay for his drink." Katy replied, nodding her head in Graham's direction. "Have we met before?"
"The dinner at Teddy Wallingham's house a couple of weeks ago." He reminded her.
Katy swallowed thickly, remembering that it had been only a few days after the warehouse job and she'd been a little distracted. Noticing the two men staring at her curiously, she simply smiled and laid a hand on Graham's arm, before saying she needed to get back to work. Knowing that they were watching her, she painted a cheerful smile on her face and avoided catching Isaac, Ronnie or Roxy's eyes, knowing that they would just question her about the conversation.
"Bloody hell, this is all I need…" Katy muttered, glancing up and catching Tyler's eyes as he pushed his way to the bar. "Tyler, I'm working. I can't deal with–"
"K, this is Alicia, my girlfriend." He interrupted her quickly, pulling a young woman forward and grinning between them. "I thought you should meet."
"Hi, I've heard a lot about you." Alicia said with a genuine smile, holding out a hand to shake Katy's. "This place is amazing!"
"Uhh… thanks?" Feeling a little ambushed she looked between them in bemusement. "Happy birthday, by the way." She said to her ex-boyfriend, smiling weakly. "I hope you got the kids cards? They have presents for you, too, but wanted to give them to you in person…"
"I can't wait to meet them, they sound like great girls." Alicia chipped in before Tyler could reply.
"I might be a bit biased, but yeah, they are." Katy agreed. She looked between them again. "Look, I don't wanna be rude, but I'm a bit busy here; a meet and greet ain't exactly convenient right now."
"No, course…" Tyler nodded at her. "Can we get a bottle of lager and a white wine and we'll get out of your hair."
Forcing a smile onto her face, Katy turned away to get their drinks. She wasn't entirely sure what Tyler was playing at, turning up out of the blue, but she really didn't need him, Isaac and Graham all in the same room at the same time. Catching Ronnie's questioning stare, she smiled weakly and sent her a shrug before handing over the drinks and telling Tyler they were a birthday present.
Moving away, she laid her hand on Isaac's arm, drawing his attention away from his conversation with Tina. He smiled at her, asking if she was due a break yet. Nodding, she slipped around the bar and looped her arms around his neck, kissing him quickly.
"Tyler's here with his new girlfriend." She told him quickly. "Why he thought this would be the best time to introduce us, I have no idea."
"You alright?"
"Yeah… I just don't want things to be weird, you know? I don't want you losing your temper."
Isaac rolled his eyes at her. "I'm not gonna start a fight with your ex, if that's what you mean."
"Yeah, well… you better not because I need things to stay civil for the sake of the girls."
"Are you going to introduce us?" Isaac asked, a slightly challenging expression on his face. "I mean, you've met his girlfriend…"
"Do you promise you're not going to wind him up?"
"I promise."
Katy exhaled sharply and then nodded. "Fine, come on…"
Linking their fingers, she pulled him in the direction of the table where Tyler and his girlfriend were standing. She smiled as warmly as she could, squeezing Isaac's hand tightly and willing him to behave. A quick glance at him told her that he was eyeballing the other man suspiciously.
"Tyler, Alicia… this is my boyfriend Isaac. Isaac, this is Tyler and his girlfriend, Alicia." Katy introduced them, feeling incredibly uncomfortable.
"Isaac, alright mate?" Tyler reached out and shook his hand, putting the blonde even more on edge. "Nice to meet ya."
"Yeah, I've heard a lot about you."
"All good I hope?" Tyler joked, before glancing quickly at his ex. "Although maybe not…"
Katy chuckled. "I ain't been badmouthing you, Ty. We're better than that, remember?"
"So, Isaac, what is it you do?" Alicia asked, sensing slight tension between the former couple and deflecting their attention.
Katy listened as Isaac and Alicia chatted, keeping one eye on the bar in case she was needed. She went through the motions of small talk, deciding that she quite liked the other woman, although she severely doubted they'd ever be friends. Finally, to her relief, she caught sight of Roxy waving at her and excused herself, heading back behind the bar.