The bar was bustling with more people during weekend, and the ambiance was livelier. A singer strummed a guitar, serenading the crowd with a folk song.

Claudia ordered orange juice and joined Aurora in a booth.

There was a fun game going on that night. Every half-hour, they picked a guy and a girl from the crowd to come up on stage and share contact information. If they were up for it, they got a free pass. And no worries if they weren't into it. It was all in good fun.

Upon hearing that, Aurora's eyes sparkled. "This is for all our single folks."

She glanced at Claudia and remarked, "You don't need to participate. You're a married woman."

Feeling a pang of embarrassment, Claudia sent a photo to Bennett with a text. "Just at a nice quiet bar having juice with Aurora."

But did she overdo it?

As she hesitated whether she should withdraw the message, the time limit passed, leaving her anxiously glued to her phone.

Would Bennett find her too self-centered?

Aurora, noticing Claudia's fixation, teased, "Why staring at your phone?"

But when she leaned in and saw Bennett's reply, Aurora could only say, “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have embarrassed myself in that manner.“

She knew better than to pry into others' displays of affection, yet she had done just that.

She had only herself to blame!

Feeling a sense of unease, Claudia activated her phone and noticed Bennett's brief reply.

“Okay.”

Was that all? Just one word?

Couldn't he say something more?

A compliment would have been nice!

Yet, as she waited for a few more minutes, no additional message arrived.

Claudia realized she might be reading too much into it and put her phone away. Looking up, she discovered the host's eyes on her.

Subconsciously, she glanced at Aurora beside her and inquired, “Was I chosen?”

“If you're not number 45, then you weren't,” Aurora responded, pointing to the number in front of her.

Claudia's head shook rapidly. "No, I can't. I'm a married woman!"

But the temptation of a free pass was present. Swiftly, she handed the ticket to Aurora and grabbed hers instead. "Go for it, girl! Tonight's bill is on you!"