Disclaimer: May be edited or deleted prior to publication.
Now, there he was at the bar ordering a drink. She tried to keep the intensity from her gaze so as not to attract his attention. A very attractive blonde approached him, stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear. His smile was a mixture of humour and cynicism, but he bent to listen. His reply made the blonde tip back her head and toss her hair. She said something else to him, and he shook his head. Katherine almost heard the “hmph” Blondie said before she flounced off. He looked down at his drink, smiled to himself, then he slowly scanned the room. She quickly looked down at her table and tried to sink further into the darkness of her corner booth.
She signalled the waiter and ordered another “tea”, intentionally oblivious to the effect that the blend of triple sec, light rum, gin, vodka and tequila was having on her. As she reached for her wallet to pay for the drink, the server said, “It’s already taken care of.”
“By whom?”
“By me. May I?” Connor gestured toward the chair opposite her.
“I guess so,” she said and took another mouthful of her drink. She blushed at her inability to ever think of something witty or clever to say. Try as she might, wit with her always made an after-the-fact appearance.
“It’s been a while.” She could have kicked herself. Connor held her eyes for a long moment and smiled.
“Yes. Yes it has.” He easily led her into conversation about the music she liked, hobbies, and what she’d been doing over the past two decades. After what seemed like a short time, she looked at her watch and gasped.
“Oh my god; I’ve got to go. I’m giving a presentation in the morning.”
As they got up to leave, she stumbled and realized she was drunker than she thought.
He must be too. He matched me drink for drink.
