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Finlay and I are left alone at the bar to stare at our beers. It’s been a while since I’ve had a beer.
My lips pucker with the bitter taste, but after a few sips, it’s like riding a bike. That’s when the memories start to come, and I can’t help but smile no matter how hard it hurts.
“How have you been?” Finlay asks, twirling the glass between his fingers.
Letting out a breath, I’m not sure where to start. “I quit my job,” I blurt out, raising an eyebrow.
“Wow, that’s a switch,” he whistles.
“I started doing some non-profit work for the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group,” I admit, knowing Finlay will recognize the significance of the group. “I thought I could help with fundraising, a little accounting, but now I’m basically running their back office.” I take another sip of my beer.
Finlay turns towards me. “You surprised me, Lake.”
“I’m gonna take that as a good thing?” I venture.
Finlay runs his thumb along the edge of the glass. “I mean, when Adrian first told me he was seeing an older woman, I thought,” he pauses, and I narrow my eyes at him remembering how he called me a MILF, “this woman is going to eat him alive,” Finlay chuckles, and I can’t help but laugh, placing my hand over my mouth to contain the laughter.
“And then I met you,” he continues, and I laugh even harder.
“Did I exceed your expectations?” I say between fits of laughter.
Finlay shakes his head, scoffing. “Sure fucking did.” He slams his beer back down on the bar top after taking a swig. “I fucking hate blueberries,” he mutters, giving Gael a scowl.
Propping my elbow on the counter, I palm my cheek. Feeling a little sorry for myself, I run a finger down the side of my glass.
“I was really pissed at you,” he admits.
“Get in line, Finlay,” I say, truthfully.
“But then I thought maybe it’s a good thing you broke his heart, because I don’t know if he would have left if the two of you were still together,” Finlay admits and tilts his head towards me.
Sitting up straighter, I say, “I wouldn’t have let him pass that up.”
“He almost didn’t leave, but I told him,” Finlay shrugs, “I’d handle the business.”
“How did Marius take it?” I ask, noticing my beer is almost gone, Finlay’s too. We’d been sitting here a while, the time escaping me.
Finlay does his best Marius impression. “Play guitar, come back, lay floor, all good.”
I double over laughing. “That’s pretty good.”
When I take the last sip of my beer, I set it back down slowly as if it will afford me some extra time. Turning towards Finlay, who drains the last of his glass, I boldly ask, “Am I too late?”
30
SINCE YOU ASKED NICELY
Lovesick by BANKS
“Ithought when you quit your job I would get to see you more,” Georgie huffs on the other end of the phone.
“There’s a fundraiser coming up and I’m working to get all the details finalized,” I say, cradling the phone to my ear while I shuffle through the refrigerator, looking for something to eat. There’s a box with last night’s pizza I’d forgotten about. Flipping open the box, I grab a piece and bite off the end, kicking the door closed with my foot.
“We’ll do yoga tomorrow, I promise.” Taking a seat at the kitchen island, I grab a paper towel to set my pizza on and take a sip of my coffee. “And we’ll get coffee and donuts after so you can show me wedding venues.”
“I still can’t believe I’m getting married,” Georgie says, a softness to her tone that only started to appear the day she told me she’d gotten engaged.
“Who knew Dr. Stickuphisass would be the one to finally get Georgie De Rossi to settle down,” I tease before taking another bite of my cold pizza.
