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“I’m ready to cash in on that rain check,” I admit. I’ve been avoiding him since he last asked me to go out. He’s texted me a few times, letting me know I was going to lose it if I didn’t have fun soon. and I’m embarrassed to tell him it’s finally happened.
“I’ve been waiting for you to say that,” he answers.
I can’t help but roll my eyes. Chris is always up for partying, and even though I’m not exactly in the mood for that, I’m willing to try.
“Great, let’s meet up at the bar on Scottsdale Road. I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” I reply.
“Outstanding, I’ll be there. Can’t wait to see you, man.” Chris hangs up, and I’m left staring at my phone.
I take a deep breath and remind myself that I need this. I need to get out of my head and forget about Alana for a while. Maybe some drinks and a light conversation are what I need. I change into something more casual and head out.
When I reach the bar, I scan the place, looking for Chris. It’s a small, hole-in-the-wall kind of place with mismatched chairs and tables, old dart boards, and an overall rustic feel to it. The walls are lined with old pictures and posters from the 1950s, with a few neon signs thrown in for good measure. A couple of pool tables sit in the back corner, surrounded by cigarette smoke and sounds of laughter. Despite its shabby appearance, there’s something comforting about this place.
I spot him at the bar, his second drink sitting next to his empty first one. I make my way over and order a beer. “Hey man, how’s it going?” I ask, settling onto the stool beside him.
“It’s going great now that you’re here.” He grins and claps me on the back. “What’s been going on with you? You’ve been avoiding me.”
I can tell Chris isn’t letting me off the hook that easily, so I take a sip of my beer and decide to come clean. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks. I fucked up, and I need advice.”
Chris’s face changes from amusement to concern. “What did you do?”
I sigh, running my hand through my hair. “It’s a long story, but I finger-banged an employee in the manager’s office at the Carmel store.”
Chris slams his hand against his forehead and lays it down on the table.
“Say sike right now,” he says without picking his head up to meet my eyes.
“I told her to get out of the office, and I’ve been avoiding her ever since,” I answer honestly.
“Jesus Christ, buddy. That’s not like you at all.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve been in a shitty mood ever since. I just don’t know how to move forward and keep things professional,” I sigh, taking another sip of beer.
“Well, first, I don’t think you should avoid this girl. You need to talk to her and apologize. Also, you’re not in jail. That’s an upside.” Chris raises an eyebrow at me.
“You’re right. She reached out to me about something that’s happened at work, so I’m going to call her and see what’s up. I’ll apologize to her for putting her in that situation, and then I’m going to tell her I’ll be professional from now on,” I shrug.
Chris looks at me, and I can see the wheels turning in his head. “It’ll all work out. First things first, you need to get laid. Whatever happened to Stacy?”
I ponder his question and take a sip of my beer. “Well, you know she moved to Cincinnati for work. We’re both just busy, and it isn’t easy for us to get together. I made the mistake of calling her the other day, and we sexted a little after that. But there just isn’t enough time in the day for either of us to meet up.”
“Why don’t you just drive to Cincinnati? Get off work one day and make the trip. It might do you some good.”
“Sounds good in theory, but Stacy and I called it quits for a reason. Our relationship fizzled long before the physical shit, and there was barely anymore chemistry between us. We mostly hooked up out of convenience more than anything,” I tell him.
“Well, I guess the only other option is to live in a constant state of blue balls, then die alone. Here I am, trying to give you reasonable solutions to your problems, and you’re giving me a hundred excuses. What the hell, Andreas?” he asks.
“Oh, shut up. Your advice is always to party and fuck because that’s what makes you feel better,” I joke.
“Well, it’s never let me down so far. I’m inclined to believe an excellent whiskey and a passionate lover can fix just about anything.” Chris stands up as he finishes talking, then tells me, “I gotta take a piss. No more depressing shit when I get back.”
“Deal,” I mutter. I sit for a few minutes alone and watch the people sitting around the bar. You can tell they’re all regulars here. The bartender knows everyone by name. Soon enough, I realize ten minutes have passed, and I should probably walk around and see if I can find Chris. Once I finish my pint, I find Chris sitting at a table by the restrooms. He’s talking to a blonde woman dressed in a business suit, and he’s holding a beer in his hand.
I walk over and tap him on the shoulder. “Hey, I’m heading out. Be safe, man.”
Chris startles a bit when he hears me speak, then goes to stand up. I stop him with my hand on his shoulder, and he says, “Are you sure? I was coming back. I just got sidetracked.”
The woman he’s sitting next to giggles, and I chuckle with her. “Yeah, I’m sure. I have work early tomorrow, so I need to get home. I’ll call you in a few days.”
