Page 45 of Stuck Together

After sharing a bed with her for two nights, I had been hopeful that we could move toward restoration of not just our friendship, but the close relationship we had stared fifteen years ago. I was willing to do whatever it took to work on us and fix the mistakes we’d both made.

Even though I suspected she was maintaining an emotional distance, I had hoped she would give us a chance. When she pulled away last Sunday, I’d been hurt all over again.

Seeing her at the office was only adding to my pain. But seeing how she was with Rylee—gentle, kind, motherly—it nearly crushed me.

And like a fool, desperate to have her in way possible, I kept going into the office rather than working from the bar like I did so often before.

I had headed for my usual table this morning but ended up in meetings with Grandmother and then Madison. We had one week to finalize everything for the Bennington account. It was close to final last week, but Madison had some great suggestions to improve the campaign. It would be tight getting all the changes completed, but as long as our graphics department came through as promised, we’d be ready.

Madison had been nothing but professional all week. To someone from the outside, they’d never know anything had happened between us. Her ability to turn it off and pretend like I meant nothing more to her than a co-worker was torture. I should be happy she could turn off whatever feelings she had for me, but I wasn’t.

I wanted her to want me as badly as I wanted her. I couldn’t pretend like nothing had happened between us. But maybe I could momentarily forget. I’d hoped a drink, or three, would help me with that.

I hadn’t been back to Recaps since that Monday before we headed out of town. And I very rarely came into the bar in the evenings. But here I was on Friday night in need of a drink and a friend.

Recaps drew a decent crowd during happy hour, but I’d never been here this late on a Friday night and the place was packed. I was surprised I found an open seat.

Being a single parent, I didn’t go out often even though Grandmother offered to keep Rylee all the time. There were even times I’d let Rylee stay at Grandmother’s house but instead of going out, I stayed home alone. I wasn’t into this scene anymore.

I wanted a different life for myself and for Rylee and that life didn’t involve going out to bars on a regular basis.

I had just gotten the bartender’s attention when the double doors to the small kitchen opened and Derek came out. He gave me an odd look, waved off the bartender, then grabbed two beers. He studied me for a moment before he sighed. “We need something stronger, don’t we?”

I tipped the beer in his direction and took a long pull.

He turned to the bartender and said, “You good if I go talk to my friend for a while?”

“Yes, boss.” The bartender answered without hesitation. He wasn’t one that I knew from the day shifts. He moved quickly and efficiently which I assumed was a requirement for a busy Friday night.

Derek grabbed a couple rock glasses and a bottle of whiskey before he walked around the bar and stood next to me. “Well, come on. There’s a table in the back open and you can tell me all your problems.”

I grabbed my beer and followed Derek to my usual table. Even on a busy Friday night it was roped off with a reserved sign on the table. “Do you always keep this roped off?”

He shrugged his shoulders and sat down. “It’s easier this way. And to be honest, no one likes this dark corner but you.”

“I think I should be insulted.” I deadpanned.

“Well, one does have to wonder why you like it back here.” Derek sat a glass in front of me and poured two fingers of whiskey. “So, what’s got you all worked up?”

I tossed back the whiskey and drank the whole glass in one swallow. I winched as it burned my throat going down. Derek watched me closely before pouring me another drink.

“Spill it, man.” Derek sat the bottle aside and sipped his own glass.

“Madison.” I swirled my glass, avoiding eye contact.

“I figured.” Derek leaned forward onto his elbows. “Let me guess. Things got a little too close while you were on that business trip and now, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with you. Am I right?”

“That just about sums it up.” A part of me hated that he knew me so well, but another part was glad I didn’t have to say the words out loud. Derek was very intuitive. Another quality that made his career choice a perfect fit for him.

“Did you tell her how you feel?”

“She said we could only ever be friends and I told her I wanted more. Does that count?”

He snorted. “No, not even close.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, my body tense with frustration. “She put up her walls and wouldn’t talk to me. What was I supposed to do?”

“Look, man. I can’t tell you what to do. But if she means that much to you, then fight for her. Whatever it takes. Prove to her she’s important and that you’ll be there for her. Findin’ someone that special is rare and it sometimes only happens once. Trust me on that. You’ve been given a second chance with her. Not everyone gets those, so don’t blow it.”