What I Miss About You

Sipping Coffee From the Same Cup As You - Ben

Taking a deep breath and letting it all out in one deep sigh, I hit the lights to my office and flung my suit jacket over my shoulder. Not many people were left in the office. Shane I knew would be cooling her heels in the bar downstairs. I hurried to the elevators to get to her. Out of habit I glanced over at Natalie's desk but naturally she was gone.

This was going to be one hell of a fun assignment. 

I sauntered into the bar and stopped just inside the doorway, looking around for Shane. I spotted her sitting at the bar already nursing a vodka tonic. She was toying with the lime when she looked up and a smile bloomed across her face and she happily waved me over. I went to her, drawn like a moth to a flame. Already I could feel the stress leaving me and tense muscles relaxing as I approached her. She patted the stool next to her playfully.

"Pony up, cowboy," she said with a wink.

I huffed and shook my head. Shane was from Texas and had brought all her southwestern charm with her to New York. I settled in next to her and Loran, the aged bartender, was there in an instant. They all knew us here. Natalie and I had been regulars and now, Shane and I.

"What'll it be tonight, Ben? The usual?"

"Just coffee. Black," I replied shortly.

"Little bourbon shot on the side...?" Loran suggested enticingly.

"Nope. Just coffee," I said.

Loran leaned towards me studying me closely. "Promise you won't get mean and tear the place up?" he asked jokingly.

"It's alright, Loran, I'm twenty-one," I answered tersely. I was in no joking mood.

Loran shrugged and turned away to get my coffee and Shane scooted closer.

"You alright?" she asked in concern.

"Never better," I said testily staring at the surface of the bar in front of me. "Although if this day gets any worse I might take Loran up on his suggestion and tear the place up."

"Then what's with the coffee?"

"I just can't drink tonight, Shane," I admitted, waving her question away with my hand.. "I need to have a clear head to think. This fucking assignment...with her..."

Shane clicked her tongue sympathetically but I could also see the hint of anger in her eyes. "I know. When I heard I just couldn't believe Addison would do such a thing." She looked down at her drink and swirled it around before taking a sip. "He's really jumped the shark this time."

I huffed in amusement. "Tell me about it."

"Hey," Shane said, taking my hand and turning her upper body towards me, "I know it sucks but I'm here. You can call me every night you're up there. And we have tonight." She smiled at me in her disarming way and traced little aimless patterns on the back of my hand. "Plus, I mean, focus on the positive. This is Dr. Heinrich we're talking about! Notorious recluse. He hates the press and media. With the obvious exception of our little rag. The fact he's granted our magazine exclusive access...

"I know, I know," I interrupted Shane testily. "I'm excited about the story. Honestly. There's several questions I'd like to ask Dr. Heinrich...particularly about his young adulthood."

Shane looked at me dubiously. "I'd be careful if I were you, Ben."

I met her eyes. "You know what I'm going to ask him."

Shane nodded, her eyes reproachful. "Yes, I do. And I just don't want you to get thrown out on your ass. God knows Nat...she won't ask any hard hitting questions."