Show Me Around

Molly's

We pull up outside this older looking building. I read the sign and it says Molly's. I climb out of my car to join Kelly on the sidewalk.

"A couple firefighters own this place. " I follow him inside. "Hey Hermann!" Kelly waves to an older gentleman behind the bar.

"Hey Severide! Whose your friend?"

"This is Taylor."I wave at the old gentleman. Kelly then leads me over to a booth and I take a seat. "Can I get you something?"

I survey the bar to see what they have."Bacardi and coke."

"Coming right up." Kelly heads over to the bar to get our drinks. I pull out my phone to text my best friends Ashley and Victoria in our group chat.

Taylor: Guys I'm at a bar with Kelly.

Ashley: Wait. Is that the guy from the graveyard??

Taylor:Yes! It was cold out but he wanted to still talk so he suggested we go to Molly's.

Victoria: Is this something your ready for?

Taylor: I don't know. I just felt so drawn to him.

Ashley: David would want you to be happy Tay.

Victoria: He wouldn't want you locked up in the house mourning forever.

Kelly came back over with our drinks. He sat mine down in front of me. "Here ya go."

"Thanks Kelly." He sits across from me in the booth. I take a sip of my drink. Hermann sure mixes them strong. Note to self be careful.

"So what are you doing for Christmas?"he takes a drink of his beer.

"Nothing honestly. Just sitting at home."

"No family?"

I sigh a little. "David was really the only family I had. My mom died when I was 18. I never knew my dad."

"What about his family?"

"I'm just not ready." I couldn't face them.

"Well if you want you can come hang out at the firehouse. I'm on shift that day."

I think about it for a moment. "Maybe. I'm not sure how this year is going to go since it's the first one with out David."

"I understand. Just know the offer stands if you don't want to be by yourself."

"Thanks Kelly." I finish my drink and Hermann brings over another one.

"So Taylor how do you know our Lieutenant Severide here?"

Well how Do I say this? "Uh we met at my husbands grave." Hermann just kind of looked confused.

"Shays is right next to his." Hermann just kind of nodes at Kelly's comment.

"Well enjoy your drinks." Hermann heads back to the bar.

"So you never told them about our talks every week?" Weird that he kept this a secret.

"I don't like people all in my business."

"I'm sorry if said something wrong."

"No. No your fine. I didn't mean for that to come out the way it did." For some reason Kelly was nervous. I've never seen him like this.

"So is this where you spend most of your time when your not working?" My phone was buzzing like crazy. The girls were obviously blowing up the group chat.

"No. I fix boats on the side." Kelly looked over at my phone. "Do you need to get that?"

"Oh no. It's just my friends in our group chat." I go turn off the notifications without even reading any of the messages.