The sweat from his right hand drenched the handle of the Swiss Army knife he held – the hand that trembled from the cold. With each breath that smoked out his mouth from the chill, he walked noodle-legged to the SUV where two women had stepped out from: a red head and a blonde. He spotted them from afar with eyes that recognized them from a past threesome that went left. He didn't have gloves to shield his bare hands from the bitter wind. They were in the glove compartment of his car that was a block away. He left deep shoe prints on a slush of snow as he sloshed his way to the hotel bar.
"You're late." Katt was annoyed when Stan hung his overcoat on the back of the bar stool next to her.
He claimed that his lateness was due to, "Traffic."
"Yeah yeah, sure sure." She giggled before sipping a glass of fuck the workweek.
"What are you drinking?" He asked.
"Scotch and ginger ale."
"Did you pay already?"
"Yeah."
Stan leaned over the bar as the bartender walked his way.
He pulled out his black card and told the tall guy who looked like a toothpick, "Put her drink on my tab."
He handed the bartender the card and voiced, "I would like a double shot of henny with no ice. Leave the tab open, please. Thanks."
Stan dipped inside his pocket and pulled out a gold money clip. He peeled off a few five-dollar bills. He left three 5's on the bar like it was nothing. Usually he didn't tip, but that night wasn't usual. The spirit of giving during the holiday season was different – he had the means to flex for a woman he wanted back in the worst way.
"What's on your mind?" he asked while looking around the jazz bar that was decked out in Christmas decorations.
Katt wasn't sure how to confide in Stan with her thoughts. Half of her cared for him. The other half couldn't stand his ass. The former outshined the latter – his charm made her smile regardless of his infidelity that happened years ago.
"I want to have children," She revealed out the blue. "I want one or two. I don't think I can tho."
He asked, "You can't have one now?"
"It's complicated."
"Astrophysics is complicated."
"It's either he's shooting blanks, or I'm not able to bear children."
"Ooooooh, I see." Stan stalled for a follow-up response. "I wouldn't mind having one either."
Her laugh startled the bartender and people close to them.
"What's so funny?" He rubbed his temples like he had a headache.
Katt waited until the bartender handed Stan his drink to ask, "Are men programmed to agree with whatever a woman says?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Katari."
"C'mon, Stan. Stop with the donkey of the day act. You know what you're doing."
"Doing what?"
"I've met waaaaay too many men who suddenly want children when I say I wanna have some." She rolled her eyes. "Do guys always think with their dick, or is it just me?"
"I think it's just you." He stirred a green straw in his whiskey glass and said, "I would love a birthday gift from you tho."
She side-eyed him. "I'll think about it." She thought of a question while staring at shelves of liquor behind the bar. "But shouldn't your girlfriend be the one giving gifts."
