Redamancy ✷ Simon Riley

Chap 44)

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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫
╰──────────╯

Letting her nimble fingers run through the locks of her brown hair, Poppy leaned forward, making the stool creak from her movement. She lightly flipped her hair over her shoulder blades so it poured down her spine and was out of the way. She kept the stretchy hair tie on her delicate left wrist as she shrugged off her coat. Folding it up neatly, she placed it on the bar top beside her as the bartender sauntered over to her and placed a glass of bourbon on the counter.

She thanked the man who gave her a tight-lipped smile and curt nod in return. With an attentive gaze, she watched the bartender walk off to the end of the bar to serve some other customers before looking down at the glass of bourbon that was cupped between her hands. The amber liquid swirled like a tornado when she moved the glass in her hands and rose it to her mouth.

Taking a sip, she swallowed contentedly at the sweet taste. She hadn't had a glass of bourbon in a long time and the last time she had any alcohol felt like forever ago. Since she found out she was pregnant with Alba, Poppy never dared lay a hand on it. Even months after giving birth to her daughter, she had not purchased any type of liquor or alcoholic beverage.

It had been a long couple of days and the bourbon was what she needed at the moment. She was only going to have one glass of bourbon tonight because soon they would be leaving Chicago and America entirely. Poppy was going back to Manchester. The sergeant knew as soon as she set foot in the city, she was getting a taxi right to her mum's house to go see her baby.

She missed Alba so much.

Simon dropped a packet of prawn cocktail crisps in front of her before sitting himself down on the stool next to her. Turning her head, she gave him a smile at the fact that he remembered those were her favorite crisps to eat. He outstretched his right hand and placed his palm on her thigh, gently squeezing it. Poppy placed her hand on top of his, threading their fingers together like the last two pieces to a puzzle.

Music played peacefully in the background, filling the big rustic room with a wave of soothing tranquility. It inundated their minds with ataraxy, no longer having to be vigilant of their surroundings. The calm had replaced the chaos and Dargie no longer felt her heart rate beating at a rapid pace. Serenity was all she felt at the moment as she sat with Simon and their friends.

Placing her glass of bourbon down, she picked up the crisp packet and tore into them. She was able to snatch up two and put them in her mouth before MacTavish leaned over and took the packet for himself and Gaz. She leaned forward and positioned her forearms on the wooden countertop to tilt her head and narrow her eyes at both her friends.