Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 3: Crossing Paths

Alex looks at the glass, staring at the clear crystal that it was. It was empty. Just like his chances at savoring the season he threw away with a stupid mistake of getting hurt. He finally was in a position to win multiple races. He was finally in a position to chase a championship for the first time in his first career - and yet it had all been thrown away. Just like the day he had at the Chicago street course. 

He was on his third glass - or at least that's what he could remember since entering the brown door of Molly's when he had arrived. He had drank the black liquid inside, savoring the taste as he hoped it'd draw everything else away. 

With the glass empty, he had motioned for a refill, the same way he had the first couple of times in getting Gabriela's attention. 

However, it seemed she was busy as she hadn't noticed the motion this time. Perhaps it was because the drinks were seemingly flowing in all directions. Perhaps it was because of the conversation she embraced in with someone at the bar.  Perhaps it was because her love, or Alex assumed based on the kiss traded, had stopped by to see her. Perhaps it was the bar fight that she had broken up easier than he thought possible.

With a sigh, he didn't want to do this for all the reasons as to why he had chosen the corner in the first place, but he got up with the glass in hand. He made his way over to the bar, setting it down on the wood in hopes of drawing the attention that he had been trying to get for a bit now.

Though as he sets it down, he couldn't help but notice the blond that sat alongside where he stood. He had seen her before. She was very recognizable as they had crossed paths on multiple occasions. He knew it was not just during the time he needed the Intelligence Unit to help him out, but for other reasons deeper than that. 

"Hailey?" He finally realizes who it is, catching her attention as she glances to her right in his direction with a sly smile. 

"Alex?" She questions back in response, caught off-guard in seeing him standing there beside her. She almost didn't want to say another word and pretend he didn't exist right now. What if he was looking for Jay? That'd bring up some reminders that she didn't want to deal with at this time while thinking over the past couple weeks and the case. "What are you doing here?" 

"Trying to get a refill for this glass of mine...." She wanted to almost chuckle in response, although a glance at her glass and perhaps she would be looking for one of her own. Why did they seem to be going down quicker tonight than usual? 

"I guess we both are needing the same thing right now. But seriously, what are you doing here?" Alex couldn't help but look a little more shocked at her, having now taken a seat on the bar stool alongside hers. There was something about standing there much longer that he knew may not be the best idea. Maybe he should head out instead of getting that refill.

"We raced in Chicago this weekend. I had a very shitty day. I came here to have a couple drinks to forget about my shitty day as my flight home does not leave until the morning." Alex was normally not so forthcoming with intentions and such, but it just seemed to spill out of him as soon as his butt touched the chair. Maybe it was an effort to get it out of his system in hopes that the feeling would go away. Maybe he was hoping she would make the feeling disappear. "I shared my story with you. Now what's your story for being here?" 

"I had a shitty day as well. I had a case that got under my skin quite a bit if I am being honest with you. It just...." She then takes a deep breath, debating whether she should burden him with what she was feeling. He was already dealing with his own stuff. Was that fair? "It brought up a lot of bad memories and feelings in seeing what the victim went through. It also didn't hurt that we weren't able to find the guy until it became worst case scenario. It's one thing when you can save the person. It's another when it doesn't work out that way." 

"I see my Jack and Coke drinkers have met together," Gabriella comments, pouring each of them a refill in their glasses. Alex and Hailey could only look at each other and share a chuckle together in the realization they were both drinking the same thing. "You are both the reason why Jack has almost left the bar for the night. Less ice, less coke, and more jack for you both. You might as well keep the bottle." 

As Gabriella walked away, Hailey's hand reached for the bottle that was just out of her grasp, taking the lid off and popping off an instant shot in her mouth. She then lets out a sigh, allowing herself to relax a bit as she tries to block out the latest flashback in dropping the most minor details to Alex.

"I should've done this first probably," Hailey then says, taking Alex's glass and pouring some in it for him with a smile. "Don't worry - I don't have any bad germs to share..." 

"I wasn't worried," Alex replies, picking up the glass and having a mouthful of his own for himself. As the liquid rolls down his throat, he couldn't help but look into her eyes, seeing the storm that laid beneath them - and the beauty in those lips. Why hadn't he noticed all that when they saw each other last? "Besides, we could share more than just the Jack....."