Where We Left Off

Chapter 22

Another hour later, I'm circling my gin and tonic with my straw, watching the ice cubes tapping against the glass. The bartender popped in a few cherries since it's my birthday. After walking out of my birthday party, I got an Uber and dropped me off at some random bar within in ten miles radius, a far enough where people won't know me and not too far where I can't get back home. The bar has vintage ulterior, the structure inside looks like more of a lounge. The lights have cool tune switching from yellow to pink, and the brown walls are covered with old street signs and old movies posters, the couches and glasses are red brink color. I feel like on the set of the movie, Coyote Ugly, all I need are beautiful women dancing on top of the bar and inspiring singer performing.

"Wanna another, ma'am?" The bartender asks.

I nodded at him before drowning the rest of my drink. He quickly made my replacement, and still topped it with the cherries. I thanked, again resting my head on hand while the other one spinning the straw.

This whole night is ridiculous, I'm hiding at some random bar, drowning my sorrows, because everyone in my life is suddenly keeping secrets from me. Like I can't handled anything if it's connected to Jacks, maybe my sixteen years old self couldn't have but my present self can. I just need answers, or mostly I want the closure, so I can finally closed the chapter of that part of my life and moved on to the next one.

"James?" a familiar voice coming from the side of me, I know that accent too well. I turned my head seeing a handsome face I recognized, well a face I didn't expected to appear in a place like this. Just me kill now. "I thought it was you," Simon smiles. Clearly amused by my surprise facial reaction.

Rolling my eyes, "Lucky you," I shot back, taking a sip of my drink. "What are doing here, Simon?"

Before he can answers, I added, "Oh, wait, let me guess. You're hoping to find another former lover of yours, that you can drunkly charmed into your bed again? Or dirty old street bench?" I don't know what is about Simon that makes me want to give him a hard time. But lately I been enjoying our banter.

He smirks, "Sadly no, I had a dinner meeting that just ended and I figured I grab a drink before I head home." He takes off his black leather jacket, showing off his strong arms, the white t-shirt sticks to his jacket for a second, causing it to lift up, seeing a glimpse of bare skin of his abs. I stare for a moment, but quickly snapped out of it. "Cody, I'll have what's she having?" He asks, before taking a seat nexts to mine, resting his bare arms on the bar countertop.

I straighten out my posture, and ate a cherry before taking an another drink. I feel Simon's stare, making my body shivered. I glance back at him and I was right, he's staring at me like he doesn't even realized that Cody prepared his drink. I narrowed my eyes, "What?"

His smirk deepens, "You okay?"

"What?"

"Are you okay?" he asks again.

I signed, giving him a honest answer, "Not really."

"You want to talk about it?" he asks, but quickly added once he saw me rolling my eyes. "Or just drown your sorrows in silence?"

"The second part." I answered, trying not to smile. How can he charming and annoying at the same time?

"Ok then, do you want some company? Or do you want me to piss off?"

I giggled, "Piss off?"

"James, you been around me for about a month now. Can you just accept the fact I am British, and stop making fun the way I speak?"

I pretend to think it over. "Fair." I offered my drink, so we can cheers into a truce. Simon chuckles and taps his glass with mine.

Simon only offered my silence that lasted several minutes, he started complaining how it's too awkward for us to be sitting next to each other and not talking to each other. After rolling my eyes a few times, I gave up and accepted his reasonings, plus his promise for getting the next round of drinks. We talked about everything besides work and the opening of his gallery that's happening next Saturday. It felt like that late night conservation we had after attending his ex's shit show.