Slip

Chapter One

Chip

The wind felt crisp and cold as I stepped onto my porch, zipping my hoodie up. I originally didn't feel like going to the bar with the guys tonight. I'd have to drive out of the county to get there and that day was so long already, but I actually had a reason to go. Marc was coming back from his honeymoon with his new wife. They were gone for  two weeks. No. Scratch that. Marc hadn't been to the bar in two weeks. Last minute wedding planning got in the way one week and he was in Honolulu for the next.

I don't even remember speaking to him at his wedding. I was the best man but every time I went to speak to him, his wife reached in for a kiss like they didn't already make out in front of the whole party during the ceremony. I will no longer understand why newlyweds did all the extra stuff. I will no longer care.

I got in my burgundy truck and started it, waiting for it to warm up before I started driving. Turning up the radio, I checked my phone and noticed the few texts from my wife asking me when I'd be back and if I could bring home some tea. No and no. My daughter texted me telling me to tell Jason that she said hello. I frowned. What? I set my phone down before starting my drive.

The traffic between Woolridge and Steele county was surprisingly not that bad. There was normally a wreck or a few idiot drivers on the road but it seemed as if everyone said 'screw it! I'll stay home tonight.' I wasn't even mad.

Once I got to the bar and got out of my car, I saw Jason getting out of a minivan. Jason was a tall, slender guy, sitting at the age of thirty-three with no plans of actually having a life. He's what you could call a male-tart. "Whose mother is that, Jason?" I called, locking my door.

"Yours." He said and fixed his curly blonde hair. "Oh.. Wait." His English accent stabbed the air.

"Yeah my mother's dead." I rolled my eyes. "Jerk."

Jason and I walked into the bar one behind the other but stood side by side, approaching our usual seats. I always took the stool next to Leo, who wasn't there yet. We were early. I hated being early. Being late was best for me because I didn't have to wait for everyone to show up. But the benefits of being early was that we got a few extra drinks in. That's a plus, right?

Jason and I sat quietly for a good ten minutes before the other three showed up. "What's up!" I called, raising my arms.

"Chip, my man!" Marc came to me and gave me a hug, patting my back with a loud 'pit pat.' Marc was my height of 6'0 if not taller. His face was slim with high cheekbones that the new girls always talk about. His hair was always dark and combed back. He also smelled like a hospital on the days he had work. He was a doctor so no wonder.

I hugged him back before going to sit back down. Leo sat between me and Eric. Leo was the short guy. He and Eric were the same height but Eric's wrestler built body made him look somewhat taller. Leo was pretty scrawny and was never really into the 'fights' we had. Simply because we all knew he'd lose so why even waste the time?

Leo was always so serious though. Always. I mean, we'd crack a joke and he'd let out a chuckle but if we were having a plain conversation, his baby blue eyes would never leave the marble bar table. Even when he says something, they don't leave.

Eric on the other hand, was so quiet. He wasn't always like that but something's changed about the guy. I had my days where I try so hard to find out what was wrong with him. I had my days where I didn't worry about it.

The clock stroke seven. Charlotte, our bartender, had already brought the first round of shots to us. Vodka. Jason asked for it. After we took them, Marc began talking about his honeymoon. He wouldn't tell us about the rated R things, so we threw napkins at him.

"I'm not going to say!" His deep voice made a squeak. "But look, we took a trip to Hawaii and stayed there for a week-"

"Will I get a niece or nephew?" Jason leaned over to ask, smirking. No. Margaret is too old.

Marc stared at him. "Maybe." He took a breath and continued. "We spent two  days of touring, two days of rest, and the other three were kind of just party nights. It was great!"

"How's the married life, though? You like it so far?" I asked.

"It doesn't feel any different. The only difference is that we've lost a lot of money and I've got a ring on my finger." He said.

Leo chuckled and took his glass of Guinness from Charlotte. "It gets worse. You'll start arguing and-"

"We actually argued this morning!" Marc turned in his stool. "We got back on- what- Saturday? And we're already arguing."

"About what?" Jason laughed. That was funny?

"Because I'm not home as much as when we first got together," Marc said. "And I'm like.. I'm a doctor, Margaret! What do you expect? Then she goes 'you're always with those guys!'" He mimicked her high pitched voice. "We only hang out on Wednesdays, yes? She just... Ugh.. She irritates me with stuff like that."

"It's because she doesn't have a job nor does she have friends." Charlotte leaned over the counter near Leo. Her smile made the conversation lighter than what it was.

Charlotte was a black girl with light soft skin. Around the age of twenty-six, yet the way she spoke made us forget she was that young. When I first met her, I swore she was at least thirty-six. She reminded me of my ex. And I mean everything she did reminded me of Cheryl. I couldn't tell if that was a good thing.

"Oh yeah." Marc muttered. "We should get Mar and Amy to have tea together or something, Chip."

I looked at him with a straight face. "No."