In this life

Chapter 37

"So is that a yes then?"
"Ah Rosie I don't know, what did your mother say?"
"She said to ask you, please dad, it will be fun"
He hesitated while he contemplated it, "Well it's fine with me.... If your mother agrees!"
"Dad you're the best!" I kissed him on the forehead and went to find mum. She was in the kitchen.
"Dad says it's fine" I bended the truth.
"Did he?" She sighed "Ok then, but you're organising it all and I don't want to be doing any cooking or tidying up, its all on you, ok Rosie?"
"Yes" I clapped my hands "thanks Mum"
I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and sent a group text;

New messages to: Daniel; Ronnie; Harry; Johnny; Emily; Jess; Sara; Chloe; Grace; Liam; Sophie
Hi all, I'm throwing a Halloween party at mum and dads on Saturday @8pm.
Fancy dress -make sure you're there!

"Right, I'm off to work!" I called out to my parents "see you later"
"Bye" they called back as I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. Ronnie replied before I reached my car;

New message from: Ronnie
Awesome!!! Let me know what you need me to do getting it ready!

I replied;

New message to: Ronnie
Everything!! xxx

I also sent Daniel a quick text;

New message to: Daniel
Maybe see if Adam wants to come...?
Best behaviour though! Make sure he's eaten before he comes... xx

I got in my car and drove the short distance to work.

***

"Hi Rosie" Tim's voice was cautious.
"Err, hello Tim... How's things?"
"Listen, I'm sorry, I don't want things to be awkward between us..."
"No, don't worry" I was sarcastic "you  only started seeing my best mate again even though you already had a girlfriend...it's not awkward at all..." I turned to stack the last few bottles of mixers on the shelf behind the bar.
"How is she?" He asked.
"Ronnie? Yeah she's actually really good. She's seeing my brother Harry now. I've not seen her quite so loved up before. I'm happy for her" I couldn't resist rubbing it in.
"Oh... Ok" he nodded.
"How's your girlfriend?"
"Ex girlfriend" he corrected me.
"Shame" I smiled without my eyes, "anyway, must get on" I stood up, "customers to serve and all that... You take care won't you" I turned on my heal and headed for the kitchen to see if my order was ready yet. It was just being plated up.
"Table seven when you're ready Rosie" the Head Chef called over.
"Thanks Chef" I placed a white towel on my arm and loaded two plates on it before picking up a third with my other hand and walked backwards through the swing door into the main restaurant. When I reached the table I called out the dishes and placed them in front of the correct customers, "be careful, this plate is very hot" I told the gentleman who had ordered the Beef sizzler and headed back to the kitchen to collect the remaining food for the rest of the table.
After they were all happily tucking in I went to the bar to see if anyone needed serving, clearing glasses as I went. I was loading them into the under counter dishwasher when I saw someone approach the bar in my peripheral.
"What can I get you Sir?" I spoke without looking.
"You look good, maybe I'd like to drink you..."
I looked up quickly, "Adam!"
"Hello Rosie"
"What are you doing here?"
"I just came in for a drink" he smiled, "and to thank you for your invitation."
"Oh, you're welcome" I wiped the side down "so what can I actually get you?"
"Bourbon please. No ice"
I nodded and reached a glass down, "so... Listen, I hope I can trust you to not cause me any trouble on Saturday...?"
"Scouts honour" he put his hand to his heart to show sincerity.
"I'm serious. Please don't, you know...-"
"Rosie, Daniel is a good mate. I'll behave"
"Thank you" I smiled and placed his drink down on a coaster in front of him.
"He'll be here soon"
"Daniel? Really?" I was excited.
"Yeah, he's just meeting a bloke about a thing. He won't be long"
"...a bloke about a thing...." I repeated, imploring him to elaborate.
"He has some, err, legal stuff to sort"
"What legal stuff?" I was confused.
"All in good time Rosie, all in good time"
I frowned but couldn't help smiling at Adam's cheeky grin.
I'd begun to like Adam. Our first encounter had been the only time I'd ever seen him in a bad light. But he was actually very pleasant, and witty. He wasn't bad looking either.
"Here he is" Adam announced without looking round.
I looked to the entrance door and couldn't see anyone "who?"
"Five, four, three, two..."
On the next beat the door opened and Daniel came in. I looked at Adam, who was smug.
"How did you...?"
He winked at me and took a sip of his drink. I shook my head smiling and looked back over to Daniel as he approached the bar.
"Hi" He beamed.
"Hi yourself" I gave him a shy sort of smile and bit my lip "what can I get you?"
Daniel scoured the top shelf debating his order, "whisky please, wench" he gave me a playful smile.
"Right away my lord" I spoke in the most wench like accent I could and gave a little curtsy as I got a glass for his drink.
Placing it in front of him I checked no one was looking and leaned myself onto the bar with a little jump, holding my weight on my arms and he lent in to meet my lips for a quick kiss.
"These are on me" I smiled "if I can't get my two favourite vampires a drink when they visit me at work..." I smiled at them both.
They raised their glasses to me and Daniel sat on the bar stool next to Adam.
A chorus of 'Happy Birthday' started at the other side of the restaurant and two other staff members approached a table, decorated in helium balloons, with a cake. 
"Uggh" I groaned unintentionally, "I hate when people do that"
They both turned to watch the cheesy, uncomfortable proceedings as only half the people sang, out of tune and the rest just fake smiled and mouthed the words. I shook my head and looked away, unloading glasses from the dishwasher and wiping them so they shined before placing them on the correct shelves.
"I've just realised" I looked at Daniel "I have no idea when your birthday is!"
Daniel smiled "November 5th".
"Oh good" I was relieved "so I haven't missed it then" I smiled "Bonfire Night. That's easy to remember".
I made a mental note to make a one-hundred and twenty-eighth birthday card and order it online.
Between serving tables I served Daniel and Adam at the bar for the rest of my shift before getting changed into my own clothes and joining them.
Tim served us drinks.
"What you having?" Daniel asked as he offered me his bar stool and I sat down.
"Vodka and orange please" I answered. Tim started making my drink.
"Adam? Same again?" Asked Daniel.
Adam held his glass up and nodded.
Tim put my drink in front of me.
"And two glasses of bourbon please" Daniel spoke to Tim who nodded and fetched their drinks. Daniel put a twenty pound note on the bar and turned to me.
"So... How do you fancy a little snowboarding trip with me and Adam?"
"Umm, yeah ok, but I've never done it before... When?"
"That's ok, we'll teach you. And tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" I was surprised "I have work tomorrow, plus I've got no snowboarding gear..."
"Ok, so not tomorrow then. When?"
"Oh, umm, well let me see when I can book a weekend off work"
"Ok. But that's a yes?"
"Yes definitely"
Daniel smiled at me.
"So" Adam spoke "what are you going dressed up as to your Halloween party?"
"I'm not sure... Maybe a cat or something... You two?" I answered.
They looked at each other and then at me "Vampires, obviously" they laughed.

We ended up spending a few hours at the bar, slowly getting drunk. My boss kept giving me disapproving looks.
"Do you think we should go somewhere else?" Daniel asked me, gesturing towards my boss.
"Yeah, probably" I rolled my eyes.
"Back to mine?" Adam asked.
Daniel looked at me for approval.
"Yeah, ok, I guess"
"I'll call a cab" Adam stepped away from the bar retrieving his phone from his pocket.
"You sure?" Daniel checked I was happy to go to Adam's.
"Yeah that's fine" I felt safe with Daniel. Plus, because Adam and Daniel were such good mates, by default I felt that Adam wouldn't hurt me either.
Daniel lifted my chin between his thumb and forefinger and kept his head straight but lowered his eyes to look at me. His lips tight.
"What?"
He leaned in to kiss me, but didn't make contact. My breath faltered. I fixed my gaze on his lips, willing them to touch mine.
"It's here" Adam called to us from the doorway.
Daniel smiled, knowing I was frustrated and gestured for me to lead the way to the taxi waiting outside.

***

Adam lived in a modest studio flat right in the town centre. It was furnished with essentials, but nothing matched, I liked it. It looked like most things were either very old or picked up from charity shops. I figured it was probably old stuff he had for years.
I'd noticed that when we arrived Daniel didn't need to be invited in. He'd obviously been here before.
"Right..." Adam looked in his cupboard, "what have I got for humans to drink...?" He searched about and offered me a bottle of beer.
"Perfect" I took it gratefully "but actually I'm more interested in what you have for non-humans to drink?"
Daniel laughed through his nose, took my beer in his hand, and removed the cap with his teeth, then handed it back.
"Well let's see..." Adam opened a different cupboard "I've got A, O, a delicious B negative...?" He looked to Daniel.
"Whichever is fine" he answered Adam whilst giving me a uncomfortable sideways glance.
I was fascinated, "so you have blood on offer?"
"Of course!" Adam answered. Holding up blood bags.
"So are they from people donating blood?"
"Yes. Are you ok with that? Because if not we can go out and get it fresh..." Adam smirked.
I smirked back, "it's fine".
"You've definitely got a good one Daniel" he passed him a full glass of blood, "I'll give it to you. It was definitely worth helping you find her" he raised his glass.
"Helping you find me?" I asked Daniel.
"After your birthday" he explained, "Adam knows a lot of people, he asked a few questions, found some answers. I probably could have done it myself, but Adam was always going to be quicker and I wanted to find you as soon a possible"
"Oh ok" I took a mouthful of my beer, "so how does one go about finding a stranger?"
"You weren't a stranger" Daniel smiled, "I had a photo of you already"
"Social media is a marvel of this century" Adam added.
"So you Facebook stalked me?" I laughed.
"And I had photos analysed to workout where in the world you were" Adam seemed quite proud of himself.
"Well I'm impressed... And a little unnerved by this..." I giggled.
Daniel put his arm around my shoulder and kissed my forehead.
"After seeing your bikini Ayia Napa 2014 photos I debated not telling Daniel I found you..." Adam winked at me and licked his lip. I gave him a tight smile and narrowed my eyes playfully and he laughed.
Gradually over the remainder of the evening we laughed and joked with each other, played a few card games and I enjoyed listening to their stories about things they had done together over the years.
Eventually, it was late and I grew tired.
"I think it's time to get this one home" Daniel spoke to Adam as he put his arm around my shoulders and kissed my head.

We said our goodbyes and left soon after, deciding to have a slow wander to Daniel's house, rather than call a taxi.
We strolled together chatting and laughing with my arm linked tightly through his.
"Thanks for meeting me today, that was a nice surprise"
"It was Adam's idea actually"
"Really?"
"Yeah, he likes you, I think he's hoping you can be mates"
"Really?" I repeated.
"Yeah"
I smiled to myself.
We continued to walk together, blissfully unaware that we were being followed.