23rd of June
I was spending another night alone at the bar drinking. Adele thought I was staying late at work for a meeting, which was the third night this week. Lately, all we do is fight and then fight more about how we always fight. It seemed like I could never please her anymore and I figured it would be best if I just stayed away.
'Another one?' Jay, the bartender, asked as my gin and tonic slowly disappeared. I just nodded my head and took another slip. This would be my fourth one, but I didn't seem to care.
As the night got later and the usual business crowd arrived, I noticed a women at the other end sitting alone. She ran her finger over the edge of her martini glass but didn't seem to drink it. I watched her for awhile, wondering what her story was, or like me, was she avoiding someone.
'You should talk to her man.' Jay insisted. I shrugged my shoulders and downed my fifth drink. 'Nah. Just give me some water and I'll mind my own.' I said without hesitation. It's not that I didn't want to go over to where she was, I did. But I was technically still in a relationship even though it didn't seem like it.
'Screw it.' I said sliding Jay my credit card. 'Put her on my tab.' I got off my stool and walked straight over to where Katie was sitting. 'You ever going to drink that?' I asked as I took the seat next to her.
She looked up at me with a shy smile and then focused back on her drink. 'Have you been watching me?' Katie asked quietly. 'Is it creepy if I say yes? I tried not to but I couldn't help it.' I replied setting my water in front of me.
'I'm Simon.' I said reaching out my hand. 'Katie.' She responded. 'What brings you here alone?' I asked trying not to over stare. 'Getting over a breakup. I thought it would be easier then this.' Her voice was shaky. My drunk mind wanted to comfort her and pull her close. But the gentleman in me just put my hand over hers, 'he didn't deserve you anyway.'
She looked up at me with glossy eyes and then she smiled and I went numb. 'Thanks but it's not that simple.' Katie said before finally taking a sip of her drink. A silence filled the space between us. 'He cheated and I knew about it the whole time but I stayed because I wanted to pretend it wasn't happening. Then a few days ago I walked in on him at our house. Six years just down the drain.'
'Damn. That's a long time to be with a cheater.' I said without realizing it. She gave me a questioning look. 'Sorry. I'm really sorry that happened. I know what it's like to fight for a relationship.' This time she put her hand on my arm and a feeling of guilt overwhelmed me.
A vibration from my phone brought me back to reality. It was a text from Adele. I didn't even have to read it to know what it said. I let out a sigh and put my credit card back in my pocket. 'I've got to get going.' I told Katie. 'See you around?' She asked as I got up. 'I hope so.' I said before turning around and walking out to head home to my girlfriend and son.
