14
Sam
On the days the bar was closed, I’d taken to working from home.There was hardly much of a difference, but even that small variance in my surroundings meant I could at least pretend that I was keeping better hours than I was.
By the early evening, I’d managed to finally finish what I was doing, only to realize that I’d missed August’s numbers completely, and they were sitting in the office at the bar.Five weeks since starting this new life, and I still felt like I hadn’t completely adjusted.
Considering the bar was closed, I was more than a little surprised to find Tiffany there when I arrived.And even more so to find her sitting on a bar stool, nursing a drink.
“Do you often make it a habit of drinking my alcohol on your days off?”
If she was surprised to see me, she didn’t show it.In fact, she didn’t move at all, not even to turn her head to look at me.
Her posture was all wrong.Slumped where she normally lounged.When I rounded the bar to stand in front of her, she avoided my gaze, but I noticed, with a flash of concern, that her eyes were glassy and red-rimmed.
I actually felt bad for asking, but I wasn’t sure what else to say.“Bad day?”
She gave a pained laugh, sounding wrecked.“Yeah.”
And just like that, I put aside all the arguments we’d had this week and saw the person underneath all that bravado.It felt sacred, as though I was witnessing a side of her not many saw.
“I’ve never seen you like this.”
“Huh?”
I cleared my throat.“I mean, I’ve never seen you drink here before.Have I finally driven you to it?”
That earned a weak smile.One that didn’t make it to her eyes.It felt wrong.
“Unless you’re celebrating?”I ventured, hoping the ill attempt at humor would conjure something.She was really worrying me.
“It’s not that kind of drink.”
Oh.
I took a step toward my office then turned back.“Can I join you?”
“Free country.”
“That’s debatable.”This earned me a smirk.I’d take it.I’d never seen her so deflated.I didn’t like it.“Can I make you something?”
She looked surprised.“A Sam Cooper special?Sure.”She watched me.“Are you going to try to impress me?”
Turning back to the bar, I thought about what to make her.Whatever it was that was bothering her went deep.I didn’t know much about her life outside of the bar, but I could at least tell that much.
Whenever I felt like that, I’d console myself with a glass of whiskey, but if we were going to do that, then …
I made a decision.I hoped I wouldn’t regret it.
“Get up.”
“You’re kicking me out already?”
“I’m not kicking you out.We’re going upstairs.”
“Upstairs?There’s no upstairs.”
I said nothing as I checked the lock on the bar door and then led her towards the fire exit.Next to it was a nondescript door that I knew led to the apartment upstairs.It had sat empty while Harry ran the bar because he already had a house out in Buffalo Grove.But I’d needed somewhere to live when I moved back, and it made the most sense since I would be spending all my time at the bar anyway.
