“Max!” a voice shouted, and we turned to see Becca wriggling through the crowds towards us. Her dress was covered in sequins, and she shone like the sun beneath the disco lights. I was surprised we’d missed her. She tugged Max into a hug first, before grabbing me as well.
“Come on, we’re through here. Everyone is going to be so excited to see you.” She took Max’s hand in hers and led him further into the crowds. He turned back, looking for me and held his hand out. I took it gladly.
“Look who I found,” Becca announced as we came to a stop beside a large booth. Everyone was already here – John, Trisha, a few of the hygienist nurses, Mandy and the new plastic surgeon, Phil, who’d just taken up the bottom floor office.
“Max!” Trisha screamed, clearly a few drinks in already. She stood so quickly, she nearly knocked Mandy’s drink flying and everyone laughed.
“Oof!” Max exclaimed as Trisha threw herself into his arms. “Nice to see you, too.”
“It’s been too long,” she slurred, grabbing his head with both hands. She looked up to me. “Tell him it’s been too long, Rowan.”
I leant forward and muttered into Max’s ear. “Apparently, it’s been too long, Max.”
“She’s wasted,” he laughed, turning his head to the side so I could hear him.
“It’s Trisha, did you expect anything else?”
John was next on his feet, shaking Max’s hand. The orthodontist introduced Max to Phil and Mandy before everyone shuffled up to let us sit down with them.
“You’re late,” Becca said, sliding in next to me. “You’ve got a bit of catching up to do.”
“You mean Max does. I’m driving.” If looks could have killed…
“What!” Becca screeched. “You party pooper.”
“I tried to tell him,” Max chimed in, shooting me a smirk. “He’s old now. Looking at the arse of forty and— Ow!”
I nudged him playfully. “Watch it.” Leaning in, I added. “And actually, I mostly look at the arse of, hm, twenty-eight?”
Max flushed and gave me a sour look. “Shut up.”
I chuckled. “Do you want me to get you a drink?”
Max nodded. “I’ll have—”
“A Jack and Coke, I know.” I nodded, getting to my feet. “I’ll be right back.”
As I waited to be served, I found myself recalling the two years. Things had changed so much since I was last at this bar. I was officially divorced, and Christina and I had split the equity in the house. She had moved to a smaller place on the outskirts of town, whereas Max and I had remained more central. It was only half hour or so away, and Teegan could even drive herself back and forth now. It was strange. For the first time I felt as though my life was my own. I was the person I always should have been, though it occurred to me that perhaps I wouldn’t have ended in such a fortuitous position if it hadn’t been for the hardship I’d endured for all those years.
Teegan was going on a gap year and was due to fly out to Australia in the new year. I didn’t like to think on it too much, it made me itchy with worry, but I was pleased for her all the same. I wanted the freedom and acceptance for her that I had lacked growing up. I hoped I could save her from some of the mistakes I had made, but even if I couldn’t, I’d always be there at her side to help her through them.
News had gotten around the surgery quickly once Christina and I had separated and the house had gone up for sale. Save for the odd sympathetic glance and well-meaning squeeze of a shoulder, my work colleagues had mostly let me be. Trisha had even remarked at how well I was dealing with everything… But they didn’t know the full story.
I took Max’s drink from the bartender with a smile and headed back over to the booths. I placed the glass down and sat beside him. The booth was a tight squeeze, and I was rather enjoying being pressed up against Max the way I was. I could tell by the glances he gave me that he was thinking the same.
We passed the evening easily, chatting about work mostly. I continued to ply Max with Jack and Cokes, knowing full well that his inhibitions tended to go walkabout rather quickly once he’d been drinking. I was very much looking forward to getting him home later.
I sipped my lemonade and placed my palm on his thigh beneath the table. He continued talking with Becca, but I knew he’d noticed. I smirked into my glass. When Becca got up, heading to the ladies’ room with Trisha, Mandy and the other nurses, John and Phil took the opportunity to grab a fresh round of drinks, leaving just Max and I behind.
“Having a nice evening?” I asked him, deliberately brushing the tip of my nose against his ear. They were sensitive, and it was always a good starting point for getting him worked up.
“I am,” he replied with a smile. “It’s great to see everyone again. It’s got me thinking about the last time we were all here together.”
I chuckled. “An interesting night, for sure.” I could still remember that first kiss as if it had been yesterday. I’d been just as infatuated with Max then as I was now.
“Funny how things come full circle, isn’t it?” Max looked at me for a moment before his eyes dropped to my mouth. My gut clenched. He wanted to kiss me, and I had no words for how much I wanted him to.
“Can we go home yet?” he asked, voice rough with desire.
