"Ope, looks like that's the last of my cider." Taylor said as Suzy tried to top off her glass.
Suzy had been the Bartender here at Rick's for as long as I could remember. Definitely longer than we had been coming here together. Taylor and I were definitely regulars, we didn't have a set schedule, but we were definitely regulars. When we needed quick food, we'd bring the girls here. When we had something to celebrate, we'd celebrate it here.
"Thanks again for putting that cider on tap Suzy, we both really appreciate it, Taylor hasn't been able to get enough of it since we had it down in Athens."
"No problem Paul, you guys are family after all. We were just happy to make our girls birthday just a bit better." Suzy says with a wink to Taylor. "Besides, this is your tap." She continues with a laugh. "What do you guys want next, we have Bodhi or that IPA you guys like from Cincinnati."
Taylor instantly responds with, "Bodhi. That's one of his favorites. He even tried to name our fucking dog after that beer."
I've known Taylor since Junior High, she was the friend of my buddies little sister. I've been in love with her for ten years at this point. Ever since I ran into her at that same buddies funeral, many years later. And we have been together for four years, since her and her ex divorced.
"Bodhi is ready, you want one Paul?" Suzy starts pouring before I can even answer. "What brings you two in this late? I haven't seen y'all without your girls for quite a while. Besides Taylor's birthday that is."
She smiles, "Paul's mom decided we needed a weekend to ourselves, so she planned a sleepover for the girls."
"I'm sure my dad is about to go crazy." I add.
I smile as I listen to Taylor and Suzy's small talk. Pretend to be watching the game, but really I'm looking at the love of my life. Watching the way she plays with her lip ring. Watching her beautiful brown eyes, her smile...
"Paul!" Taylor yells again while she pinches my thigh. "Come back to Earth!"
"Shit, sorry. I was watching the game." I stammer.
"I said, are we doing one more or do you want to call it a night?"
"Your call Tay, I'm down for whatever."
She orders another round before leading me out back for a smoke. We both quit a couple years ago, but neither of us can resist a cigarette when we are hanging at the bar.
I lean up against the brick building as I light a smoke for two of us, pulling her close and wrapping my jacket around her. She lays the back of her head on my chest as we enjoy the peaceful night.
One round turns into two and then three. The perfect night, just what we both needed. The last few years have been crazy. My divorce and all that drama, then nine months later Tay's divorce. Neither of us had ever crossed the line, neither of us wanted our previous relationships to be over. But once they were, we both knew we'd end up together. Kids made everything so much more complicated, it wasn't a matter of what either of us wanted, it was what was best for the kids.
Suzy interrupts my thoughts, "That girl of yours can't sit still. She's making me tired the way she runs around the bar talking to everyone."
