Last orders were being called, soon we would have to leave the warmth of the Fish and Mullet. Outside it was sleeting down, I didn't fancy the long walk up Clovers Hill, oh how I wished the walk home was down instead of up. Janet was lucky she only lived around the corner, so for me it was a lonely trudge home.
"Are we going then?" I asked Janet.
"Yes I suppose we better brave the elements," she replied with a sigh.
As we exited the pub the chill wind and hard rain beat against our faces almost taking our breath away and with chattering teeth we bid each other farewell.
I tucked my collar up tight to my face and began walking home, each step was an effort as I walked slowly into the wind as it tried its best to force me backwards.
As I turned the first corner with the hill laid out before me I could see two guys up ahead standing on the doorstep to John's flat. I easily remembered their names because it was unusual to have two friends with the same name, even though the other guy was the same name it was spelt different, J O N as he liked to point out.
I didn't know them that well but we had chatted a couple of times before in the pub, they seemed to be quite friendly guys.
As I got closer to them Jon recognized me and shouted a greeting. I waved back thinking how nice it would be if I lived this close.
I was almost adjacent to his front gate when Jon called to me again, this time he joked that I should tie a large rubber band to myself and connect it to my front door so that I could spring back home. It wasn't in the least bit funny but I couldn't help giggling, I suppose the drink and the ludicrousness of his proposal just tickled me.
I stopped to talk to them even though the coldness was bringing me out in goosebumps. We chatted for a while but the cold was really getting to me so I was slowly easing my way forward. John must have noticed me shivering, he always came across as the kinder of the two.
"Would you like to come in for a coffee or something," he asked ever so politely.
I thought to myself why is it that no one ever says tea, it's always coffee yet we are allegedly a nation of tea drinkers, just another Americanism I suppose.
I thought of declining his offer but then thought better of it, it was early, well at least for a Saturday night, I had nothing to rush home for except my little pussy, cat that is.
"Yes I would like a drink, but something a little stronger than coffee if you have it," I replied with some relief in my voice.
John opened the front door and beckoned me to enter before him, always the gentleman I thought. His flat was up two flights of stairs and by the time I had reached the top I felt a lot warmer, it was either the central heating or the exercise, I didn't mind which, it just felt better.
"What would you like to drink then," enquired John, with the look of a man who could have fulfilled any request.
"Do you have any wine?"
John nodded back a yes.
"White then please," I replied.
He returned from the kitchen with a glass of wine for me and drinks for himself and Jon. Now when I say a glass of wine I under exaggerate, it was a half-full pint glass.
"I never expected this much, you're not trying to get me drunk, or should I say drunker?" I asked.
"No as if I would, it's just I don't have any small glasses, they accidentally got broken when my ex threw them at me a couple of months ago, just after I asked her to leave. Before you ask she felt that I spent more time with Jon than with her so she gave me a choice, her or Jon, it was no contest."
An innocent smile crossed his face as he finished speaking, his gorgeous blue eyes shining like a torch in the wilderness.
Pull yourself together, don't get carried away, these guys come as a pair I thought to myself. Then the thought of what had crossed my mind brought a frown to my face, I didn't mean it that way, well I don't think so, no definitely no. I wiped the thoughts well out of my head.
"You looked worried," said Jon with a look of concern. "Your safe with us we aren't going to seduce you or anything."
