Page 6 of Together

She nods, scooping up a loaded down chip with spinach and artichoke dip. “Yup.” Then she plops the chip into her mouth and chews, thankfully with her mouth closed.

For the next ten minutes, we eat in relative silence. Indulging in the feast of greasy bar food. I could eat shit like this every day and be happy. My body wouldn’t be, but that’s to worry about later. Tonight, I’m indulging. And, apparently, so is my dinner partner.

I don’t even know her name.

She doesn’t know mine, either.

“What’s your story?” she asks, taking a break from eating to drink some of her beer. She must have switched from the vodka she had earlier. Something I should probably do as well. Though, I really should just not drink any more alcohol but much like the food, I’ll worry about that later.

I signal for the waitress and when she stops, I order a beer and another for the woman as well. She refills our waters and moves to the bar to get our beers.

“I don’t normally drink like this,” I tell her.

“Me either. It’s been months since I drank. That’s why I ordered so much food. I knew I needed something to soak it up or I’d be puking. Probably will puke anyway,” she admits sheepishly, “but at least it will be more than just the burn of alcohol.”

The corner of my mouth ticks up. “I get that. So, if we’re going to be sharing a meal, I suppose we should know the basics. What’s your name?”

She pauses, then grins. “Sally.”

Something tells me she’s lying. I don’t know how I know but to test my theory I tell her, “I’m… Harry.”

That pretty smile widens and she wipes her hands on a napkin and swallows, then sticks her hand out for me to shake. I take her small hand in mine and wonder if she feels the calluses on my palms and if she does, what she thinks about them.

“Nice to meet you,Sally.”

“You, too,Harry. But… don’t think I didn’t notice that you side-stepped me asking what your story is. Besides, you’re the one who said she should know the basics. I think that means more than just a first name, right?” She winks at the mention of us exchanging names, which tells me that I was right. We’re playing a game. That’s perfectly fine since I’ve had enough reality today.

I sigh heavily. “Well. Turns out,Sally,” I wink back and she laughs a little, stabbing her fork into a boneless wing and dipping it into some ranch dressing, “that our story isn’t all that different. Proposed to my girlfriend tonight. She told me no. Her reason was that she never wants to get married or have children and since she’s so generous and caring, she’s letting me go so I can find “the one”.” I use finger quotes to emphasize the termthe oneand she rolls her eyes.

“She’s as sweet as my ex, it sounds.”

“Yup. Couple of assholes,” I tell her, holding up my pint of beer and we clink glasses.

“Definitely assholes.”

Her laughter is a light tinkling sound that eases some of the grief that was settling in. Funny how grief can be so fickle. Maybe my sister’s right, I should be glad that Stacia ended it. If I was really that heartbroken, wouldn’t I be at home crying right now instead of talking — and drinking — with this pretty new friend? And wouldn’t it take me longer to think of someone else as pretty?

We take a drink, toasting one another over our asshole ex unification, and I relax just a little.

“I’m sorry your ex was an asshole,” I tell her.

She nods. “Yeah, me, too. Can I be honest about something, though?”

“If you can’t be honest with a total stranger, who can you be honest with?” I ask and take another drink.

“He never gave me an orgasm.”

And then I spew beer right in her face.

Then it clicks why she called herself Sally, because of the orgasm thing in the movie. Damn. For being halfway to drunk, I’m sure thinking spot on.

Chapter Two

Ashley

“Sorry! Shit.”Harry hands me a stack of napkins as he coughs, hitting his chest with his fist.

I grin at his discomfort. I wasn’t lying about what I said, but I also knew the shock value would be there and wanted to see what his reaction would be. Turned out even better than I expected.

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