I watch her walk away and wait until she opens her front door, wave at me, then disappear inside her apartment. I turn around and walk the two additional blocks to my place and sit on the couch in darkness.
I’m not a loner by any means, I’m very friendly, and I talk to everyone at the bar. Especially since I work from home and don’t do much talking to others during the day. Occasionally, after a long and hectic day, I will go to the bar and take shots with the bartenders that work and own The Neighborhood.
After Madison’s earlier random comment about being surprised about not being an alcoholic, it didn’t occur to me that my hanging out at the bar would have anyone thinking that. But now, after an evening between friends, I have another chance to hang out with Madison and hopefully, I can get to know her better.
When Madison asked me about being lonely in the city, I was terrified that I would have divulged too much information and would have to tell her my life story and the real reasoning behind always being at the bar.
I make the mental note to thank Cooper for inviting them tomorrow and get ready for some sleep before I need to get my workday started in the morning.
I wake up early and stretch as I roll out of bed. I stumble through the darkness of my apartment until I turn on the dim lights in the kitchen to get my computer started up quickly and begin my workday.
I work in computer engineering creating software for several large companies all around the world. I will sometimes spend hours of my day sitting at my desk without getting up as I get so engrossed in my work. I set up an alarm so that way I make sure to meet Madison at the diner and get to work.
I shower before heading to the diner and walk in looking for Madison. After a moment, she walks out from the back, while folding up her apron and shoving it into her purse. She looks up and our eyes meet, we smile at one another and I raise my hand in an awkward wave, likely with a goofy smile.
“Hey there,” she greets walking up to me, leaning up on her tip toes and kissing my cheek.
“Hey, how has your day been?” I ask her with a smile.
“It’s been a day, but now that you’re here, I’m excited.”
“Oh yeah? Well, do you want to eat here for lunch or go to the bar?” I ask her offering her the only two places in town to eat.
She looks around the diner and scrunches her nose.
“Let’s go to the bar. I haven’t actually eaten there in a minute, and it would be a nice break from this place.”
I offer her my arm; she ropes hers through, I lead her out the diner and down the street to the bar.
Rather than going to my usual barstool, I lead her over to the booths in the back of the space.
For a few moments, we’re awkwardly quiet. After our lunch order is taken, our eyes lock and I smile.
“So, Madison,” I begin, “tell me a little about yourself?”
“Well, I’m basically an open book, what exactly do you want to know?”
“Have you always wanted to be a nurse?” I ask.
“Not always. Growing up, I wanted to be a business owner, but then when I lost my dad, I was influenced by the nurses at Hollybrooke General. So, I changed my mind on paths to take and began looking into my options in the medical industry.”
“Oh, I can see that. Is your dad okay?” I ask her.
“He passed, but those nurses were by far the most amazing people that I’d ever met. They were life changing for me, and I saw all the hard work that they put into their patients and their families.”
“Do you mind me asking how he passed?” I ask, hoping that I’m not prying too much.
She looks to the side, takes a deep breath and puts a forced smile on her face.
“He passed away from complications from a car accident. He was coming home from a business meeting in the city and just as he was about to leave the city, he was T-Boned by a drunk driver. The drunk driver also went to the hospital, but he only had a few broken ribs and a broken arm. But my dad had a lot of internal bleeding and a punctured lung that ultimately was the qualifying factor.”
“Oh shit, I’m so sorry. Were you able to see him before it all happened?”
“As soon as we got the call, mom and I went to HB General and yeah, we did get a chance. But I think that everything happened so quickly that I was just not understanding what really was going on.”
“Shit, well I’m sorry to have brought the mood down, but I like that I’ve gotten to know you just a little deeper.” I say reaching for her hand across the table.
“It’s okay. It’s kind of one of the reasons that I really don’t come into the bar much. And probably why I don’t really know you. I know that you’re a regular here, and that generally implies that you are a drunk. Except that I don’t get that vibe from you.”
“Okay, so while I may be a bar regular, it’s purely for non-alcoholic reasonings.”
“Care to elaborate?” she asks with a tilt of her head.
“Alright, we’re getting even darker,” I joke.
“Let’s look at it as building foundation and getting to know one another.”
“Okay, okay. So, growing up, my mom and dad left the house a lot, and left me at home,” I begin. “I had little to no interaction while I was growing up. I went to school then home and that’s it. My parents weren’t around to ever allow me to have friends over and none of my friends’ parents ever were able to meet mine since they weren’t around. This continued throughout school and since then I like to be surrounded by other people and the bar is the best atmosphere for that,” I explain.
“So, you go to the bar to just be around people and not for the drinking?” she asks for clarification.
“Yup. I’m not really a huge drinker. Sure, I’ll have shit ass long days where I will take some extra shots, but I’m more just hanging at the bar for the social aspect.” I tell her.
“You’re the Neighborhood Regular, but not in the negative way that everyone always assumes when they hear someone is always at the bar,” she says slowly to understand and clarify.
“Exactly,” I nod.
She blows out a breath and smiles, “Can I be completely honest with you?”
“Of course,” I nod.
“I haven’t taken the extra step to know you because of what I thought. After my dad died, I made a promise to myself that my future self would not get involved with someone who is an alcoholic, that’s what I thought of you. I’m sorry for pre-judging you,” she says.
Chapter One Hundred Five
It bothered me hearing that Madison was pre-judging me and didn’t even think about getting to know me until we were thrown together by our friends. I understand about her feelings and how drinking has affected her life, but what I’m not understanding is how she could judge others without getting to know them first.
I sincerely like her and want to move past this, but part of me wants to look past her original generalization and show her the actual person that I am.
Which is what I will do.
I lean forward on the table, “I knew of you around town, but I’m a little shy and rarely allow myself to branch out of my comfort zone,” I tell her. “But I want to continue to get to know you, if you would like to do the same?”
She looks at me for a moment, with a slow smile coming to her lips and a nod.
I sit back in the booth just as our food is brought to us and we eat in silence with glances up and one another in observation.
We sit in the booth for hours. We talk about our lives up until the moment we’re sitting here. I tell her embarrassing stories about me in high school and she tells me about her first days of waitressing when she would spill on customers. We lose track of time, until I can smell burgers and my stomach begins to growl.
I look out the window, one of the only windows in the front of the bar and note that it’s dark outside.
I lean forward, indicating that I have something to say to her, as she does the same.
“I’m surprised that we
haven’t gotten kicked out of here yet, we’ve been holding this booth ransom for hours.”
She looks around and her eyes widen.
“How long have we been here?” she asks.
“I don’t know, but it’s dark out and we should probably get some dinner,” I offer.
“Crap, I didn’t realize that we would be here so late, I promised my neighbor that I would babysit for her tonight, can I take a raincheck?” she asks looking at the time on her phone.
Slightly disappointed, but understanding commitments, I nod and give her a grin.
“I’ll take a raincheck,” I say to her. “Can I walk you home?”
That means that she wants to see me again.
“I would love that,” she says getting out of the booth. I throw a couple of twenties on the table and begin to follow her. She walks in front of me and I admire the view as we exit.
She holds out her hand to me as soon as we’re outside, I reach for her hand and we begin walking in the direction of her place.
“I really am enjoying getting to know you,” she says looking at me with a warm smile.
“Me too,” I agree.
“I’m sorry that I let my own thoughts get in the way before, we could have known one another this whole time.”
“You know what, maybe it just wasn’t our time,” I reply.
“What do you mean?” she asks turning to glance at me while we waited at the only crosswalk in town and for a few cars to roll by.
“Well, if we would have gotten to know one another before, maybe you wouldn’t have been as open minded about getting to know me. Maybe now, is when we were supposed to meet.”
“Are you a guru? Astronomist? Or a hippy?” she asks with laughter behind her tone.
“No, I’m just a computer geek. I read a lot and pay attention to things that have a place and time.”
“Well, I guess then now is our time,” she says while squeezing my hand.
We cross the street and then the next to the residential area of town. When we stop in front of her place, she turns to me, looks up at me and smiles.
“I’m glad that this is our time,” she whispers.
“Same here, I’m glad that Cooper set this up.” I reply to her.
“Lewis?” She begins, “can I kiss you?”
I don’t answer her.
Instead I pull her against my body and wrap my arms around her middle. Her hands fly to my hips and she leans up as my mouth leans down. I take her lips and gently brush mine against hers, then run my tongue along her lower lip. I take my time lavishing her with soft kisses, before I tilt my head and allow my tongue to seek entrance.
She sucks in a breath while our tongues tangle, deepening the kiss and holding one another closely.
We stand there on the sidewalk, our arms wrapped around one another in one of the most passionate kisses that I’ve ever had. When we pull apart, she touches her lips and slowly looks up at me with a glow to her skin and glazed eyes.
“Wow,” she says in a whisper.
“Wow, indeed,” I agree.
I lean my head down and our foreheads press together.
“Tomorrow night?” she asks.
“Tomorrow night?”
“For my raincheck?”
“Ah yes, I’ll pick you up around six?” I ask.
She pulls back and then leans back in for another kiss. When her soft lips hit mine, it takes everything in me to not pull her into another sensual kiss here on the street, But I know that she needs to go inside and that she has other obligations tonight - but it pains me to let her go.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she pulls free slowly, her hand lingering in mine as we pull away from one another.
I watch as she walks up the walkway to her place, she pauses at the door, glances back and offers a smile with a half shy wave before she turns and retreats into her place.
I don’t move from my spot and run my hand over my forehead before stuffing both hands into my front pockets while I walk the few blocks to my place.
Once inside, I lock the doors behind me and turn on my office light. I stand in front of the computer for a moment before deciding against working. I want to relish in the events of the day and this evening. I want to bask in what is feels like to be smitten as it’s been so long since that’s happened.
Chapter One Hundred Six
I did very little work today in excitement for my ‘raincheck date’ with Madison. She sent me a text earlier in the day with a short note saying that she was looking forward to the night, and after that I was seriously preoccupied with thoughts of her and potentially what we would do tonight.
How do I make an impression on her?
How do I woo her?
There’s a restaurant that just opened up on the outskirts of town, a steak house type joint. The head chef at The Neighborhood Bar is dating a meat vendor and her family owns a farm and subsequently owns the steak house. Around lunch time, I stop by the bar this afternoon and asked if his lady could hook me up with a reservation.
I start up my car in my parking spot, a car that while, I love it - I barely have to drive it with not having a commute to and from work. It also helps that I rarely will drive out of the city limits and everywhere in this town that I need to go to is in walking distance.
I pull my car to the curb and practically run up to knock on her door. When she answers, she looks breath-taking. She has light make-up on, and her long red hair is swept up in curls. I try to not obviously check her out, but I don’t think that my mind got the same memo as I sweep my gaze up and down her body.
She smiles shyly while she transfers her weight from one foot to the other with her hand on the door. She looks nervous, but appreciative that I’ve dressed up a little more than jeans and a t-shirt, as she stares longer at me that she has before.
“You ready?” I ask her.
“Sure, am. But I’ve got some questions first, will I need a coat? Am I overdressed? What are we doing? Where are we going?”
“Okay, um, no to all of it, we’re going to dinner, crap, I didn’t ask, do you eat meat?” I internally beat myself up for not asking her that sooner.
“Meat? Oh, yeah I will eat things with faces for days,” she says awkwardly.
I try to not laugh, but a chuckle forces out as she steps out of her place and turns to lock her door.
I offer her my arm as I walk her down to the curb where my car sits.
“So, we have to drive there?” she asks nervously looking back and forth between the car and me.
“Is that a problem?”
“You haven’t had anything - wait, no. I’m sorry. It’s not a problem at all.”
I know what she was about to ask, but I don’t acknowledge it. Instead, I change the subject.
“So, a friend of mine, well actually a friend of a friend’s family owns a restaurant outside of town. I was thinking that it would be sweet to check out.”
“The Roadside?” she asks.
“Yeah, have you been?”
“No, I wanted to check it out though. Doesn’t that Percy guy, the grumpy cook from the bar work there too?”
“Yes and no. He’ll do a night here and there in the kitchen. But ultimately, his fiancée is the one whose family owns the place. I think she might be part owner too, but I’m not sure. I know Percy was in the restaurant business before, at least that’s the rumor.”
She nods, taking in the information with a smile from her seat.
“Well, whoever cooks the slab of meat, I’m sure they are good.”
“What happens if they’re not?” I joke.
“Well, then I’ll write a yelp review that says that I demand Percy to cook there full time.”
“You can’t take him away from the bar! Where would I get all my nutritious meals from?” I playfully whine.
“Well, you know there is always the diner. You know, the establishment that I work at, down the street,” she deadpans.
“Oh, yeah, that place. I
forgot about it.” I look at her out of the corner of my eye as she lightly swats at my arm.
Minutes later, I’m parked on the side of the restaurant. I turn off the engine and turn to her in the front seat.
“There’s one thing that I wanted to do, but I forgot to do because you look absolutely stunning.”
“Yeah, what’s that?” she asks.
I raise my right hand and cup her jaw, lightly pulling her face closer to mine. I brush my lips against hers twice, then I pull back with a smile on my face. I look into her eyes and see the same happy expression on her face that I’m sure is on mine as she hums and opens her eyes.
“That was nice,” she says quietly.
“Now, let’s go eat.” I reply with a smile and a good feeling.
Dinner is exceptional and the company was the best that a man could ask for. As I pull up to her curb, I walk up to the door with my arm around her.
“Well, I hope that the raincheck date, was good for you,” I say as she reaches to unlock her door. She does so quietly, then turns the knob to open it. She turns in my arms and drapes her arms around my neck, tilts her head and then licks her lips.
“Come in?” she asks.
“Yeah, I can do that.” I don’t even need to think about it before I act.
She takes my hand and I follow her inside.
Chapter One Hundred Seven
Her apartment is cozy.
Colorful throw pillows are lined up on her gray couch that sits in front of the medium sized television. She has a bookshelf that has books spilling off the shelves and a small dining table with two chairs off the galley kitchen.
She has picture frames with inspirational quotes on a few of the walls and a few photos of her and others that I imagine is her family.
She pulls me by the hand past everything and down the small dark hallway which passes by a bathroom and then into another dark room.
She lets go of my hand and then the dark room fills with a low light from the lamp beside her bed.
The Neighborhood Series (The Neighborhoood) Page 38
