I couldn’t tell what the call was about through her tone. She sounded casual, but no emotion
came through in her voice. I made my tone pleasant and leaned back into my chair to reply.
“It’s fine, it’s past work hours, anyway. I’m almost done with work, anyway, I’ll be leaving the office soon. Was there something you wanted?”
“Do you want to go out for a drink?” she asked, then paused. She corrected, “I mean, would you like to? If you’re not too busy. Maybe around six thirty?”
I glanced at my watch, still surprised at the sudden invitation. The time she suggested wasn’t so long away.
Why is she calling to ask me out to a drink?
As much as I should have been happy about the invite, it was still damn weird. Especially because Alessandra never used to drink. When I went out to bars and clubs with my friends, I rarely ever took her along because I knew she didn’t like it. And now she was asking me to go out to a bar?”
“Sure,” I agreed.
Just because it was a little weird, didn’t mean I was going to say no.
“Where should I meet you?”
“Um, do you remember that bar…”
She started to speak, but let her voice trail off. I smiled a little, wondering if she remembered all the history we had together. We might not have gone together often, but she knew where I liked to go. I wanted her to think about it as much as possible. If she thought of me and everything we’d been through before, it might give me a higher chance of getting through to her.
“Let me just text you the address,” Alessandra said finally. “I’ll meet you there at six thirty?”
“Of course. I’ll see you.”
She cut the call, and I pulled the phone from my ear. I stared at it for a moment, then it vibrated. I checked the address she’d texted me and smiled. It was a bar I knew, though I hadn't been there in a while. I was too busy, and when I wasn’t working, I was with Mom or Rachel. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time I called my old friends out for a drink.
“So nostalgic,” I sighed to myself.
It wasn’t so far from the office. There wasn’t much left of the document I was reviewing, so I went through the rest of it quickly, and as efficiently as possible. It would be pointless if I made any mistakes, after all. I was running a huge company that could topple down over a few misplaced zeros.
Once I was done, I jumped out of my chair. I collected my stuff and waited for my computer to finish logging off—safety first. The moment it was done, I left my office. Only two people had a key to my office, and that was my secretary and me. I locked the door behind me and hurried my way out. In minutes, I was in my car, and I drove for the bar.
It was a short trip. It wasn’t far, to begin with, and there wasn’t much traffic, either. I wondered if I was supposed to wait outside for her, or if she was already inside? I’d arrived on the dot, and I didn’t know if she’d be late or not.
Instead of asking, I walked into the bar and looked around. I felt relieved when I did see her, then I smiled and walked over to her table.
“Hey,” I called. “Sorry if I made you wait.”
She looked up and smiled at me. It was a bit reserved, but the smile was genuine.
“It’s fine, I only just got here myself, and I was about to text you. Please, sit down.”
She waved a hand at the seat opposite her, and I took it. The lighting in the bar was a bit dark, and there was some music on, but not too loud. We spent a few awkward moments, each waiting for the other to start but neither knowing what to say. Before we managed to speak, a waitress came up to our table.
“Good evening, my name is Mary, and I’ll be your server tonight. Are you two ready to order?”
I arched an eyebrow at Alessandra, and she turned to the waitress.
“I’ll just have a coke, please..”
“Then I’ll have the same,” I added.
“Zero, normal, light?”
Alessandra said, “Zero.”