“The elections haven’t even started, I might not even make it,” he sighed.
The bartender poured our drinks and we clinked glasses.
“We didn’t toast to anything,” he said.
“I clink glasses to signal my stomach to ready itself. Toasts can wait till next time,”
I replied and took a sip.
He stared at me blankly with an amused expression then shaking his head he also took a sip.
“So… what do you need?” he asked.
“No, no, no, easy there,” I raised a finger, “Beforeaskingany favors, I need toknow what has been happening in your life. So, tell me what’s been bothering you?”
“Well the recent killings has me shook,” he started, “Police are nowhere near identifying suspects. So that’s one thing.”
“It has everyone shook, and to think this used to be a safe place,” I sighed and took another sip, “How’s Maria?”
“We’vebeenintouch evenafterthe divorce, she’sbeensupportive inmycampaigns as well,” he replied.
Okay, I’llexplain. Mariaalso grewupinthe same neighborhoodasLoidandI. They were sweethearts and got married a year ago but for some odd reason they divorced at the beginning of the year. It was a peaceful divorce, no hate, no malice. Maria had a little nonprofit she ran and Loid was still a support structure in her life. And just like Loid said she was still a support structure in his life.
Makes you wonder doesn’t it?
“You okay?” he asked, “You spaced out for a minute.”
“Oh? Sorry, my future self was probably explaining your marriage situation to the reader,” I replied.
He turned to the bartender, “I told you to ignore her request for more vodka.”
“I did sir, she must be wired like that,” the bartender shrugged.
“Ouch,” I wiped a fake tear, “Yeah about the campaign, do you have an official graphics team?”
“Hmm, well no,” he took a bigger sip this time, “Oh, I see.”
“Turns out that a lot of people wanted a piece of the Wolf Pack meat,” I stirred my drink, “But I’m offering you the larger chunk.”
“Sounds to me like your company is offering designs for everyone running in the hopes that whoever wins would boost your image.”
I stopped stirring, “This is why you have my vote.”
He snickered, “You sure are cunning for a wolf.”
“Who says wolves have to be aggressive alone?” I shrugged then took his glass,
“But, if aggressive is what you want, I’m willing to show my fangs.”
He watched me as I slowly swallowed the contents of his glass.
“As tempting as that sounds, I must decline the aggressive side of you,” he said then took my glass, “I’ll settle with your cunning for today.”
“I think we have something to toast to now,” I said and the bartender filled my glass.
“Indeed,” Loid lifted his glass, “Here’s to our partnership.”
“And to your victory.” We clinked glasses, “Also you might have to drive me back to my office.”