At the party | With Josie
Doug nodded, a small, genuine smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Sure thing,” he said, knowing exactly what he would order for her. Doug wouldn’t be Doug if he wouldn’t quite follow her instructions.
As he walked off, he heard Fransisco’s playful complaint of not being offered a drink. Doug chuckled lightly and looked back over his shoulder towards Francisco with a grin. “You heard the lady, Francisco,” he continued, his tone still playful but a more serious undertone, “You’re good with what you have. Let’s not get too carried away now.” It was visible this hadn’t been Francisco’s first drink of the evening. While Doug was not against alcohol, quite the contrary, he also did learn to drink with limits, so it was enjoyable and not just for the sake of drinking.
And with that he headed towards the bar, the party chatter fading into the background as he focused on his task of getting drinks. He needed a moment to collect himself, and getting Josie and himself a drink was the perfect excuse.
As he approached the bar, he took a deep breath, and ordered a martini for Josie and a scotch for himself, hoping the strong drink would help steady his nerves. He glanced back at Josie and Francisco, their figures blending into the lively crowd. Doug couldn’t help but wonder what they were discussing, somehow he couldn’t shake the feeling he was one of the topics.
Doug sighed, gripping the bar counter. His mind was a swirl of emotions, and it wasn’t the alcohol getting to him. Doug no longer harbored romantic feelings for Josie, at least that’s what he told himself. The memories of their past were still there, but they had faded into a sense of fondness rather than longing. What he felt now was a mix of respect for the person she had become and a desire to maintain a friendly relationship. All for the sake of their daughter. Seeing her again, with that familiar sparkle in her eyes, reminded him of their shared history, but it didn’t stir any deeper emotions, or did it?
The sight of Francisco, however, was just as complicated and complex, if not more so. Their affair was something he had buried deep, out of respect for Josie. But now, seeing Francisco again, it had stirred a mix of emotions - guilt, regret, desire, and a lingering curiosity about what might have been different if circumstances had allowed them to openly explore their connection. With Josie, there was closure, even if tinged with a bittersweet nostalgia. But with Francisco, there lingered a sense of unresolved tension.
As the bartender handed him the Martini, Doug took a moment to steady himself and refocus on the present. He needed to play it cool, not let his emotions get the best of him. Then the scotch arrived, and he took a slow sip, feeling the warmth spread through his chest. With the martini in hand, he prepared to return, bracing himself for the inevitable walk back to where Josie and Francisco were still talking.
Not for long however, as Doug returned, he saw Francisco almost making a run for it. Where his interest had been piqued before, he was more than intrigued now. However, as he approached Josie his demeanour was as casual and calm as ever.
“Here you go Josie,” handing Josie her martini, he offered a light-hearted smile. “One martini, hopefully still just the way you like it.” As far as Doug was concerned, a Martini had always been one of Josie’s go-to drinks.
He sat down besides her, taking a sip of his drink before setting it down. He decided to directly address the situation he had returned to, “Seems like Francisco had somewhere to be,” Doug commented lightly, trying to gauge Josie’s reaction. “Everything alright?” His tone was nonchalant yet curious, wanting to subtly probe into whether Josie had picked up on the awkwardness as well. His expression remained neutral, masking the deeper emotions and concerns he now had about what Francisco might have hinted at during their brief exchange.
@kbail | Josie