Lover

Lover

Sometimes I hate this “road warrior” game. The job itself is great, and I get to meet interesting people, but I’m always in a strange place. The folks I’ve been working with have their homes to go to, and I head back to the hotel. This time it was Cincinnati, a nice little hotel, and the staff  know me.

I came in from the job, and took the elevator to my room. It’s bad when you have “your” room at a hotel. Mine was 326, in the back, away from traffic, in the corner with windows on two sides. Ditch the briefcase, toss the jacket on the bed, loosen the tie, and head back down.

The bar was a little local place, maybe eight stools, and three small tables along the wall. Most nights there would be a few locals, and other road warriors. Carla was pouring that night, and I didn’t have to order. She saw me come in the door, took down a glass, poured a double Black Jack, ice, splash of water, and handed it to me as I walked in. Call me predictable. I hadn’t been in town for a few weeks, so she greeted me, “Hi hon, how’ve you been? Where were you last week ? Nice meaningless chatter. Then she had things to do, and I settled back to let the alcohol fry a few brain cells that needed to be gone.

The pheromones got to me first. It isn’t even sexual at that first moment. Science identifies five senses, but this gets you somewhere completely other. I turned slowly, afraid of breaking some spell. She was at arm’s length on the next stool. Straight Jet black hair hanging to the bottom of her ears and angling back and down to the nape of her neck. Translucent skin that I instinctively labeled as Irish, she was slender but not fragile. Emerald eyes stared at me confidently, and just the hint of a smile curved the tips of her mouth. Her short silver-gray jacket was draped over the back of the barstool, leaving a black sleeveless thing that revealed her arms and shoulders. Her skin shimmered, muscles rippled gently from just above the wrist up over the shoulders and just to where you couldn’t quite see her breasts. Looking at her had the same effect as the shock I got from her essence.

 “Hi Jim” She waited for me to speak. I had to take a sip to wet my lips, but the drink was still strong and I choked. That loosened her smile

Memory floated in as from a past life. I knew this woman. We were friends for ten years, lovers for a few months. Why was this coming to me through a haze?

It was my move. “Hello Angela. What are you doing here?”

“Let’s go somewhere private.” she said.

The room wasn’t a mess; just my jacket on the bed from earlier. She kicked off her shoes and stretched out on the bed. I had to untie my shoes, then joined her. She reached out a hand and rubbed my arm, inviting me closer. “I’ve missed you, Jim, it’s been a long time.” 

“I miss you too, my angel. Why did we let it end without a struggle?”

“We were both young, in a hurry to make life happen”

Is it different now? I wondered.

She rolled closer, placing a leg on top of me. I reached back to unzip her skirt. A flurry of buttons and zippers, and her naked body was on top of me.

“Is something wrong with your drink?” Carla asked.

I looked to my right at the empty stool. I could feel the heat in my face.

“What’s wrong, hon? You look sick”

“No Carla, I’m OK. I was just remembering an old friend”

“More than a friend, I’d guess. Would you like another Black Jack?”