All This Time

“Hey, Eddie. The usual, please.”

I don’t know why, but I’ve always kind of loved this place. Most people pass it by, probably on their way to that fancy new hotel bar a few blocks down, but…

There’s just something about the peeling leather on the booths and the smell of whiskey and stale cigarettes that feels good. Homey.

They keep it dark and cool, which I like. It’s a nice break from the constant, relentless Nevada sun.

I complain a lot about this town, but I’ve been here my entire life. And I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else in the world.

“Thanks, man.”

God, my whole body aches.

That was rough today, moving all those cement blocks. Really wish Jerry would let us bring in some more guys for this build-out, but I guess all the money’s dried up for the season.

Maybe I should head up to Reno this weekend… go get a massage or something…

Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Maybe I should go grab a hotel for the weekend, turn that Tinder profile back on and just see what happens.

Lord knows trying to date in this town is just asking for trouble.

That’s the one thing I don’t like about Redstone. All the gossip.

It’s like I can’t walk two feet out my front door without someone asking me my business, telling me, “Oh, I heard you were doing…” this and, “Rumor has it…” that.

At least people don’t ask me about you anymore.

You and me…

God, how long’s it been since we parted ways? Two, almost three years?

Doesn’t feel that long.

I feel like folks used to stop me in the street just to tell me what a shame it was that you and I weren’t together anymore.

Anyway, might be nice to get away for a little while. Go be someone else in a city where no one knows me.

At least then I could—

Oh, no. Oh—hell, you’ve got to be kidding me.

Seriously? Is that…?

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s you. Over in the corner.

Right as you were getting my thoughts all tangled up.

Figures.

I whirl around my barstool and put my back to you. I really hope you didn’t see me.

Maybe I should… just take a quick look over my shoulder to make sure…

Shit, yeah, it’s definitely you. It’s dark back there by the booths, but you’re hard to miss.

Your hair… it’s longer than I remember, but you’re… you’re still beautiful. Still attract every eye in the room like you’re the flame and we’re all helpless moths. Still got that look… like you’re hiding something behind your smile, like you know something everyone else doesn’t.

What are you doing here…? I’m here a couple times a week and I never see you…

You’re alone, so… safe to say you’re not on a date or anything. I think… maybe you have a book with you.

God, you’re the only girl in town who shows up at a bar with a book.

I’m just going to sit here… drink my beer… and when I’m done, I’ll get the hell out—

“Hi, Sam.”

“Hi… Alex.”

“I thought that was you. I recognized your hat.”

“Oh. Uh, yeah. Can’t bring myself to buy a new one, I guess.”

“Eddie, can I get another beer?”

You stand between two barstools a couple down from me. You lean on one elbow and look at me with a little smile on the corner of your mouth, like this is a normal thing, us having casual conversation.

“You’re making yourself a little mess there.”

“What?”

I look down and realize I’ve almost completely peeled off the label on my beer.

“I know what that means. You’re thinking hard about something.”

“Oh. Uh… yeah. I mean, no. I’m not. Just uh… trying to unwind after work, you know. Emptying my head as opposed to filling it up.”

“Right… so…”

“So… uh, how’ve you been?”

“Um, I’ve been well. You know, same old. What about you?”

“Yeah, yeah, good. Same stuff, too.”

“Okay, we got the hard part out of the way. Can we actually talk now? No stupid pleasantries?”

God, I hate how easy it is for you to make me smile. Even after all this time of being apart, it’s like… it’s infectious.

“Yeah, yeah, sit down.”

“Thank you. So, how are you really?”

I shrug a little as I gather my thoughts. I don’t really know where to start. And if I’m being honest, I don’t know that I really want to open up to you right now.

I think the last time we saw each other was at the harvest festival a year ago. I’m not exactly chomping at the bit to hear about your life, because it’ll just remind me that I’m not in it.

“You… seeing anyone?”

“No, no, not really. Just been busy with work, you know. Finally got promoted up to site manager, so… that’s been a lot more work than usual.”

“Oh, that’s great! I’m happy for you—I know you’ve been gunning for that position for a long time.”

“Yeah. It’s good. And, uh… you?”

“Oh, nothing too crazy, just helping my mom down at the flower shop and… oh, I started giving riding lessons to some kids at the stables.”

I can hear the words you’re saying, but I’m too focused on your lips to think about anything else. Every time you look into my eyes, my heart flutters.

Damn it, I thought I was over this.

I thought… I thought I was over you.

“I’ve been trying to date, actually…”

Oh, here it comes. I don’t know if I can stand hearing about you trying to make it work with someone else. I don’t think you’re trying to rub it in my face or anything, but really? You gotta bring up dating? To me?

“And it’s been… not great.”

“Oh. Um… I’m… sorry to hear that.”

“I’m not telling you that to brag or anything. It’s just… it’s been hard. I’ve realized recently that you set a pretty high standard for guys in my life.”

That’s… surprising. I mean, you’re the one who broke up with me, so it’s kinda strange to hear you sound almost… regretful?

I don’t really know what to say. And I sure as hell don’t know why you came over here to tell me this.

“Sorry, you don’t want to hear about that. I guess you’ve just been on my mind lately and I saw you and just… wanted to come say hi.”

I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from saying anything without fully thinking it through.

You always used to get on my case about not saying much, accusing me of keeping my thoughts all bottled up, but it’s not like that. It just takes me time to work out what I really want to say.

“Um, well, if it makes you feel any better, I’ve had that same trouble, too.”

“Really?”

“Sure. It’s hard to… y’know… make a connection with strangers. Haven’t really met anyone that makes me… feel, I guess.”

“Yeah.”

I feel a rush of emotion wash over me. Like excitement that you and I are going through the same struggle at the same time. I don’t know what it means… what I’m feeling…

Damn it, there you go again, messing me up in my head. In my heart.

Neither of us is saying anything, but… it feels good, almost. This silence. Just your presence feels comforting.

I glance over at you and you’re looking right at me. What are you thinking right now…?

“Hey… do you remember that time we went camping out in Death Valley?”

“Oh god, that dust storm that nearly killed us—yes, of course I remember. We were so unprepared for that trip.”

“I think my tent still has dust in it from that weekend.”

“Yeah, we were a mess. But, you know what? That was, is, one of my favorite memories of us.”

You’re blushing. I want to tease you about it, but maybe now’s not the right time. I know what you’re thinking about, what’s causing that heat to rise in your cheeks.

We stayed up til dawn that night, just looking at the stars, talking, and… damn it, we had incredible sex that night. Like… unforgettable.

Oh, god, you’re getting me worked up just thinking about it.

“Um… do you, uh… are you… busy right now?”

“No. My truck’s out back—”

“Let’s go.”

There’s a whirlwind of movement inside me. My dick is getting hard, my heart is pounding.

I pull out my wallet, slap a few bills down on the counter for your drinks and mine. You grab my hand and you’re leading us out of the bar so fast that I almost trip over my own feet.

“In the back?”

“Yeah.”

Your hands are around my face the moment the doors are closed. You’re pulling me forward and pressing your mouth against mine.

The air feels heavy and warm inside and it’s hard to take in a full breath. Your hands are pulling at my canvas jacket, yanking the zipper down and freeing my arms from the padded sleeves.

You’re not being gentle. In fact, there’s something needy about your touch as you close the space between us.

I fumble with the buttons of your shirt as I kiss you again, hard.

I move my hands under your ass and yank down your jeans. It feels so good to have your body in my hands again. To feel your skin, inhale your scent.

“Oh—here, here—”

You take your bra off and toss it somewhere in the backseat. I guess you remember how bad I am at getting those impossible clasps undone.

“Bite me…”

I shift my mouth from your lips to your neck and drag my teeth across your skin.

Your body feels so good under mine, warm, soft. Your legs wrap around my waist as you lay back into the door, your hands linked around the back of my neck. That can’t be comfortable for you, but I don’t think you really care right now.

We’re impossibly close, and I feel like nothing short of a force of nature could separate us.

I push my hand against your underwear and press my fingers up against you.

“Oh my god, touch me… keep going, keep going…”

“Yeah, you like that? You feel wet… are you?”

“Yeah, I’m wet for you. Wait, play with my nipples…”

I drag my mouth from your neck down to your chest. Each nipple perks up in my mouth as I swirl my tongue around them.

“Oh, fuck… Oh my god, you feel so good…”

I push my fingers behind the waistband of your underwear, feeling you for the first time in years.

I slip so easy through your folds and find your clit with ease.

“Right there…”

One of your hands drops from around my neck and dips into my pants. Your eyes are closed as you blindly undo my belt and zipper.

You grip my hard-on and drag your fingers over my shaft…

“Oh my god, I need you in me. I need you—”

“You want me to fuck you?”

“Yes, fuck me, please…”

“Get in my lap…”

I hold my dick at the base for you to lower down on. I’m throbbing so hard, my body is shaking…

“Oh, god, yeah, that’s it… bounce on me… God, you’ve got me so worked up…”

“Harder. Please, harder—”

“Oh, I missed you—fuck, I missed this pussy so much—”

“Get deeper—I want to feel you all the way inside me…”

“I missed that dirty mouth of yours, too.”

“Shhh—just—just keep going—ahhh!”

I push my hips up into you, harder, faster. Anything to get us as close as we possibly can.

Your fingers tangle in my hair and you press my face into your chest. I drag my tongue across every inch of skin I can find.

All I know is the feeling of your pussy stretching around me and the tight grip of your hands around the back of my neck. I am completely, utterly consumed by you.

“Fuck—I’m getting close—”

“Lay back.”

I guide you off of my lap and down onto your backside. It’s a little difficult in such a small space, but I grip your ankles and lay them on each of my shoulders.

I lean forward and press my mouth against your pussy.

“Oh my god… Yeah, right there… Oh god—”

I twist my cock around in my hand as I eat you out. I can’t wait to hear the sound of you cumming… to see that look on your face I used to know so well…

“I’m close—I’m close, keep going…”

You reach for my cock and close your hand around it, bringing me closer… and closer…

“Oh, cum for me…”

“Oh… god.”

“We fogged it up pretty good.”

“Mmm, yeah. We did.”

I bite down on my bottom lip. A million thoughts are rolling around in my head right now.

“Do you, um… wanna go grab some food or something? No strings attached. I know we… might have some things to talk about, but… we don’t have to do that right away.”

“Yeah. Yeah, let’s do that. Maggie’s?”

“God, yes. I still remember your order.”

“Really? Prove it.”

“Patty melt with extra onions, bacon on the side.”

“Wow, alright, then. Let’s go, cowboy.”

“Let’s ride.”