WHY I LOVE HER
"It's this girl…" Shawn felt stupid even admitting this to himself. He leaned on the long bar and watched the bartender fill another patron's glass. "She's great."
"You dating her?" The bartender, who's name was Joe and who had a long past of dispensing psychiatric help to his customers, smiled at Shawn—a sympathetic smile.
"Ha! No." Shawn stared at his half-empty beer bottle. "We—we almost kissed, once. But after that, I never told her how I felt."
Joe wiped a glass clean. "Man, if I had a nickel for every guy who came in here with that story, I'd be a rich man."
Shawn gave a hollow laugh. "But you don't know her. She's beautiful—but I don't chase after her for her looks like other guys." He watched Joe wipe another glass. "She's smart and funny and kind," He fought back a sigh.
Joe smiled again, and the other patron gave Shawn a pitying look.
"Listen, kid." Joe set the glass on the bar with a thump. "You've got to tell her."
Shawn shrugged. "We can't. I mean, we work together. Kind of…but her partner's gonna flip if I tell him." He drummed his fingers on the bottle. "She's the only one that he listens to. She can just get people to listen to her that way, y'know?"
Joes watched Shawn's face for a moment.
"You really love her, don't you, kid?"
Shawn paused, as if remembering a half-forgotten moment.
"Yeah, I do."