Happier

Eric turned to the bar with a sigh and drained his whiskey. Wes shot him a look and scanned the room.

'Oh,' he breathed, spotting the laughing couple that just walked in. 'We can leave if you want?' he offered.

'No,' Eric shook his head. 'She looks happy, though. Happier than she did with me.'

'That's a lie,' Wes shook his head. 'She was happy with you too. You'll get over it and you'll be happy again with someone someday too. Just… maybe not as quickly as she's moving on.'

A young girl walked up to them with a smile. 'Hey, why the long face? You know what, I'll let you buy me a drink and maybe I can cheer you up.'

Eric looked her in the eye and signalled the barman.

'Eric!' Wes hissed in his ear.

Eric shrugged him off and focussed on the girl.

'Eric!' Wes insisted.

'Go home, Wes. Your wife is probably waiting for you.'

Wes opened his mouth, but gave up and left the bar. Eric kept the girl engaged, talking about nothing in particular. By the time 1 am rolled around he suggested they'd leave and the girl happily agreed. He placed a hand on the small of her back and lead her out of the bar, observing from the corner of his eye that Taylor noticed him leaving.

Outside he hailed a taxi and opened the door for the girl. She got in with a smile, but turned angry when he closed the door behind her and rolled down the window.

'What the hell?'

'Go home,' Eric told her. 'You think I didn't notice you're underage? Be glad I bought you those drinks. And next time you go out, bring friends and don't hit on random guys. It's not safe right now.'

He gave the driver some money and told him to drive the girl home. Once the taxi drove off he turned to his truck and got in. Pulling out his phone Eric hit 5 on speed dial. Moments later Silver Hills PD picked up.

'Nothing yet tonight,' the officer on duty reported to him. 'You leaving the bar?'

'Yeah, I saw your man arrive half an hour ago. There isn't anything exciting to report while I was there.'

'Noted,' the officer replied. 'Good night, Commander Myers.'

'Thanks, you have a good night too. Let's hope it stays quiet.' Eric replied and cut the connection. Then he started the engine and drove off. He'd only had the one whiskey, the barman kept a special bottle under the bar filled with plain water that he served those staking out his bar, as did all the other barman around town, so the Guardians and policeman didn't stand out for not drinking.

Sadness washed over him when he pulled up at the house. He knew not to expect Taylor's car in the driveway, it hadn't been there in a month, but he still couldn't get used to it. Eric tried not to look at the For Sale sign in the lawn and walked up to the front door.

Inside he got a beer from the fridge and settled on the couch, draining the bottle much quicker than he should. Empty bottle in his hand he surveyed the room. Taylor had been by a week after she'd left to pick up her stuff to move it into her new apartment. She'd only taken two boxes worth and still the house felt so much emptier. Or maybe that was because she wasn't here too.

Eric slumped against the backrest. She had looked so happy at the bar and it hurt that she couldn't be that happy with him. He didn't blame her for moving on, not really. But did she have to do it so quickly like the last five years had meant nothing at all?

The bottle dropped from his hands to the floor and Eric kicked off his shoes before laying down on the couch for yet another night. A month later and he still wasn't brave enough to try and sleep in an empty bed that would stay empty.