[March 31, 23:00]
They collected their drinks and Juliana looked around. The place was packed with groups of people, chatting and laughing. She spotted a free table by the pub's front window, but he shook his head. "Could we take the one there?" he asked, pointing at the only other free spot in the back corner. "You won't believe what happened last time we tried to toast Angell."
"What happened?" she asked, weaving her way between the tables.
He gestured for her to sit down and made sure she set down her drinks before he said, "There was a drive-by shooting."
The woman gasped. "Was anyone hurt?"
"Danny was in a wheelchair for about six months," he recalled. "Then a girl related to one of the guys doing the shooting was shot. And a security guard." He looked across at her sombre expression. "But you saw Danny. Back on his feet. His back still bothers him sometimes but he's getting better every day." He watched a group of guys settle at the table they had passed over. "I'm not really superstitious, but sometimes the job gets to you."
"Which means it's time for a drink then," she quipped, raising her shot glass. "Proost, Wilhelmina." She looked at him expectantly, her glass aloft.
"That's it?"
"After 13 years, she knows what I mean."
Don cleared his throat and raised his beer. No time to think. "Uh, this one's for you, Jess. I miss you and..." he exhaled, "I love you," he finished quietly.
They clinked their glasses. Juliana downed her vodka and made a face. "Oof. Too strong."
The man chuckled. That face was cute. "But you ordered it anyway because it was Wilhelmina's drink."
She smacked his hand gently. "Stop that detective business. I won't have any stories to tell if you keep guessing how they end." She pushed the empty shot glass to the middle of the table and pulled her beer closer. "When we were 6, Wilhelmina lost her first tooth. She cried and said we weren't twins anymore and tried to put it back in place," she laughed. Her twin was inconsolable for those first five minutes. "The teachers were so happy there was an easy way to tell us apart. All our teachers had trouble time telling us apart when we were young."
"Okay, I know it's a cliché, but I have to ask. Did you ever switch places?"
"Yes," she admitted, biting her lip. "Wilhelmina begged me to write an English test for her. I had to make spelling mistakes so the teacher wouldn't get suspicious."
"Did they ever find out?"
She shook her head gleefully. "I was so scared we would get caught but somehow we didn't. And I helped Wilhelmina study for the next test, and she did well. All on her own. I was so proud. One of the best memories I have of her." The woman took another sip. "What about you? What are your best memories of Jessica?"
God, there were so many. "This one time, some of us from the precinct got together to play softball on the weekend. We wound up on opposite teams and I bet her breakfast for a week that my team would win. I knew Jess played short stop as a kid, but I figured that was so long ago it wouldn't matter." He shook his head. "My team lost because Jess was still a great short stop. And I had to get really good at making fresh orange juice."
They talked for hours. About Jess and Wilhelmina. About family, work, exes, everything. Their chairs drifted closer and closer together until they were next to each other, heads together. After another solemn pinky promise, they were telling embarrassing stories and sharing long-held secrets. The sombre moments were balanced with bursts of uncontrolled giggles. They were still in their corner, long after most of the patrons had left.
Don finished off his beer, his third or fourth by now. He placed the empty bottle back on the table, trying not to disturb her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her. He had been in this position before. A few beers in with a pretty girl beneath his arm. He had hit on so many women after Jess died. Strangers to spend the night with. Alcohol and a distraction to keep the guilt and grief at bay. But tonight was different. He had relived his best memories of Jess instead of his last ones. The beer made the night better instead of bearable. And for the first time, he didn't feel guilty. He didn't feel like he was betraying Jess's memory with someone he barely knew. Don had had a good time with a new friend. "Thanks for tonight," he said finally.
"No, I should be thanking you. I got a personalized tour of the city." She was tired and thoroughly pleased with her snap decision in the coffee shop. "When I tell the story of this day, no one in my family will believe me." She hid a large yawn behind her hand.
The man checked his watch. 2 AM. "I should take you home."
"Mm, I would go home with you," she murmured. She sat up and clapped her hand over her mouth. She had thought it, but she hadn't meant to say it. Oh no. This was going to be awkward.
He raised an eyebrow. Was that a proposition? Juliana was gorgeous and great company. He was game if she was too. He touched her shoulder and she turned the slightest bit, peeking at him from the corner of her eye. "Here's your invitation." Don tipped her chin up and kissed her. He felt the smile on her lips as she kissed him back eagerly. Her breath was warm on his cheek and his pulse thumped loud in his ears. He threaded his hands through her hair feeling the silky strands. She hummed and leaned in. Dimly, he was glad they were in a shadowy corner, mostly hidden from the remaining stragglers in the bar. She was as close as she could be without sitting in his lap. "Let's get out of here," he gasped when they finally came up for air.
She grabbed him by the back of the neck and kissed him heatedly in reply. Halfway to the car, she dragged him into an alley. The woman backed out of the glow of the streetlamp, looking at him enticingly from beneath her lashes. Grinning, Don followed, closing the distance. He pressed her against the wall and kissed her, his tongue sliding between her lips. His hands traced the curves of her body and she sighed passionately. They made out in the shadows, too wrapped up in each other to care when a couple girls passed by, giggling. Juliana's fingers made their impatient way underneath his shirt. "Careful," he growled in her ear. "You're gonna get me too worked up to drive."
She pulled away reluctantly, pouting and breathing heavily. "Then either drive fast or call a taxi." Her blue eyes shone devilishly. "We are too tall for your back seat."