Seven o'clock approached. Zoe had spent the majority of the afternoon in the office, signing various papers, and catching up on emails and phone calls. With the deadline of drinks at seven she had somehow found herself in a much more productive mood, perhaps added to by the fact that she knew she would not see Connie until the next day as she was attending a heart transplant up on Darwin which would see her absent until late this evening.
She watched the clock as the minute hand ebbed ever closer to seven. She had ten minutes. She logged out of her emails and set the laptop to shut down before standing to adjust her dress, she smoothed it down over her thighs and retrieved her make up bag from her drawer, re applied her lipstick, touched up her eye make up and added a little extra perfume.
She placed the make up bag back in the drawer and pulled on her coat. As she did so the door to the office opened and Connie entered.
"Going home this evening?"
Connie asked, snaking her way to her desk to gather together her belongings.
"I thought you were in theatre?"
Zoe asked, checking the time once again.
"The operation has been postponed, the donor's organs were too damaged from smoking."
She looked at Zoe pointedly.
Zoe bit the sides of her tongue, she refused to bite the bait that Connie dangled so expertly.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
She said quietly, not entirely trusting her voice as she spoke.
"See you tomorrow."
Connie spoke without looking up as Zoe made to leave the room.
"Oh Zoe, maybe a little more perfume, the smell of smoke is quite..strong..."
Zoe closed the door tight behind her. She ran her tongue over her teeth, her mouth was dry and her chest hurt. From anger or stress she couldn't tell.
She checked her watch, she was just about on time. She made her way to reception, her heels clicking the length of the corridor and Connie's words following.
She breathed deeply a few times in an attempt to smell the smoke on herself, but either she was too used to it or the smell was already hidden beneath her added perfume.
"You made it!"
Tess seemed even more surprised than Zoe herself was at her punctual arrival.
"Anything to get me out of here..."
Zoe spoke under her breath as others joined. She noticed reception staff, Robyn, Rita, and a few others she wasn't sure of from other departments.
Tess patted her on the forearm.
"It'll do you good."
She replied, winking quickly and ushering her out of the door.
"Sorry we're late!"
Various members of her party turned at the call, Max and Lofty were pulling on their coats, moving quickly to catch them up.
They merged with the group led by Tess and stepped out into the cold.
It was already dark, the lights in the carpark illuminated the pavement. It had been raining and each drop of water left behind shone and glittered as they walked.
They filed into the pub single file, Tess holding the door open with her free arm, clutching her bag against her chest with the other.
The group gathered easily around one large table set into the corner, Zoe found herself hovering awkwardly, unsure of where to sit. She removed her coat slowly, watching as everyone found a seat and began to talk. For them it was easy, familiar. She was an outsider now.
"You ok?"
Max asked, touching her arm briefly as he hung his coat up on the rack near the door.
"Yes..."
She answered impulsively.
"I'll get drinks."
She added, feeling for the purse in her bag.
"I'll carry."
He moved to the bar before she could respond. She followed.
"I haven't asked..."
"They always have the same."
He interrupted, leaning his back against the bar whilst waiting to be served.
"Creatures of habit"
He added, resting his elbows back on the bar and surveying the room. Out of his uniform he looked older, he wore a faded tour t-shirt from a band she hadn't heard of. The name of whom stretched out across his chest as he leaned back.
"Thank you for not mentioning this morning to anyone."
She found herself speaking to relieve the momentary silence.
He glanced about the room again before replying.
"What about this morning?"
He asked, his face expressionless.
"I wasn't exactly looking my best..."
He smiled a slow, wide smile. She noticed now, in the half light of the low bar that when he smiled all of him smiled, his eyes caught the light and she found herself smiling back despite herself.
"I consider myself a gentleman. Not many left these days..."
He turned himself back around to face the bar as he spoke, folding his arms onto it and resting his chin on his hand.
"Anyway you looked beautiful."
He added so quietly she almost thought she'd misheard.
"Hardly..."
He shushed her before she could say anymore.
"Trust me."
He nodded to the barmaid as he spoke, she had gestured to the group and his nod seemed to indicate that they were ready for drinks.
"Trust me."
He repeated.
"And you look even more beautiful now."
He added, with a glimmer of something behind his eyes. She couldn't tell if he was serious or just winding her up.
"Do you flirt with every woman you see?"
She asked pointedly whilst handing the money over to the barmaid.
She watched as Max raised an eyebrow.
"Not every woman..."
He began.
"But most?"
She asked.
He smiled again in response.
"Thought so."
She accepted her change and dropped it into the coin section of her purse.
"What are you having?"
He asked, casting an eye over the drinks that were being placed in front of them.
She placed her purse neatly back into her bag.
"I think I'll just go...I don't think this was a very good idea."
She said, dipping her hand back into her bag to locate her car keys.
"What!? Don't be silly..."
He set the drinks back down that he had just picked up.
"I'm not being silly. I've had a long...long day, I just want to go home, and go to bed...I'm sure they won't notice."
She tossed a glance over toward their colleagues who were laughing and talking loudly.
"Just wait, just wait a second..."
Max picked the group of drinks back up and walked them quickly over to the table, she watched as he was greeted with thanks and cheers.
She zipped up her bag and slipped off the bar stool, making her way unnoticed back out of the door and into the cold. She shivered and held her car keys up to her chest.
She walked as quickly as she could in her heels on the wet ground, finding her car and opening it.
"Zoe!"
She ignored Max's call and slipped into the drivers seat, placing her bag into the back seat behind her.
"Zoe!"
She shut the door and placed the key in the ignition, as she turned it the passenger door opened and Max fell awkwardly into the seat next to her. He shut the door hard.
"What are you doing?"
He asked, holding his hands together, goosebumps showing on his bare arms.
"I could ask you the same question!"
She exclaimed, turning off the engine.
"Don't just walk off!"
He sounded breathless and she noticed as he spoke his bottom lip quivered from the cold.
"Did they notice?"
She asked, knowing full well they hadn't.
He shrugged.
"They're your friends..."
He tried. She laughed bitterly.
"I think this job has put paid to any friendships I had..."
He remained silent.
"Listen. I might come back later, just go back and let me clear my head."
She urged, a headache was building between her eyes, she rubbed the skin of her forehead to try to relieve it.
"I'll help you."
He said, folding his arms in and settling back in his seat.
"What?"
"I'll help you clear your head."
He repeated simply.
"And how are you going to do that?"
She asked, drawing in a long agitated breath.
"You drive and I'll tell you where to go."
He said matter of factly.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Max..."
He looked over at her.
"I'm not leaving."
He pulled his seat belt across himself to prove his point.
She sucked in a long breath and again rubbed the throbbing pain between her eyes.
"Fine."
She agreed, turning on the ignition and buckling herself in. Wishing for just a moment that she could just do as she pleased. Go home, eat, and go to sleep without worrying about getting up in the morning.
She reversed aggressively out of the parking lot.
"Which way?" She asked as they came toward the exit.
"Right."
He instructed and folded his arms again over his chest, relaxing his head back onto the headrest.