One More Time

“Are you hungry?” Emily asked. “I can make you something.”

“Nah,” Philip said. “Just coffee will do.”

“Are you sure?” Emily asked.

“Yup.” Philip nodded. “She must spoil you, Sean. Always cooking and cleaning and taking care of the kids. Do you do anything around here anymore?”

“Not really,” Tommy said honestly.

I ruffled his hair, and we all laughed easily.

My mood had drastically improved after Philip’s arrival. Our conversation last night really made me see how stupid I was being. Emily was the best thing to happen to my kids in a long time. She helped them in ways I never could. Without being their mom, she mothered them well. Plus, it didn’t hurt that her presence made me happier than I could remember being in years.

As I watched her joke around with Philip and the kids, I didn’t know why I’d spent so long fighting it. She obviously wanted me just as much as I wanted her. Being cold and distant with her was a waste of time. I couldn’t wait to spend another night buried between her legs.

Her moans played through my head the entire day, and when the afternoon rolled around, I was desperate for the kids to go to bed.

“I need a drink,” Philip announced. “Any good bars around here?”

“You guys go,” Emily said. “I got the kids.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Of course.” She smiled. “Have fun.”

Philip and I said goodbye to the kids and made our way into town. I hadn’t had a chance to check out the bar scene in Telluride so we walked through town until we found something appealing. It was a small, hole in the wall place that looked to be about a thousand years old. When we walked through the door, the light from outside immediately disappeared. The bar was covered in a layer of grime, and there was dust on the liquor bottles.

“This is nice,” Philip said sarcastically. “I can see why you moved here.”

“The bar scene wasn’t really a deciding factor,” I laughed. “Besides, this place has character.”

“Hey,” Philip said. “If they serve booze, I’m good.”

We each ordered a doubt shot of whiskey and sipped it slowly. Philip told me about his work back home and the women he’d been dating. In fifteen years, I’d never once seen Philip come close to settling down, but it never seemed to bother him. He was free. Independent.

“So,” he finally said when we exhausted all the subjects involving him and his life. “Are you going to tell me what happened last night?”

“Nothing,” I said too quickly. Philip snorted and waited for me to tell the truth. “Fine, you got me, but I’m not giving you details.”

“I don’t want details,” he said. “We aren’t chicks, man. I just want to know if you closed the deal.”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Whoa,” Philip said with an approving nod. “Taking it slow. I like it.”

“You do?” I laughed. “You don’t take anything slow.”

“I’m not a widower with two kids,” he said, pointing his glass at me. “You need slow right now, my friend. I’m just glad you finally got the balls to go for it. Even though she made the first move.”

“How do you know?” I asked suspiciously.

“I eavesdropped.” He shrugged.

“That’s disgusting,” I said.

“Not on that part,” he said. “Just on your little talk in the living room. She seemed pretty determined.”

“Yeah.” I grinned. “I guess she got tired of waiting.”