"You need to get married and have some kids." I gave him a sideways glance before turning to the bartender and ordering a beer. "Is that not something you want for yourself?"
"Yeah, but with all this traveling, it's not exactly easy. I'll be forty soon, and I really thought I would have found someone by now, you know?"
A pretty woman with short black hair moved up on the other side of me and pressed her forearms to the bar top as she glanced over at me. "Hi handsome. Me and my friend noticed that you didn't have a girl beside you. Want one? Or two?"
Kevin scoffed as I shook my head. "My girl's back home, but thanks for the offer. Hope you find someone worth your beauty tonight."
She gave me a cute frown and walked away as Kevin made a sound of disgust.
"See? I swear it's your dark hair and tan. Girls go wild over that." He ran his hand over his bald head and took a long drink of his beer as I turned to watch him.
"I think it's more about the way you carry yourself. You act like you're owed something, and you're not." I took a drink of my beer and turned to scan the room, praying like hell that Vivian would show up. Fate was playing games with us, and though I knew it wasn't at all something I should desire, I wanted to dare it a little where the bombshell was concerned.
"You know that our position comes with an air of authority and confidence. People love our work; they praise us and beckon to us. It's hard not to let that power go to your head." He sat his beer down and let out a sigh. "Especially when it's all you got."
"I guess, but maybe you should start looking for other things to fill up your life. A hobby, a friend, your faith...something."
"Maybe, but for now, I'm just going to stick to good food and beautiful women. Take your sense of reason and shove it." He glanced at me before getting off of his barstool. "I'm going to mingle. Care to come?"
"Nope, and don't bring anyone over here either.
I'm not interested." I pinned him with a warning stare before pulling out my phone.
He chuckled sardonically. "And you're giving me relationship advice. Please."
I ignored him and stared at Viv's number, trying to think through the future as if I had a crystal ball. I couldn't offer the girl any more than a few fun nights and maybe an afternoon of playing on the beach together. While it sounded like bliss to indulge in just those few moments, I knew myself far too well to press the send button and call her.
I'd fall in love like I always did, and wake up quite disappointed a few months later when my lifestyle had effectively pushed the pretty girl away from me.
"No thanks," I mumbled. It had been three years since I'd had a girlfriend, and the last one was just a passing bit of fun in college. Nothing had developed between me and the girls I dated post-college other than a bit of hot, sweaty passion.
I took another long drink of my beer and shook away the need to over-analyze the situation. We were both grown adults. If I invited her down for a beer and we ended up making love, then it would be consensual. Or maybe we could just talk the night away.
"Dangerous," I mumbled and glanced up as the old bartender eyed me. "Talking to myself. Sorry."
"It's alright, son. We all do it." He moved in front of me and wiped the bar-top down. "About a woman, no doubt?"
"Yeah. I bumped into a pretty girl at the airport today, literally, then she ended up being in the seat right next to me on the flight."
His eyes widened a little. "Oh, that's interesting."
"Then I saw her in the lobby here a few hours ago. She's just so beautiful, but I'm not ready for another relationship. Women are too damn complex and I don't have time to hand-hold someone through my life." I shrugged, realizing how fucking cynical I was becoming.
"Three times in one day?" His eyebrow lifted. "Sounds like something is brewing in the background whether you want it to or not."
"I'm thinking you're right." I lifted my phone and glanced down at it. "Now I'm just trying to talk myself out of calling her to come down here. Nothing good can come of it."
He chuckled. "You think far too much for your own good. Call the girl. Nothing bad can come of it either. A little bit of fun, or a drink and a good conversation does the soul good. When was the last time you had either?"
"It's been a while." I put the phone down and took another drink of the beer. "Do you have a food menu? I'm starving."
"I do, but how about you invite your new friend down here for a quick drink and ask her to dinner? No reason to eat alone when it doesn't sound like you have to." He tapped the bar top, and I nodded.
"Maybe you're right. A drink, dinner, a conversation. It doesn't have to be anything more than that."
"Exactly. No wedding bells. Just the dinner bell." The old man smiled and I couldn't help but chuckle at his openness.
"Thanks." I dialed Viv's number, not quite sure what I was going to say, but it was now or never.