Subs and drinks

A short story

“This place have some good sub. How come you’ve only told me about it now?”

“I wanted to get you and the gang here, but y’all busy with your shit.”

“Oh yeah, right. So what’s up with you? How’s things with that girl? What’s her name again? Claudia?”

“Yeah. Claudia.”

“Yeah her. She’s hot. Have you bang her yet?”

“No asshole, it’s not like that. I really like her. Maybe this one could get pretty serious”

“What’s so special about her, then ?”

“I don’t know, man. It’s just we have this instant chemistry, you know. We only know each other for a while but I get her and she gets me. I really like her, you know. And she checks all the boxes; she’s hot, got a good career going on, never cheated on anyone, just an all-around nice-girl-next-door type. And this is the first girl who makes me feel stuff again, since.. You know.”

“Huh. Sounds like you got yourself a keeper. And how about her ? She feels the same way about you ?”

“Well she’s always excited for our dates. And we flirted around the subject, you know, making this official. So yeah, I think at the very least she likes me too.”

“I remember how that feels. *sniggers* Just be careful, dude. You never know what could happen. One day she likes you, and the next… If you really into her, you should talk to her, man. Don’t keep things hanging.”

“Yeah.. Yeah.. I know.. Like I said, we’ve flirted around the idea. I’m sure we’ll be having that conversation soon, just waiting for the right moment.”

“But you sure, she likes you ? You mentioned she was together with her ex for what, 4–5 years ? You sure you’re not just the rebound guy?”

“Yeah, man. Stop being so cynical. I know you just had a shitty break up and the world seems like a giant shit, but it’s not.”

“Yeah.. I know.. Can’t help it. I wanna see the double rainbows of the world again. I do. But all I’m seeing now are a big pile of fucking dog shit.”

“Believe me, it’s not. Try to focus on the positives of your life. Maybe try to meet new people. Claudia got some single lady friends, we can intro-”

“Thanks. But not now.”

“I’m just saying, it’s been, what, 3 months since you broke up. Maybe it’s time to move on already.”

“Don’t you think I want to ?”

“So what’s holding you back, then ? Look, I know what she did was terrible. But you had worse break up, right ? At least this time it didn’t involve catching your girl boning some douchebag. Talk to me, man.”

“Alright.. Alright.. You know I’m not the most social person.”

“You’re a loner weirdo — go on.”

“Funny. Well yeah I always enjoy hanging out with you and the gang, or other guys I’m tight with.. And my exes.. I love spending time with them. But in the of the day, I always want and need that alone time.”

“Alone time — as in ‘special me time’ ?

“No. Fuck you. You know what I meant. And the thing is, Alex was the only person that I’ve met whom I wanted to spend all my time with. It was like.. Being home, you know. For the first time in my life, I felt like I don’t need to be alone. Now that she’s gone, I’m having a hard time adjusting being alone anymore. I feel lost, you know. And angry.

But I can’t bring myself to hate her because she didn’t cheat on me or used me or did any shitty things my previous exes had done in the past. She just.. Left.. I guess it’d be so much easier to deal with this shit if I can direct my anger towards her, but I can’t. So yeah — ”

“Wow. “

“Yeah, I know. Believe me, man. I want to put all this dog shit behind me. I want to feel again what you’re feeling right now, but I don’t know.. This is hard, dude.”

“I know, buddy. Look, all I can say is time heals everything. It may took a second or a while, but it will. And you know we got you, man. We’ve known each other for what ? Twenty years plus ? If you feel like doing something stupid, we got you.”

“Haha yeah. I know, man. Thanks.”

“Yo we got basketball tomorrow morning, we should go.”

“Yeah, hold on, just let me finish this bottle.”