I stood in the center of my freshly scrubbed apartment and nodded in satisfaction.  Not only had it been cleaned from top to bottom, I was also clean from top to bottom.  I had finally decided to rejoin the hygienic world and showered, brushed my teeth, and put something on besides ratty sweats.  Though my men’s plain white t-shirt and black shorts were barely … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Fourteen

I watched as Roman placed olives on a toothpick and then dropped them into a martini glass.  He smiled and placed the drink in front of me.  I didn’t have the heart to tell him I didn’t want the drink. “I wanted a water,” I said. “Are you giving up booze for Stellan too?” I shook my head.  “I just don’t want a drink today.”  … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Thirteen

“Hello,” I sleepily said into the phone. “Did I wake you?” I lifted the phone from my ear and read the caller ID.  It was Stellan.  “What time is it?” “Ten.” “At night?” He chuckled.  “No. In the morning.” “What day is it?” “Sunday.” I rubbed at my eyes and rolled over to look at my clock.  He wasn’t lying about the time.  “It is,” … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Twelve

  Standing in Stellan’s living room, I stared at the picture of his parents holding a baby.  I assumed it was him as a baby.  They were looking down with love and the baby was fast a sleep in the mother’s arms.  It was the kind of picture that captured the true moment of love between parents and their newborn son.  The picture next to … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Eleven

“Friday’s here!” I squealed and jumped up and down on my bed.  I had once again been wakened by internal alarm clock before my real alarm had gone off.  I collapsed onto my bed and screamed into a pillow.  There was no need to wake my neighbors with extreme happiness.  I’m sure they would have just called cops and had my happy and crazy ass … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Ten

  “So tell me about this Stellan guy,” my older and overly protective brother said as we sat in on a park bench feeding the birds. “What do you want to know?” “What does he do?  Where’s he from?  What’s he like?  Where did you meet him?  I want to know everything about him that you do.” “So you can form an opinion?” My brother … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Nine

  I watched as Stellan glanced at his watch and then look around for me.  I tapped on the glass and he turned and looked at me with a smile.  He motioned for me to come out of the store and I nodded. “Have you been waiting long?” he asked as I walked down the steps of the store. “Not at all,” I answered.  “I … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Eight

“You’re never here on a Monday,” Gwen said as she placed a napkin down on the bar in front of me. “It’s good to see you too Gwen.” “That came out wrong didn’t it?” she asked. I nodded.  “Just a bit.” “What’s up?” I shrugged my shoulders.  “Just needed a drink,” I answered. “Usual?” “Nah, I want something different.”  She looked at me with a … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Seven

  The throbbing in my head beat in a double time rhythm with my heart.  I groaned and rolled over, throwing my arms across the bed and hitting flesh.  The throbbing and my heart stopped.  I slowly opened my eyes and saw Roman next to me.  I pinched at the flesh on the inside of my arm and winced in pain.  I wasn’t dreaming.  Roman … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Six

Pizza e Vino was a cozy, candlelit restaurant that was nestled in between two towering skyscrapers.  If I closed my eyes, the scent billowing from it would have made me think I was in Italy.  I fell in love with the restaurant the instant I walked in. “Ciao” a man in his fifties said as Stellan pulled the door closed.  “Two?” “Yes,” Stellan said from … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Five