“You’ve reached Stellan.  Leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” Sighing, I hung up the phone and dropped it onto the counter of my bathroom.  I had managed to loose my best friend and more importantly my boyfriend in the span of a short night.  I couldn’t call either to talk about either.  I looked at my … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Twenty

  I sat up and stared at my phone into the wee hours of the morning.  I had spent ninety percent of that time shedding tears in sadness and in anger.  I was sad because Stellan’s phone was still going straight to voicemail and he wasn’t returning my calls and angry because I had left to go confront Roman.  The more I thought about the … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Nineteen

  I stood in Stellan’s kitchen quietly stirring a sauce he had tasked me with while he was pounding away at a carcass of pour cow.  “You know that piece of meat is already dead don’t you?” “I’m just following the recipe instructions,” he answered. I watched him for a moment longer and then returned to my mind-numbing task.  It was sadly the only thing … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Eighteen

  “Well hell,” Walsh said. “Well hell?” I asked into the receiver.  “That doesn’t sound very exciting and it doesn’t sound like you’re happy for me.” “I’m completely happy for you baby sister.  I just can’t believe you finally got a boyfriend.  I was afraid Maddie would just end up having an old spinster for an aunt.” I grunted at his comment.  “I would never … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Seventeen

  “I do not want to go to this cook out,” Roman said as he stomped around my apartment like pouting a five year old.  He collapsed onto the couch in huff, crossed his arms over his chest, and stuck out his bottom lip. “Are you finished?” I asked. “Why do I have to go?” “Because my circle of friends and Stellan’s circle of friends … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Sixteen

  “Let me in the goddamn building.” I stared at the buzzer and then hit the button to let Mika in.  She did not sound in any better mood than when she had left me on Monday.  It was now Thursday and she seemed even more pissed than before.  Sighing, I saved the work on my laptop and then closed it. “Was that Mika?” Stellan … Continue reading Barfly: Chapter Fifteen

  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