The man with the dog named Lily is only walking by, but he stops so we can pet her and call her a good girl. She’s blonde, and a puppy and she wants as many scritches as we’ll offer. After three rounds of drinks, both of us are willing to love her forever.
When Jessica returns, we tell her she missed the cutest dog in the world, and she feigns sorrow which is unlike her.
But we order martinis because it’s Saturday and it’s warm out for the first time all spring. The girl in the blue dress is laughing at the table next to us, and someone else is talking on their phone as if they were alone in their room and unconcerned someone might hear about their recent visit to the doctor.
Jake tells me that an olive stuffed with blue cheese goes best with Tanqueray, but I still prefer Bombay. He argues without caring if he’s right or wrong. We both argue for the love of it.
When I put my hand on Jessica’s knee, laughing at something she said, she leans in closer. She waits until Jake gets up to use the restroom and then parts her legs enough for me to see what looks like cum on the inside of her thigh.
“I let the bartender fuck me in the bathroom,” she whispers. “Don’t tell Jake.”
I laugh and shake my head; somehow I’m not surprised. Jessica snaps her legs shut and takes an extra big sip of her martini (she prefers Henricks with a slice of cucumber). The person on the phone says they’ll have to have something removed, and the woman in the blue dress is holding her partner’s hands like they’re praying.
Lily comes by again with her person who is carrying a potted plant in one hand. We both pet her, and I introduce her to Jessica like the dog and I are old friends. She tells her she’s the prettiest and the cutest and deserves all the love in the world, and I can only assume the dog and her owner agree.
When Jake comes back, he waves at Lily before sitting down. He squeezes his wife’s hand beneath the table the way you do after four years of marriage, and I try not to picture her bent over the sink with the bearded bartender behind her.
The fourth drink (martinis might not have been the best choice) pushes us over the edge from tipsy to drunk, and the waiter eyes us cautiously as if he might have to intervene if we keep making poor decisions.
When we get the bill, I notice that the last round is on the house. Jessica winks at me, and I shake my head. I love her and her audacity. Jake pays the tab, and they each kiss me goodbye.
I order a glass of water as I mentally prepare myself for the short walk home.
A dog named Roger gives me an excuse to sit for another moment as I scratch his ears and tell him how much he would have liked Lily. His owners smile at me, and I wonder if it’s from affection or polite concern.
Back home on the couch, I nap for a half-hour before making dinner.
It will be light outside for two more hours, but I wonder if later, I’ll be able to see stars.