Page 135 of Foreplay on Words

“Sure thing. You look a little weary. Want to talk about it?” He picked up a glass from a nearby rack and dried it. I think he could tell that I was not doing so well.

“Just been a long night. Do you have a phone I could use?”

He walked down to the other end of the bar and picked up a cordless phone, sliding it toward me. “No long distance, but you’re welcome to make a local call.”

I dialed the first three numbers and then realized I wasn’t 100% sure of the last four digits of Chase’s phone number. Smartphones made it so easy to be reliant on not remembering phone numbers.

I was also starting to feel a little lightheaded.

Laying the phone down, I drank some more water and wished I’d bought the Apple Watch with cell service. The Wi-Fi one wouldn’t do me any good without my phone.

The bartender refilled my glass several times, and I realized I absentmindedly kept drinking it.

“You doing alright?” he asked, and I noticed for the first time that several groups had cleared out of the bar.

“I-I think so?” I knew time had passed, but I couldn’t tell how much. The windows to the street showed it was darker than I remembered.

“Don’t worry. You’ve got about an hour before I need to start cleaning up. Feel free to hang out as long as you need to.”

“Thanks.” My voice slurred a little as I swayed on my stool. I wasn’t sure how much more time had passed, but I was slightly startled as my wrist started buzzing. A Find my iPhone alert was flashing across the screen.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked, tapping the little square watch face. “My phone isn’t lost. It’s in Sam’s pocket.”

Alerts for missed calls and texts started flashing across my wrist. I squinted as I tried to keep up with them but couldn’t focus on the letters.

“You’re drunk, Apple Watch.” I tapped at the screen to dismiss all the alerts, the screen finally clearing.

“You need a refill?” asked the bartender, looking down at me with an amused smile.

“Whoa––where did you come from?” I chuckled as I tried to focus on his face. Bright colors surrounded his hair, and I wondered what lightbulbs they used here.

“Been here the whole time,” he frowned. “Need me to call ya a cab?”

“No, no more cabs. They don’t like me.” I shook my head, but it threw me off balance, and I had to grab the edge of the bar to stop sliding off my stool.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked skeptically. Mr. Bartender did not look amused.

“Peachy,” I smiled, at least I think it was a smile. My face felt funny.

He squinted his eyes at me and looked at my glass. “Why don’t I get you some fresh water.”

He sighed as the door to the bar opened, and I saw two blurry figures walk in, my wrist buzzing again.

“Leave me alone, stupid watch.”

I laid my head down on the bar in front of me as the room started to sway.

“Is he drunk?” I heard a familiar voice and tried to lift my head again, but the room continued moving.

Or maybe it was me moving.

Either way, it was making me dizzy.

I wanted to go to sleep.

“Nah, I’ve only been serving him water since he came in here a few hours ago.”

Had I been here for hours?

---