My name is Brian, I'm just your average guy working 9-5, living alone in an apartment overlooking Time Square.
It's New Year's eve and I've been talking to Emily, a sweet girl I went to high school with whom I reconnected with on Facebook. We're supposed to have dinner tonight. I'm waiting at a reserved table, looking out the window at a storm raging outside. The waiter already came and being as nervous as I was , I ordered a Martini, which has been in my left hand ever since.
I looked at my watch, 630 pm. "Stood up again!" Ugh, why do I even bother setting up dates. Eh, the hell with this. I'm getting out of here and going to my favorite bar. At least getting inebriated will dull the pain for a while. I pounded the vodka down and paid for the drink, leaving a decent tip for the waiter.
I hop into my car, a shitty Honda accord. Before I do, I noticed a couple of fresh dents on the side. Just great, now I have another fucking bill. I turned the key to ignition and Billy Joel's 'New York State of Mind' ebbed through the car speakers.
The steady pitter-pat of rain left New York covered in a hazy film and I could faintly hear the puddles splash under the tires as I went through the streets.
The saxophone echoed throughout the car and I couldn't help but feel a bit of self-loathing. Rain splashed against the windshield as the flip-flap of the windshield wipers swept it away.
Somehow, the atmosphere got me day dreaming.
I looked down at my watch. The digital screen turned from 4:59 pm to 5:00 pm "Wow, that time already?"
"What is it?" Hannah said, leaning her head on my shoulder.
"I have no idea, why don't you tell me." I asked
I lowered my arm and turned it towards her, letting her get a good look at the face.
She doesn't say anything for a few moments, so I pointed my finger attempting to direct her attention. "Do you know what number that is?"
"It's ahhh......"
"Come on, I know you know it."
“ Ummm, Fiiiiiiivvvvvvvvveee??"
"Yes! Good job!"
Seemingly satisfied with this, she pushed my arm away from her and slid off the couch. "But you said we're leaving at five!"
"We were going to. But Mommy isn't ready yet."
"Awww. But we gotta go see grandma!" She pouted and crossed her arms.
" Maybe she doesn't know what time it is?"
"Then she should get a watch!"
"Why don't you just tell her what time it is instead?"
She bolted to a standing position, and her eyes lit up like someone had given her a present "Okay!"
“ Alright sweetie, you're going to have to yell loudly. Can you do that for me?"
"Yay!" She ran to the hall and shouted over to the master bedroom, "Mommy! It's five o'clock!"
He scream practically shook the whole building. I clasped my hands to my ears. She grinned sheepishly at me, and I couldn't help but smile back.
From above the stairs, a familiar voice shouted back, "I'm coming! Calm down!"
Hannah frowned, her shoulders slumped and she looked down. "Now mommy is mad at me."
I moved her her chin up gently to look in her eyes. "Mommy isn't mad at you, just grumpy.”
"I am not Grumpy!" Emilia said quite grumpily, stomping into the living room with a towel on her head. She glances between the two of us, putting her hands on her hips expectantly.
I leaned over on the couch with a smug grin. "Hey darling, it's five."
"Yeah, yeah. I hear that along with all of our neighbors" She pouted, pulling the towel off of her head. "Since when have you ever cared about being late?"
"I was just teasing you." I stand and picked up Hannah, who wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder. "Munchkin, on the other hand is very cross."
"Am Not!" Hannah shouted directly into my ears.
"Don't lie. You've been complaining for over an hour."
"Hey, that's not fair. Mommy was still getting ready and I've been ready for a looooooong time."
"You're only four, honey." Emilia said, leaning in and kissing her on the forehead. "Complain to me once you have to get dressed by yourself, mkay?"
"Brian, have you seen my hair clips?"
"I dunno, in the bathroom?"
"No, I checked there already. Duh."
"Well, I don't know, then."
"You didn't take them?"
"What on Earth would I need with your hair clips for?"
"Urgh." She takes her towel and throws it into a clothes hamper. “Well if you don't have them, where could they be?"
"Just straighten your hair, then."
She sighs, slumping her shoulders slightly and slinks back down to the bathroom. I set down Hannah and sat back down on the couch with a thump.
"Daddy, I'm hungry."
"You can eat when we get to Grandma's."
"But I'm hungry now."
"Well, you still gotta wait."
"That's not fair." She pouted
"Life's not fair, kiddo. Hey, did you take Mommy's hair clips?"
Her eyes widen in surprise for a second, and she frowns guiltily at me. "No!"
"Emilia! Check her dresser!"
"Her dresser?" Emilia inquired. "Why would they be there?"
"Just check it!"
Her footsteps echoed down the hall as she thundered into Hannah's room.
"Found em!"
I gasped in exaggerated surprise. "Well, that's funny. We certainly didn't put it there."
"Did you take them, Hannah?" I ask quietly.
"Y-yeah," she stuttered.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
"You're not supposed to take things without asking."
"I know"
"Don't do it again. I mean it."
She pouts, her lip quivered a little, and I am too much of a softie.
"It's okay to make mistakes, just don't lie about it"
"Yes, daddy."
"I forgive you."
She beamed
I dread the day she is old enough to figure out how easy I would be to manipulate.
"How do I look, honey?" Emily asked suddenly, reentering the room.
I looked at her briefly, then return to the closet to put my coat on. "Fine."
"Brian! You didn't even look!"
"What's the big deal? Got a hot date?"
I snickered quietly, sorting through the coats as slowly as possible.
"I want you to turn around this instant and tell me how beautiful I look or I swear to god as my witness, I will go right back into our bedroom and go to sleep."
"Noooo!" Hannah screeched.
Putting my petty coat on, I turned to face Emily. She smirked, making a few poses like a model on a runway...
A horn behind me blared, causing me to lose my day dream. I took a right turn at the next intersection and pulled the car to park.
I walked in to McCarthy's pub and sat down at my usual stool. Facing the bartender, I ordered a dark and stormy, a fitting name for the weather and my mood. Nursing the brew, a tap on my shoulder earned my attention.
I turned around and said, “Emily, what are you doing here?”
She had a look between a sheepish smile and a pout. She said, “I tried calling you to tell you I was going to be a little late, but I couldn't get a signal. I realized after that I forgot to pay my phone bill so they shut me off until Wednesday. I'm saw your car and followed you. “
I was going to reply but she leaned in and kissed me hard.
She pulled back and said, “Let's start over again.”
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