Disclaimer: contains swearing.
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They walked slowly across the foyer glancing through the downdraft of funnelled heat.
“Need a drink” announced Harry
“A pint?” hoped Sam
“No, a coffee or something…”
“Hmm…hey okay – over here.”
Harry and Sam curved around huddled bistro chairs and gazed at the menu written indelibly above the counter.
“What you having, Harry?”
“Americano with an extra shot”
Then, turning towards the Barista standing stoically behind the breadth of polished wood, Sam ordered the drinks.
They sat confidentially inside a small alcove and cleared the wilting rose and molten candle to the next table.
“ So, Harry… and so, ermm well… I guess…”
“Oh fuck’s sake Sam. You’ve not changed at all. You’re still scared to breathe out in case it proves you’re living.”
“Hey, hey lay off a little - just how do you frame this thing?”
“You just say it plain – duck if you have to – but afterwards y’ know?”
“I slept with your wife Harry and I’m sorry man.”
Silence.
Harry drew his coffee towards his mouth to cauterize his anger. Years had fallen between that act and this ‘apology’ and he’d told himself over and over it didn’t matter anymore. Suddenly his eyes glazed.
“It hurt Sam. You hurt me, she hurt me but I blamed myself for not being there, for treating her like a comfort blanket, forgetting -fuck it - you were my best friend –“
“She was a very beautiful woman –“
“So, that’s your Excuse?”
“No, no Harry, No, no excuses. It was wrong and –“
“And what Sam, and What?”
“And we need to settle this – maybe talking doesn’t feel right?”
“What you saying huh? You want a fight Sam?”
“If you wanna hit me go ahead, yeah I’ll fight you – maybe break your fuckin’ nose man”
Harry looked at Sam malignantly and a wry smile slid across his face, infectious, free-flowing. Sam held on to the flow. The two men stood from their chairs. They were faded gladiators smaller than their shadows with egos more huge than any time past. Harry raised his right fist waist high. Sam stood still. His fist flew towards Sam’s chin, dived behind his neck and opened into a firm embrace, which was reciprocated.
“Hey, let’s go get a real drink and talk about something new Sam. We’ve twenty years to catch.”
“Yeah and that might take time – let’s find a late bar. Let’s not waste another minute.”