Forgotten Yesterday by Renee Ericson Read Free Book Online

then meets me at the end of the bar.
    “Hey, Pat. Astrid said you needed something. What’s up?”
    “Well,” he leans forward, crossing his arms in front of him and setting his elbows on the bar. There’s an inquisitive look in his eye. “There’s somebody here to see ya.”
    “Oh yeah?” My heart thumps in my chest. I do have regulars, but they don’t come to the bar.
    “That footy guy from last night came back. Says you’re an old friend of his.”
    I begin to shake internally and blink a few times. I know who’s here.
    “Where is he?” I ask, glancing down the nearly empty bar.
    Pat gestures to the row of booths on the other side of the small room. I rotate around and find myself face-to-face with Brent, sitting almost directly across from where I’m standing.
    “Thanks,” I utter to Pat.
    “You want to pick up his table?”
    “Sure,” I reply automatically. “I can take care of him.”
    Pat straightens and moves back down the bar, leaving me alone with the man who continues to race through my conscious and subconsciousness. Taking one step in front of the other, my hand comes up to the space just above my heart, feeling the ruby pendant hidden beneath my blue blouse. I never took it off.
    Reaching the end of his table, I stop, observing everything Brent . He’s dressed more casually than last night in a collared navy shirt with the top button undone. The sleeves are rolled twice on both arms, exposing his toned forearms and silver watch. His hair is groomed to one side. My mouth tugs, noticing that some of the dark strands are curling up around his ears. I always did like that.
    “Hi,” I say with interest. “I wasn’t expecting to see you again.”
    He rubs his chin. “Why not?”
    “I don’t know,” I nervously laugh. “It sounded like you had a full schedule and well...how did you know I was working tonight?”
    Clasping his hands together, Brent beams, smiling directly at me. “I didn’t. I just thought, maybe.”
    “Oh.” I pull my lips into my mouth. Noticing the empty table, I ask, “Is anyone here with you?”
    “No. Just me.”
    “What about Johan?”
    “He went out for dinner with some guys from the team.”
    “You didn’t want to go?”
    “Something like that,” he replies in an even tone.
    I nod, filling the silence with a gesture rather than words. We look at one another for more than a few uncomfortable seconds. The silence stretches forever, or at least it feels that way. What is there to say?
    “Can I get you a drink?” I ask, breaking the ice.
    “Sure.” Brent leans back against the black cushioned seat to get a better view of the bar behind me. “Guinness.”
    “Anything else?”
    “No, that should do it.”
    “Okay. I’ll be right back.”
    I return to the bar and put in the order. While Brent’s beer is pouring, which is a process, I check on my tables again. Clearing one of the table’s plates, I head back into the kitchen to check on the status of their entrees.
    Getting a glass of water, I drink it to keep my adrenaline level even. Seeing Brent again tonight wasn’t as shocking as the first time, but I’m trying to keep my mind, body, and feelings, my old feelings, in check.
    “So who’s the guy?” Astrid asks, getting a drink of her own.
    “What guy?”
    “The one at the bar in the booth? You know him, right?”
    “Yeah. We went to high school together.”
    “He’s pretty cute.” She opens up one of her bill folders, shuffling through the contents. “An old boyfriend?”
    “Yeah, he’s that too.”
    “Hmmm. I figured.”
    “What does that mean?” I ask defensively.
    “Just the way he looked at you.” She takes another drink. “And the way you look right now.”
    “And how do I look?”
    “Like you’re not here. You had the same look last night, too.”
    Well, she hit that nail on the head.
    “I just haven’t seen him in a while,” I explain, hoping to justify anything she may be gleaning from my recent behavior. “He