"Hey, are you new? I don't remember seeing you before ( Read more... )

It's a couple of Thursdays ago, and while most of the people in the Bar are watching the Yankees walk all over the Kansas City Royals, I've got one television tuned to college hockey. It's not even really for me, though I'm watching when I have the chance; it's for Will. It's the first time he's been back here since Samantha died, and we're all ( Read more... )

It's St. Patrick's Day, and the Bar is jammed. It was a tough decision for me, because with my seniority I'm allowed to schedule myself for the busiest nights and the best tipping situations, but St. Patrick's Day... well... pisses me off. People in bars are rarely using their best judgment to begin with, but something about March 17 every year ( Read more... )

When I finally tell her on Sunday, she's braiding my hair, an act at once childish and intimate. She doesn't pause or slow down, and I think maybe she doesn't get it. But when she's done she asks me what we'll do when her job brings her back to the Bar every few weeks, and I know she understands. I tell her we'll act like adults, and I hope like ( Read more... )

Mario leafs wordlessly through several pages of the magazine, then hands it back to Jocelyn and looks down at his beer.

"What do you think?" asks Simone.

"I'll tell you when I figure out how to look at you again, okay?"

Jocelyn laughs. "I think that means your photos turned him on." It's been several months since Simone did her first shoot ( Read more... )

Two Weeks Ago (Friday, August 31)
It's a warm, busy Friday evening. The Devil Rays are gradually having their way with the Yankees, bending them over just a little bit more each inning. Maya and Kira and I are holding our own; another couple of dozen customers and we'd be in the weeds, but it's the beginning of Labor Day weekend, so a lot of ( Read more... )

Monday is another gorgeous day, and I'm walking to midtown to meet Gary for a late lunch at a nice restaurant with outdoor seating, so we can spend some time together and catch each other up on our weekends before I head for my shift at The Bar. Everybody is really starting to dress for the weather, which is wonderful, but awfully distracting - ( Read more... )

"I know this is ridiculously late, but I was so busy the first few weeks with Aidan that I almost completely forgot about your birthday. And then shipping took a couple of weeks, so..." My cousin Rebecca hands me a package, then takes a sip from her iced tea. It's a beautiful day, and we're at a sidewalk cafe in the Village where we've just ( Read more... )

Wednesday evening, 8pm"You checked him out ( Read more... )

Girl: Look at the boobs on that bartender. They're enormous! My boobs aren't big enough ( Read more... )