Every time Eliza was with Terrence post-Lily, she always made sure that it was private. That no one could eavesdrop on their conversation.
She felt confident in this when she brought him to her favorite bar, with her favorite bartender Josephine. Josephine had secrets of Eliza’s, that Eliza was sure that Josephine would bring to her grave.
Bringing Terrence there was a leap of faith, and to show him she was not ashamed of him. She was not sure where his insecurity was coming from, but she wanted to put an end to it.
Her bare arms shivered with the slight chill of the air in the bar, and from the heat of Terrence’s body so close to hers. She softly sipped Laphroaig from her glass, its smokiness combined with ice familiar and satisfying to
her.
He looked at her reverently. The way he looked at her always made her pause. Made her aware of the moment, made her present, stained her with love. She moved closer to him, and the simple touch of his shirt against her arm scalded her with desire. She watched him sip the amber fluid–straight, no ice–thinking she would savor the taste when she kissed him.
“Josephine is Rafe’s sister’s partner. But I knew her first, she and I go way back.”
“So the bartender knows Rafe?”
Eliza realized she had not said any of the things that she knew as fact to him before. She had not thought of how they would affect Terrence.
“Yes.”
“And you brought me here? So she can judge me? So she can see how different I am from Rafe?”
Eliza’s eyes widened, but before she could could open her mouth, Josephine answered for her.
“No, she brought you here because she is in love with you, and she wanted to show you off to me. Eliza only brings people who matter to her here.”
Josephine pulled her tie, and walked down the counter. Eliza’s eyes floated to Terrence to see if he was watching her, but he met her eyes when she looked at him.
She was quiet.
“I don’t know what is wrong with me, Eliza. I have never been like this before. I am not an insecure man, I don’t know what this is.”
She leaned in, and took his hand.
“I am here, I am always here for you. I don’t care what is going on, I am here and we will deal with it together.”
His eyes looked grateful for an instant, before he squeezed her hand and kissed it.
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I hope it makes Terrence feel more confident now that Eliza has taken him to her favorite bar. Nice words from Josephine 🙂
Rebel xox