Reading the score on the bottom of the television caused most of the patrons in the bar to shout at the screen. The Astros were playing the Dodgers and they were down two runs at the bottom of the 9th. Their star player was at bat and the team already had two outs working against them. The bases were loaded and it felt like this was their last shot for winning the game.
The bar silenced as the pitcher pulled his arm back and threw the ball at ninety seven miles per hour at the man waiting at home plate. The crack of the bat and ball making contact echoed in the room as everyone held their breath. They watched the white circular object soared into the air and the players make their rotation around the bases. As the ball soars through the air and started heading downward towards the outfielder on the left side. He reached his arm up to the sky and the patrons in the bar all yell as the baseball lands in the man’s glove.
It was over, the Astros lost the World Series and the only ones at the bar tonight who were going to celebrate were the owners because it was bound to be a night full of endless drinking.
“What a game.” Jessie said as he shook his head back and forth while reaching for his beer.
“Just once I want to see them win.” Rachel said.
“Merewyn will be glad she missed this, you know how she hates sports.” Jessie picked up a chili cheese fry and ate it while watching the television seeing the rangers celebrate.
“Speaking of her, how are you two doing?” Rachel grabbed her own fry and popped it into her mouth.
“We’re really good. Can’t believe it’s been almost an entire year since all of that drama started.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun they say.” Rachel smiled at him and then took another drink of her glass that was now empty.
“Want another?” He asked.
“Sure, why not. Nothing to do tomorrow anyway.”
“We really need to get you a guy.” Jessie waived to Jean who was working hard behind the bar to grab her attention.
“I don’t need a guy Jessie, I have you.” She smirked at him.
“While yes I am of the male gender, I am not ‘a guy’, I am a friend. We need to get you a guy, someone who can help that boredom in the gaps of time you seem to have endless supply of.”
“My job keeps me busy Jessie, you act like I stay home alone every night and mope around.”
“Don’t you?” He teased. “Hey Jean can you get each of us another round please?”
“Sure thing Jessie, comin right up.”
“I don’t know if I appreciate the idea of you trying to set me up with someone Jessie. You know that is kinda old fashioned right?”
“How is it old fashioned, just one friend helping another friend out. Besides you’re going to need to bring a date to my wedding right?”
“You proposed?” Rachel exclaimed.
“Not yet but I am going to. You know she will say yes.” Jessie grinned ear to ear.
“So cocky, she could say no you know.”
“Nah not my girl. She loves me and everyone knows it.”
“Jessie, you show Rachel the ring?” Jean asked as she walked up to them and set their drinks down.
“You showed Jean the ring already. What happened I thought we were besties Jessie?” Rachel joked as she drank some of her dress Guinness.
“We are, relax; Jean here has similar taste in fashion as my M, so I just got her opinion on it before I laid down the cash, that’s all.”
“It’s a beauty Jessie, for real, you did great.” Jean patted Jessie’s shoulder and then walked back to the bar.
“You want to set someone up, that’s who you need to set up right there.” Rachel motioned her head in Jean’s direction.
“I don’t know, she doesn’t seem like she needs a man all that much.”
“What and I do?” Rachel mocked insult made Jessie laugh and he raised his glass.
“To friendship, may we always make each other laugh and bring joy to one another.”
“I second that.” Rachel looked back towards Jean one more time and then at Jessie. “Seriously, she never goes out, I do worry about her. This bar is her whole life.”
“Take it from me, someone who owns their business and knows what it is like to be all in during a deal, the bar is her whole life.”
“But you have a life outside of your puppy clinic.”
“Of course my job is an eight to five type job; Jeans is a noon to three am kinda job, a bit different.” Jessie finished his last glass of Guinness and then stood up from the table. “Rachel you gonna be okay getting home?”
“Yeah I’ll get an Uber. You are leaving?”
“Yep, told Merewyn if the ‘Stros lost then I would come home early and watch a movie with her.”
“That’s sweet. Enjoy your alone time.”
“I will, I’ll be glad when we can take our two apartments and make them one, living out of two places is a pain in the butt.”
“I can only imagine. Tell her hello for me.”
“Will do, night Rachel.” Jessie looked over his shoulder and hollered out, “Night Jean!” He tossed both girls a wave and then walked out of the bar.
Rachel finished her last drink and started to stand up, that’s when she noticed a new face in the bar. Deciding maybe Jessie was right she looked at her watch and saw it was only nine forty five, it was still early. With a bit of guts that she didn’t know she had, she stood up and walked over to the stranger sitting at the table across the room.
“Seat taken?” She smiled at him and pointed to the empty chair.
“It is now, care to join me?” He responded.
“Thanks, I’m Rachel, what’s your name?”
“My friends call me Pipen.”
“That’s an interesting name, Pipen, you new around here?”
He nodded his head up and down, “Sure am, and everyone seems to notice it too around here.”
Rachel laughed, “Small town mentality, we look out for our own and we notice anything new or suspicious going on.”
“So which am I, new or suspicious,” Pipen teased.
“Right now I would have to go with both, because you’re certainly new but you do give off this air of suspicious nature.”
“Is that a compliment?”
Rachel took a moment to ponder the question and then started to nod her head, “Yes, I think it is.”
“Then thank you.”
With a glance over her shoulder Rachel made eye contact with Jean and asked for another beer. The two of them stayed at the bar for a couple hours talking and laughing.
“So who was that guy I saw you with earlier? Boyfriend?”
“Who Jessie? Nah, just one of my friends. He is the local vet around here. Super nice.”
“Well that’s some good news then.”
“Oh, do you have pets? Do they get sick a lot?” Rachel looked at him with the most sincere concerned expression. It was bound to make any man’s heart melt.
“Pets, me no. Not at all.”
“Then why was it good news what I said about Jessie.”
“Because you didn’t go and say ‘He’s my boyfriend’, that means there is still hope for me.”
Rachel started laughing hard and that made her shake her head back and forth. “Trust me Pipen I am not the girlfriend type. I’m a lawyer; I work long hours and have maybe one day off work a week where I get home at a normal time.”
“Oh I sincerely doubt you’re not girlfriend material.”
Just as Rachel was about to retort her new friends remarks her cell phone went off. It was a text from Jessie.
“She said yes.”
That was all the text read. Rachel’s face smiled and that sparked Pipen to ask a question. “You get some good news?”
“I did actually, that man you saw me with, his girlfriend just agreed to marry him.”
“That is good news, you look happy for your friend.”
“I am, I enjoy that couple more than I thought I would enjoy high school sweethearts.” Rachel took another drink to finish off her glass and then realized the time. “Man it is getting late.”
“I know, I have to get up somewhat early tomorrow morning too.”
“What is it that you do Pipen?”
“I’m a surgeon.” He stated simply.
“God I hope you don’t have surgery tomorrow!”
Pipen laughed hard, “No not tomorrow.”
“Then why do you have to get up early?” Rachel’s question seemed a little accusatory in her mind but she let it go, she was mostly ten sheets to the wind and knew it didn’t really matter.
“Gotta take my mom to PT, if I don’t take her she won’t go.”
“Oh.” Rachel thought to herself about what kind of man would take his ailing mother to her physical therapy appointment and realized maybe this was the kind of man that warranted more attention. “That’s really nice of you to do it.”
“No choice, don’t want her to die so I gotta put the effort in myself.”
“Would you mind if I called you sometime?” Rachel didn't realize the question slipped out until it was too late. She felt her face heat up red and embarrassment seeped through her looks.
“I would like that, here is my card.” Pipen put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a cream colored business card and handed it to her. “I look forward to hearing from you Rachel.”
She watched him get up and then leave.