Chapter 2
They walked along the street, headed to their destination and a much more casual night of drinking and catching up with their old friend, Trisha. Step for step, they walked along the bustling street as they headed toward the Wine Loft, a much calmer establishment that featured high end wines and a quiet atmosphere. “I’m glad she text me this morning,” said Hannah as they walked along the street and looked out at the several taxis driving down the crowded street. They were surrounded by many people, all heading out to various bars and locales to enjoy their Saturday night.
“I’m glad she did too,” replied Alexis as they turned the corner on the street and traveled down another, less crowded avenue. With a light breeze blowing in the air, the air was crisp as the two women walked briskly down the street. Both were in thick coats that hung down past their waste and were buttoned up tightly. Both were also in scarves, toboggans, and gloves to keep themselves warm as they walked quickly. They made it down the street in good time as the crisp air pushed them further along at a much quicker pace.
Hannah and Alexis walked into the wine loft, a much different bar than the one they were at the previous night. After receiving a text from Trisha earlier asking to see them again, seeing as how she wasn’t able to spend much time with them the previous night, she wanted to take a night to specifically catch up with the two of them. The bar was very calm and relaxed, with soft jazz playing overhead and waitresses in beautiful black cocktail dresses serving the guests. Several couches and plush chairs were stationed together to form small stations where guests could sit comfortably with one another and have long, meaningful conversations.
Trisha was already inside, sitting on a large couch with a bottle of wine in front of her and two empty glasses. She waited patiently as her eyes remained affixed on the door, looking at it closely for her friends to finally arrive. She wore a black dress that was snug around her thick hips, but fit her perfectly and accented the rest of her figure with heels that lifted her up off the ground and made her a bit taller. She looked at the door as she watched Hannah and Alexis walk in, two ladies that she wished she could have spent a few more hours with the previous night. “Girls!” she screamed as she waved and smiled earnestly as she grabbed their attention. “I’m over here!”
Hannah and Alexis looked over at their smiling friend, thankful that they were awarded an opportunity to spend more time with her. They walked up to the small couch and started to undress, both removing their toboggans, gloves, and scarves, followed by their thick jackets. Both girls were not as fantastically dressed as Trisha, both opting for a more casual look instead of wearing a cocktail dress. Alexis and Hannah were both wearing tight fitting blue jeans. Alexis wore a silk, purple blouse that came down just below her elbows. Hannah wore a black, slim fitting polo with a small collar. “It’s good to spend some time with you tonight, Trisha,” said Alexis as she sat down on the couch beside Trisha. “I hate that we didn’t get to spend much time with you last night.”
“Yeah, but I heard one of you had a great time last night,” she said as she looked up at Hannah with a coy grin.
“I did,” Hannah replied politely as she sat down in a chair across from the couch. “And in case you’re curious, it was pretty good.”
Trisha smiled as Alexis reached forward and grabbed one of the empty wine glasses and the bottle to help herself. “Are you and Jonathan going to make an item of yourselves?”
Hannah smiled as she joined Alexis on the table in between the couch and chairs, grabbing an empty glass and filling it up with the bottle already there. “No,” she said quickly and astutely. “He and I are both traveling two different paths in our lives right now and I don’t think it’d be healthy for us to come together.”
She smirked as she thought about the details of the two in the restroom the previous night. “How good was it?” asked Trisha as she looked on at Hannah sitting back in the chair with a glass of white wine in her hand.
“It was what I expected,” replied Hannah with a coy grin. “I’ve had a few better experiences, but not many. It was definitely worth the wait.”
Trisha laughed as Alexis shook her head in disbelief, not knowing what all will emerge from the mouth of her best friend. “I swear, Hannah. Do you just want to give Trisha all of the details you gave me last night on the way home?”
“She can if she wants,” said Trisha as she hinted to Hannah, wanting the details of her experience to satisfy her own morbid curiosity. “I’d love to hear more about what all Jonathan is packing.”
Hannah looked over at Alexis who shook her head subtly, alerting her not to delve into the egregious details of the encounter. “You know, how about I just say that it was exactly as you would expect and I wasn’t upset by it,” she said awkwardly, trying to respect Alexis’ wishes while still teasing Trisha.
“Look, Alexis, I don’t know how Hannah feels about this, but I can tell you from experience. The easiest way to get over a bad relationship is to put something new in front of you,” stated Trisha as she sipped on her wine. “It might be good for you to unwind and just let something happen. It could help you get over what’s ailing you.”
“I’ve told her that, Trisha,” said Hannah with a concerned scowl. “I’ve told her that the easiest way to get over a man is to get under another one.”
Alexis swallowed a large sip of wine as she started to laugh at Hannah, appreciating her nonchalant attitude about men. “What was that?”
Hannah smirked as she watched Alexis wipe the wine off of the corners of her mouth. “The best and easiest way to get over a man is to get under another one.”
Trisha looked at Alexis as she tried her best to comprehend the words that were coming from her best friend. “She’s right, Alexis,” confirmed Trisha. “I never mourn relationships anymore because I just find something else that catches my eye.” She paused as she motioned for the waitress to bring them another bottle of wine. “Alexis, I don’t know how you feel about relationships and what exactly you’re after in a man, but I can tell you that once I’m done with a man, or he is done with me, I move on. I find something else to take my mind off of him and it always works.”
“Yeah, dwelling on someone never ends well,” continued Hannah. “I know I sleep around a little bit, but if and when I ever end up in a relationship, which is rare, I don’t get too wrapped up in the details when it’s over.”
“But you’re not programmed like me, Hannah,” quipped Alexis as she sat her wine glass down on the table in front of her. “I was in a relationship for three years while you were experiencing many different men. I can’t do that.”
Hannah smiled as she leaned back in her chair. “I’m not telling you to go become an exquisite slut. I’m saying you need to find a way to cope and the best way for you to do this might be to let go of your inhibitions and see what happens. Maybe the touch of a different man will be what changes your mind and helps you move on.”
Alexis breathed slowly as she thought about what Hannah and Trisha were telling her, knowing that she needed to move on from her ex but not knowing how to do it. She was never good at handling loss or rejection and knew that this journey could be an epic struggle. Her eyes wandered around the bar, noticing all of the men there with their companions, though some were with a few other men. She thought about her options and whether or not she should take Hannah and Trisha up on their advice.
Trisha looked out across the wine loft to see three men, all wearing suits and looking as if they had just left a business meeting, sitting at the far end near a fireplace. “How do you ladies feel about some company? Maybe we can help Alexis get over her struggle through some force.”
Alexis turned and looked back at Trisha, who was eyeing a stunning looking blonde in a black suit. “I think I could handle it,” she said as she looked at another of the men with Hannah fixating on them as well. The three men sat together and turned, noticing the three ladies looking over at them. Trisha, being as flirty and forward as she appeared to be, motioned with her head for them to come join them without getting up from her chair.
“This could get interesting,” said Hannah under her breath as she looked at the three men stand up and walk toward them. “Are we all picking off one of them or are we going to fight over the ones we want and just leave the rest for scraps?”
Alexis chuckled as she overheard her, keeping her eyes fixated on the three men as they made it across the floor, each carrying their own glass of wine. “Ladies, you look lonely?” said the first man as he stood in front of the small station, looking down on them with his glass in his hand. “Might we join you and rectify this situation?”
Trisha turned back and looked at Alexis and Hannah, both smiling as they looked at the eye candy that was joining them. Two of the men sat next to Alexis and Trisha on the couch while the third sat next to Hannah in the chair that faced it. The first man, who spoke to the group, was Davis Nichols, a real estate broker in Manhattan who was incredibly successful at moving condos and apartments, as well as controlling property and selling it when the time was right for a hefty profit. He was very confident and had a way with words, making his approach to the ladies very calm, suave, and natural.
Sitting on the couch next to Alexis was Stephen Maxwell, a close friend of Davis’ and a very successful option trader. He was smart, calculating, and knew when and how to take the best risks for the optimal success. He positioned himself next to Alexis, looking at her with a soft, subtle gaze that she matched with an inviting stare.