A Life Less Monogamous by Cooper S. Beckett

Author:Cooper S. Beckett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Hump & Circumstance
Published: 2016-02-06T16:00:00+00:00

26

"Glendronach." Noah poured Ryan a tiny amount of the Scotch, as though rationing it. "Fifteen-year revival."

"I don't know what that means," said Ryan.

"It means it'll taste like it's been buried for fifteen years," said Sam.

Noah waved his hand at Sam and set the glass in front of Ryan. "Neat, of course."

"I don't know why you insist on—"

"Just try it," said Noah.

Ryan stared at the glass. He held it up in front of him, the caramel-colored liquid in the bottom catching the light. He truly didn't understand why Noah insisted on sharing his expensive Scotches with him and Sam. Neither of them particularly liked Scotch, and the price of the bottle seemed inversely proportionate to the amount they enjoyed it. But if Noah continued handing him expensive tastes of alcohol, he'd keep trying them.

He smelled it. "It's got that good...campfire scent."

"Oh, c'mon," griped Noah.

Ryan tasted and scowled. "Sam, you're right."

"Like it's been buried," said Sam.

"No," said Ryan, "I think it actually just tastes like the dirt it was buried in."

"No taste, the both of you." Noah snatched the glass back off the bar and upended it into his own. "Shall I make you an appletini?"

Sam perked up. "Actually, I'd have—"

"I don't have Apple Pucker," Noah groused.

"Nothing like the companionship of friends," said Ryan, a smile on his lips.

"I'm surprised we're seeing you at all," returned Noah. "It's been damned difficult to reach you lately."

"We missed you," said Sam. He patted Ryan's back.

For a moment, Ryan felt ashamed. He had abandoned these two, hadn't he? Up until the end of December he'd spent every other Friday night here at Noah's, playing pool, or poker, or just watching whatever new 4K video content Noah had managed to acquire in his vain quest to convince them that UltraHD represented the future, Ryan insisting he didn't need to see Kevin Spacey in such high resolution. Over the several weeks since that singular day in December, though, he’d been absent.

"Thanks, Sam," said Ryan. "Sorry about that. We've been pretty busy. The good news is, we're actually connecting now."

"You and Jennifer," said Noah, flat.

"Yeah."

"That's good, man," said Sam, "I know it was touch and go there for a while. I'm happy that things—"

"Still have time for your other friends?" asked Noah, an odd edge to his voice.

"—have leveled out a bit," finished Sam, throwing a grumpy look Noah's way.

"Dinner's ready, boys!" came Barbara's voice from the intercom behind the bar. Noah didn't turn to look at it, holding his steady look at Ryan.

"Dinner's ready," repeated Ryan, uncertain what the edge meant. Was he still grumpy about them calling for Bruce and Paige's number? Wouldn't that be a bit silly? Maybe it was because they’d gotten a bit too frisky at Christmas brunch. Regardless, he didn't like the tone, and was about to say so, when Noah pressed the button behind him and told her they'd be right up.

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