Like The Drink

“Life is not a fucking zero sum game.”

“That’s the best pick up line I’ve ever heard. I’m Guy New York. What’s your name?”

“It wasn’t a fucking pick-up line. It wasn’t not a pick-up line either. It was just conversation. See what I mean? Not a zero sum game. I’m Tea.”

“Like the letter?”

“Like the drink.”

It was a bit early to be sitting at a bar, but it was quiet and pleasant with all the windows open. I sat down two seats away from her because pretty women make me nervous. Once we started talking she moved a seat closer and the bartender seemed to have disappeared. She was drinking Lillet and I was drinking a Saison DuPont. It was warm enough outside for both. She continued.

“If I say Madonna what do you think of?”

“Virgin whore?”

“You’re good at this. See what I mean though? It’s not about being one or the other. Or even both. Just because I climbed trees and skinned my knees doesn’t mean I didn’t also like pretty dresses.”

“Does that mean I can be a nice guy and an asshole?”

“God, I hope so.”

An hour later she was resting her head on my chest smoking a cigarette. The ashtray was sitting on her windowsill and she reached out with a long arm to tap the glass edge. The room still smelled like sex and the sun was still shining.

“I’ve never done that before. I mean, I’ve never traded power back and forth so effortlessly. I didn’t know that was possible.”

“It’s because you don’t really believe it. You think you’re a top and I’m a bottom. You think it’s either love or it’s meaningless. You think you’ll either see me again or you won’t. Nothing is one thing or the other.”

“You’re going to drive me completely insane.”

“I’m glad,” she said before she kissed me on the nose.

From Guy New York