Member-only story
The light was red. The wallpaper was red. The tablecloths were red. And the candles were red. A live jazz trio played at the other end of the bar. We sat in plush, tufted red leather chairs drinking martinis. Lo’s bare knees were exposed, her legs crossed, her short skirt inching its way up her thighs. She looked at Jim with wide eyes as he told us about the plans for their wedding which was only a couple of weeks away. I sat across from Jim and Lo, nursing my drink as they talked animatedly. They were fond of each other. I was enjoying the beauty of the two of them as the liquor transformed the dive bar to a dreamscape.
“I can’t believe that in little more than two weeks, you two will be married!” said Lo, grabbing Jim’s hand as she said it. “Married!” she repeated.
“Are you going to have a bachelor party?” I asked. “A big send-off to say goodbye to your days of freedom?”
“I already had it,” he said.
“What?!” asked Lo, surprised. “When? Tell us!”
Jim told us that the previous week he had gone back to his hometown to spend a long weekend with his college buddies fishing at a remote lake.
“Fishing?” asked Lo, skeptically.
“Yeah,” said Jim.
“No strip clubs?” she asked.