We meet as usual in the pub, you already sitting there with your beer and a white wine waiting for me, watching the world go by. I walk up and sit opposite you, smiling at your obvious nervousness. It still never fails to amaze me that after all this time you are still nervous every time we meet.
"Hello baby, I've missed you," I say, as our eyes meet and you smile your welcome.
I pick up my wine, "have you been waiting long?"
"No, only about 5 minutes," you reply.
We sit and discuss the day and the time that we have been apart, what we have been doing and catching each other up on things in general, your wife, my life, work and other small talk, just sitting getting used to each other again, each meeting like a first time even though we know each others bodies and minds so well.
You ask if I want to eat and I grin and raise my eyebrow, "Only you honey," I reply laughing.
You join in and make a flippant remark about possibly letting me at some point, little knowing what I have in store for you. I finish my wine and suggest we go for a walk in the evening air, for no real reason other than you look tired and stressed out and a walk may help you wind down a bit.
You finish your beer and stand up, taking my hand as we leave the pub and walk down the lane to the marina, watching the birds and the boats. We walk in companionable silence for a time, each lost in our own thoughts, when I feel the last of the sun on my back and turn around to see the most beautiful sunset imaginable.
I stop and watch a hot air balloon as it drifts silently across the skyline, and your fingers pull in mine as you carry on walking, not realising that I have stopped. You turn around and I hear you sigh as you see what I can and I feel your pull on my arm slacken as you take a step back to me and I feel your arms come around my shoulders.
This is what I miss when you are away from me, the closeness.
We stand in silence and watch the balloon as it moves out of sight, then you plant a kiss on my neck so lightly it makes me shiver.
"Lets go home," you say, and with your arm around my shoulder you lead me back toward the cars and home.