A man with an average build, dressed in a tank top and shorts pushed up two heavy dumbbells, one in each hand, from his chest. He was sweating and breathing heavily, lying on a beach towel at the foot of a queen-size bed. He continued the motion up and back down until his phone rang. Exhaling hard, he set down the weights on the carpet, sat up and snatched a small towel from off of the dresser. He dabbed his forehead while he glanced at his phone, then quickly answered.
"Hannah?"
"Hello Matt," said a voice on the other line.
"So, any news on the test?"
"Yeah, it's negative."
"Oh I'm sorry," he said, standing up.
"It's alright. Alex is pretty disappointed though, right?"
"Well... yes, I shouldn't have expected the first time to work, but I was hoping," Alex replied. They must have had him on speaker.
"I'm sorry Alex," Matt replied genuinely.
"It's ok," she said with a contrite tone.
"No I mean, I really am sorry. I know how much you two wanted this."
"Well we can always try again," Hannah said.
"True, true."
"Alex and I have been reading up on it some more to get the best results. I think there was too much pressure last time. We were so strict on the alcohol and weed, but the book we just finished said that it's ok in moderation as long as it helps us relax."
"That makes sense," Matt said, dabbing the back of his neck and grabbing a bottle of water from on top of his dresser.
"Could you come up next month? We can pay you again for your trouble."
"Thank you, that would be good. I've still had no luck finding a job."
"Understandable. Ok, talk to you later."
* * *
A sphere of ice floated in a rocks glass only a quarter-full of bourbon. Matt tilted the drink to his lips and quaffed the remainder in a couple gulps. He wore a white buttoned up shirt and a black sports coat. He had finished the seared salmon filet on a bed of cauliflower and felt sated, but not overly full. Across from him sat Hannah and Alexandra (Alex). They had also finished their plates, Hannah leaving the remnants of a chicken Caesar salad and Alex left nothing of her filet mignon and side of truffle macaroni and cheese.
Hannah wore a sleeveless red dress with a high neckline and high cut slit on the side at her hip. A thin gold chain necklace with a small jade spiral pendant laid across her chest and many gold earrings clung to her earlobes. She wore cat eyeliner around her small eyes and light makeup that evened out her light brown skin.
Her wife sat next to her in a cream colored pantsuit, her mousey brown hair tied up in a tight bun. Alex wore no makeup, except eyeliner and was sipping a dark cocktail with an orange peel garnish hovering on the rim of the glass.
"Do you want anything else?" Hannah asked.
"No I'm good, thank you very much," Matt said in a congenial manner.
"Our pleasure," she said.
"Let's head home then," Alex said. She drained her cocktail and raised her hand, indicating she was ready for the check. After paying they stood up and started for the door. Alex and Hannah held hands as they walked to the car.
"Thank you for dinner," Matthew said.
"Thank you for coming up," Alex replied.
"How about me? It must be nice to have a designated driver," Hannah said with a raised eyebrow.
"Thank you Hannah," he replied.
"Yes, thank you honey," Alex said, holding up her wife's hand and kissing it.
* *
When they arrived at the house, Hannah put her keys in a shallow ceramic bowl and went to the living room.
"You two want another drink?" she asked. "I'm going to vape a little before we start," she said, excitedly opening a drawer on the bottom of the liquor cabinet and removing a vaporizer which she proceeded to fill with ground weed.
"I could go for another," Alex said.
"Matt?"
"Uh I..."
"What are you having?"
"A Sazerac," Alex said.
"What's that?" he asked dubiously.
"How about you taste mine to see if you like it?"
"Sure," he agreed.
Hannah had finished prepping the vaporizer and grabbed ingredients for mixing drinks. Inside of a lowball glass, using a spoon, she muddled a sugar cube with absinthe. She added a couple dashes of bitters and finished it off with a few ounces of rye whiskey and cognac. She held out the drink and Alex indicated that Matt should take it. He grabbed the glass from Hannah and took a tentative sip.
"That's tasty," he admitted.
"That's yours then," Alex said amiably.
"No it's ok I don't-"
"It's fine, I'll make another," Hannah replied and began making a second drink.
"Thank you," he replied graciously and took another sip.
Hannah completed the cocktail and handed it to her wife.
"Thanks babe," Alex said. Hannah kissed her gently.
"So here's to you both. Let's take it easy and relax," Matt said, raising his glass. "No pressure, except for me. Tonight I plan to give you all you need to finally get knocked up," Matt smiled.
"Well said,'' Alex laughed softly and clinked her glass against his. Hannah giggled, and hit her vaporizer softly against their glasses, before taking a slow draw from it. Matt and Alex took a sip from their cocktails. Hannah expelled a thick plume of white smoke from her lips.
"Oh Matt, we forgot to tell you," Hannah began excitedly, "One of our friends works at a restaurant as a server. She's about to leave. I know you worked as a manager, but this would be at least something to hold you over. We can give her your number if that's ok?"
"Yeah sure," he said. "At this point I just need to start working again. What kind of place is it?"
"It's called the Stubborn Mule. It's a steak restaurant, right honey?" she asked.
Alex nodded in confirmation.
"Perfect," Matt replied.
Hannah took another hit from her vaporizer before asking-
"Do you have plans for Thanksgiving yet?"
"Yeah I go to my aunt's every year. The last couple years I've had to drive my mom. I usually bring candied yams, but I still need to unpack my cooking supplies. I've only half moved out of my boxes because my mom has a full kitchen already."
"You cook the yams yourself?" Alex asked.
"Yeah. I've done a lot more cooking since I lost my job."
"Wow," Alex said with surprise.
"I've always liked to cook," he explained.
"Maybe you can cook for us one of these days?" Hannah asked.
"I'd love that," he smiled.
"What is your speciality?" Alex asked.
"Well steak, but I also make a pretty good eggplant lasagna."
"Is lasagna difficult to make?"
