Last orders were being called, soon we would have to leave the warmth of the Fish and Mullet. Outside it was sleeting down, I didn't fancy the long walk up Clovers Hill, oh how I wished the walk home was down instead of up. Janet was lucky she only lived around the corner, so for me it was a lonely trudge home.
"Are we going then?" I asked Janet.
"Yes I suppose we better brave the elements," she replied with a sigh.
As we exited the pub the chill wind and hard rain beat against our faces almost taking our breath away and with chattering teeth we bid each other farewell.
I tucked my collar up tight to my face and began walking home, each step was an effort as I walked slowly into the wind as it tried its best to force me backwards.
As I turned the first corner with the hill laid out before me I could see two guys up ahead standing on the doorstep to John's flat. I easily remembered their names because it was unusual to have two friends with the same name, even though the other guy was the same name it was spelt different, J O N as he liked to point out.
I didn't know them that well but we had chatted a couple of times before in the pub, they seemed to be quite friendly guys.
As I got closer to them Jon recognized me and shouted a greeting. I waved back thinking how nice it would be if I lived this close.
I was almost adjacent to his front gate when Jon called to me again, this time he joked that I should tie a large rubber band to myself and connect it to my front door so that I could spring back home. It wasn't in the least bit funny but I couldn't help giggling, I suppose the drink and the ludicrousness of his proposal just tickled me.
I stopped to talk to them even though the coldness was bringing me out in goosebumps. We chatted for a while but the cold was really getting to me so I was slowly easing my way forward. John must have noticed me shivering, he always came across as the kinder of the two.
"Would you like to come in for a coffee or something," he asked ever so politely.
I thought to myself why is it that no one ever says tea, it's always coffee yet we are allegedly a nation of tea drinkers, just another Americanism I suppose.
I thought of declining his offer but then thought better of it, it was early, well at least for a Saturday night, I had nothing to rush home for except my little pussy, cat that is.
"Yes I would like a drink, but something a little stronger than coffee if you have it," I replied with some relief in my voice.
John opened the front door and beckoned me to enter before him, always the gentleman I thought. His flat was up two flights of stairs and by the time I had reached the top I felt a lot warmer, it was either the central heating or the exercise, I didn't mind which, it just felt better.
"What would you like to drink then," enquired John, with the look of a man who could have fulfilled any request.
"Do you have any wine?"
John nodded back a yes.
"White then please," I replied.
He returned from the kitchen with a glass of wine for me and drinks for himself and Jon. Now when I say a glass of wine I under exaggerate, it was a half-full pint glass.
"I never expected this much, you're not trying to get me drunk, or should I say drunker?" I asked.
"No as if I would, it's just I don't have any small glasses, they accidentally got broken when my ex threw them at me a couple of months ago, just after I asked her to leave. Before you ask she felt that I spent more time with Jon than with her so she gave me a choice, her or Jon, it was no contest."
An innocent smile crossed his face as he finished speaking, his gorgeous blue eyes shining like a torch in the wilderness.
Pull yourself together, don't get carried away, these guys come as a pair I thought to myself. Then the thought of what had crossed my mind brought a frown to my face, I didn't mean it that way, well I don't think so, no definitely no. I wiped the thoughts well out of my head.
"You looked worried," said Jon with a look of concern. "Your safe with us we aren't going to seduce you or anything."
"I wasn't worried, just felt someone walk over my grave," I replied defensively.
We spoke for ages about everything and nothing, I'm sure my glass was even refilled somewhere along the way, but I couldn't remember.
"Would you like a game of something?" said John ,as a short length of silence filled the room.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Trivial pursuit, dominoes, snakes and ladders andβ¦. andβ¦β¦"
"And what?" I interjected.
"Strip poker," said Jon but with a hint of hesitancy in his voice.
I smiled to myself, guys certainly have their brains below the belt.
"I should have known, you're just as bad as any other guys, sex, sex, sex. That's all you ever think of."
"I never mentioned sex, did I mention sex, no. Just a friendly game of strip poker, one game that's all, no harm in that. Did I mention sex? John did I mention sex?"
John nodded his head, "he never mentioned sex," confirmed John.
"You may not of mentioned sex, but if I had agreed, once naked you would want sex, am I right."
"No," replied John.