“Do you want me to leave the drinks menu?”

“Oh yes. I’ve got another one coming.” I almost clarified myself, the statement easily meaning another person or another drink but seeing as both were likely to happen, I left the ambiguity.

I watched for her. Knew her face, though I checked the picture again, mentally changing her hair from red to blonde like she had warned me, just to be sure. A flutter and my eyes were distracted by blonde hair coming up the steps. This was not her but our eyes locked anyway, both of us wondering if we were who the other was looking for. Perhaps we had changed since all our pictures were taken. But no. A friendly hello shifted her attention.

My gin and tonic was garnished with rosemary. That was new, good. A little liquid courage Mr. Dent?

The location was familiar. One of my favourite spots in the city, though unknown to her. Selfishly, I was glad for the comfort of familiarity. Had I been wearing boots, I’d be quaking.

It was a night for it though. The scattered tables dotted with other couplings, some new, some old, romantic, platonic. The common denominator being that everyone enjoyed the company they were in. This was a place where you brought those dear to you, or where dearness was born.