A One Night Stand With Damien Smith

me, no response. His fiancée, Gina, had been away for months, working overseas. They'd grown familiar with the distance, to the random messages, the occasional

through their last conversation, her smiling f

o be temporary, but lately, it felt like a widening chasm that neither co

grabbed his coat and keys. Mayb

he night. In due time, the neon sign of a dimly lit bar appeared, position

rdered a bottle of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the glass as he lifted it to his lips. It was strong, just wha

her untouched drink. There was something about her, an air of sadness that mirrored his own distress. She seemed out o

mien grabbed his glass of whiskey and

quiet sincerity in his eyes, she nodded. He slid into the co

a bad night?"

he drink again before she spoke. " Yeah, s

ghtly in a quiet toast. " Well,

m. Damien wasn't sure why he was drawn to her, but there was a kind of vulnerability in the w

he said, break

leeting smile, one that didn't

nk, feeling the warmth of the alcohol seep into his veins.

nd soft. " Wow....And what makes you th

do that. But it could be because sometimes it's easier to talk to someone you'll never se

ncere. Something about his calm attitude, his open gaze, made her relax, just a little. "Fair point, I guess you

day?" he asked, his voi

gging further. "You could say that. Life has a

stand. It can be li

wrinkling. "Do you? You don't exactly strike me as so

he sound a little hollow.

't press, and he was grateful for that. Instead, they sat in a comfor

lied to her that he had a misunderstanding with his best friend, at first, about a betrayal and lack of communication,

t because they're meant to?" she ask

wanted to admit that maybe, just maybe, the distance between him and Gina was more than physical. "I don't

of her glass again. "Yeah. It's hard to hold on t

t, Damien felt a flicker of connection. They were two strangers, brought together by circumstance, b

ng minute. They shared stories, laughter, even a few moments of silence that didn't f

leave. There was something about Blaire that made him want to stay, to kee

couldn't. Not

here in the morning" he said rel

of sadness still lingering

oken between them, something that neither was ready to address. Damien reached out,

yes meeting his.

o leave but pau