"How much is left on the truck!?" I hollered down to the backroom manager.
"Just three or four rows left, we will finish tomorrow. Once the line is clear we will call it a night."
I looked at a few coworkers near my station. We had been here for ten hours. We should've been done hours ago, but the truck was five hours late again. That shouldn't be a surprise, the truck with our merchandise always had an excuse for not being there on time, this was truck five in a row. After a moment of thinking whether I wanted to go home to my husband and kids, or unwind first, I spoke to a few, "How about we go get drinks afterwards?"
Everyone agreed. We finished the boxes, and went to the bar a few miles away. We all ordered, and took a spot in the back. Not long after, Sue said her son was on his way.
When he walked in, my heart stopped a moment. His dark hair, tinted with a couple gray strands, was a sexy mess, and his green eyes twinkled. His mom introduced him, and made sure we all knew he was a firefighter, and how proud she was of him. After she introduced him, she pointed me out and told him I had been a firefighter in Ohio.
Josh sat across from me at the end of the table, and started talking about the state exam in New York for firefighters, and offered help studying. I informed him that sadly, I had a career ending injury a few years back, and was not going to go back in the field. We continued talking, eventually he started flirting.
When I realized he was flirting, I thought of my husband at home, but thought innocent flirting wasn't going to hurt anyone,. Besides, Josh had to have seen my ring, I mean it's hard to miss. I flirted back a little. After a few minutes of flirting, Josh pulled me onto the dance floor.
We danced to a real slow, sweet song the band played. About a minute in he leaned in for a kiss. I couldn't resist the soft lips, and for a moment had forgotten about my family at home. Josh whispered into my ear, "I live a block away, do you want to come over."
"Josh," I sighed, thinking of what to say, worried I may have led him on, "I'm married, I have kids, I should've said something before now. I'm sorry." I waited, thinking he was going to be upset at me.
Josh bit his lip before speaking, "I know, I at least figured you were married from the ring. I shouldn't have asked, I'm sorry. I didn't know if you were exclusive to him, since open marriages are becoming so much more popular, especially here in the city."
"I mean, we have discussed it, but haven't decided one way or another. I am not opposed to the idea."
"Ok, let's go."
We walked in the crisp cool air. We entered the apartment on the west side of town about half past ten. He took my sweatshirt and hung it on the chair. "Want a drink?"
"Sure." Josh handed me the beer. "Nice place."
"I like it, gives me a place to relax since I spend so much time at home."
"Gotta love the twenty-four on, forty-eight off shifts."
"It has its benefits, along with downfalls. What kinda injury did you suffer?"
"Hydrant cap blew from pressure, my leg was in its path. It dislocated my knee and broke my leg. I'm finding most fire departments don't take people who have metal rods in the leg."
"Ouch. That sounds painful."
"It was, but that's in the past. Let's focus on the present."
Josh put his beer down, wrapping his arms around me he said, "Any idea on how to focus on the present?"
He leaned in for a kiss, I pushed him into a chair, and knelt over his lap. I tilted his head up and said, "I think spending quality time with you is a good start," and leaned in to kiss him.
I rubbed his neck as I kissed him. I grabbed my shirt, and threw it on the floor. He leaned further back into the seat, and I leaned even further into him.
My chest was placed firmly against his.