“Come on, come on! Let’s go. We need to head for the pub. “ Veronica said, leaning over to tell me. She did her best to motion over at John to indicate that we were leavin’ but honestly, we had no idea if he saw. I nudged Chrissie in the arm to let her know that we were leavin’. The three of us began to wade through the crowd to get toward the front door. I kept my hand in the middle of Chrissie’s back and kept her in front of me, leading her through an appropriate path. Veronica was behind me as we made our trail. Chrissie opened the door, the cool October night hitting us in a rush.

 “Shit! It’s cold out here tonight.” I commented, rubbing my shoulders after stepping outside in front of the bar.

 “Whoa…when did Autumn get here?” Veronica asked coming outside behind me.

 “I know! Can you believe this!?” I was still holding my shoulders. The three of us headed down the street, weaving in and out of pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks. The pub was only two blocks from the bar so it wasn’t a far.

“What did you think of the show?” I asked Chrissie.

 “It was really good. But, it’s hard to concentrate on anything.” she said. That was a familiar soundin’ response to me because it’s exactly what my reaction was at one point.

 “Good. You’re gonna’ have a terrible time playin’ pool when Brian’s standin’ right beside you.” I winked at her.

 “LYDIA!” Chrissie sighed. “I may as well just surrender to you now. You’re gonna’ keep this up all night.”

 “Relax! Once I have my game and my Roger I will leave you alone. You know I love you.” I told her.

 “That’s one of the sweetest things, Lydia!” Veronica said. “You’re such a nice friend.” We looked into oncoming traffic as we poured into a crosswalk along with the crowd. The city was active tonight. We had another block to go.

 “What happened to all that talk of how nervous you were gonna’ be and how you’d have nothing at all to talk to Brian about?” I antagonized Chrissie.

 “We’ve got so many things to talk about! I don’t know where to start!” she said seriously. Veronica and I laughed at her. We…well, wait…I…. picked up our pace a little as we walked through the sidewalk in the next block.

 “Lydia, you can slow down. We don’t have to run there.” Veronica taunted me for walkin’ so quickly.

 “We’ve already missed the kick-off! If we get there by nine we won’t miss the first half.” I told her, referring to the Manchester and Leeds game. Chrissie laughed at me.

 “She’s been like this for as long as I’ve known her.” She told Veronica.

 “It’s so funny! I just don’t think sports when I think of Lydia.” She shared with Chrissie. She spent the next few minutes talking to Chrissie as we approached the pub on the left.  I opened the door and immediately eyes shot our direction. I stood there a moment, fixin’ my hair from the air rushin’ through the door. Chrissie and Veronica were behind me. There weren’t many other girls in here tonight. A host walked up to us quickly.

 “Hello Ladies! Welcome to McNally’s. Three of you?” he asked us.

 “Actually, we need a table for seven.” I said. “And tell me…what will it take to get a table close to the telly?” The host looked around.

 “Hmm…well, I’m not sure I can do that. I’m not supposed to double seat in sections.” The hose told me.

 “Dane, is it?” I asked examinin’ his name tag. “Listen, Dane…” I was digging through my purse. “…will this get us a table near the game and a pool table reserved for  just us?” it tickled Veronica that I actually went through with bribing a restaurant host with money. Chrissie’s eyes grew wide.

 “I…I uh….think I can work that out for you, Miss..??” he questioned the last part.

 “Lydia.” I answered him.

 “Wait here Miss Lydia…let me get that worked out for you.”  He said.

 “Thank you, Dane.” I was tryin’ to look over him at one of the tellies but I couldn’t hear a word of what was goin’ on.

 “That was amazin’ what you just did.” Chrissie whispered to me. “Lydia, there are lots of guys in here starin’ at you right now.”

 “Okay…and?” I asked her.

 “Doesn’t that make you uncomfortable?” she wondered.

 “I didn’t even know it was happenin’ until you told me.” I told her. The host was returning to where we were standin’.

 “Right this way Miss Lydia. Is it okay if you’re near the bar?” he asked.

 “It’s always okay to be near the bar.” I winked at him. He actually blushed a little.

 “Thank you so much, Dane. This is perfect.” I told him.

 “Your waiter will be with you shortly. I’ll put your name on a pool table.” He told us.

 “Oh! Leeds has the ball…damn it.” I looked up at the telly.

 “God, I can’t wait for Roger’s reaction to this.” I heard Veronica say.

 “Chrissie, I may be watchin’ this game but you sure as hell aren’t gonna’ wedge yourself between me and Veronica. The seating arrangement will go, Roger, me, you, Brian on this side of the table. On that side, John, Veronica and Freddie. Got that Chrissie?” I hadn’t taken my eyes off the telly.

 “But what if…” I cut Chrissie off.

 “No. However you were gonna’ finish that sentence the answer is no. DAMN IT! BLOCK!” It was about that time our waiter came over to our table.

 “Hello ladies! You’re looking lovely on game night! Who are we rooting for?” he asked us politely.

 “Manchester! We’re rooting for Manchester.” I answered him quickly.

 “Well this is my kinda’ table then!” he answered.

 “We’re waitin’ on four more. We should also have a pool table reserved?” Veronica said.

 “Yes, I presume one of you is Lydia? He smiled all over. What are we drinkin’ tonight, ladies?” he asked.

 “Two southern comfort with iced tea and lemon, one vodka tonic, one martini, one Guinness, and one glass of Moet de Chandon….Chrissie, what would you like?” Veronica was good at rattlin’ off that drink order.

 “Uuhhh…” I knew Chrissie had no idea what to order.

 “She’ll have a sex on the beach but cut her off after one. Oh and we’ll all have water, please.” I interjected.

 “What!? Lydia! What kind of drink is that!?” Chrissie asked me. I was digging through my purse for my cigarettes again.

 “It’'s okay Chrissie, you’ll like it.” I assured her, lighting my cigarette. “Here, Veronica, hold this a minute.” I said throwing Roger’s shirt on the table.

 “Ladies, will you be ordering any food tonight.” The waiter asked us.

 “Not yet. We will later, thank you.” Veronica told him.

 “Excellent. I’ll have your drinks right out.”  I put Roger’s shirt back into my purse and worked on my cigarette.

 “Oh my god…” I felt Chrissie grab my arm and nearly squeeze it off. I practically choked on my cigarette. “…they’re here…” she squeaked to me. “Shit, I’m gettin’ all hot again!”

 “Then take ya’ jacket off.” I told her.

 “Oh, yeah…that’s…yeah let’s do that.” I glanced over as Chrissie fought her black jacket and re-adjusted her hair. She breathed out heavily. “Okay…I’m ready for this.”

“Chrissie, you are precious.” I said. Veronica turned around and waved until Freddie and Brian, who had come in first, caught sight of her. John and Roger were shortly behind them.

 “Hello lovelies!” Freddie greeted us with enthusiasm.

 “Hi Freddie. Great show tonight. This is my friend Chrissie.” I turned my attention away from the telly long enough to introduce her to Freddie.

 “Well, hello there, darling! It’s nice for you to join us tonight. Before Freddie could take a seat beside Chrissie, Brian sat down beside her much to my delight. I knew Chrissie’s heart was leapin’ into her throat right about now. John and Roger were right behind them. 

 “You want your shirt?” I asked Roger as he came around to the side of the table where I was sitting.  I dug his shirt out of my purse again.

 “Yeah, yeah I’ll take it.” He leaned over and kissed me. “Is this your friend?” he pointed at her.

 “Yes…” I poked on Chrissie to get her to turn around. Our waiter had just returned with a tray of drinks. “Chrissie, this is Roger...my boyfriend.” I smiled at her on the last part.

 “Oh…oh my…hi there…hi…it’s so nice to finally meet you...wow. Lydia’s told me all about you. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to stare...and I know I am...but…my god, you’re like a porcelain doll.” I noticed Chrissie hadn’t let go of his hand either. I laughed at her. Roger smiled all over. Veronica took the liberty to pass all these drinks around the table. “She…she did really good…” Chrissie said to Roger as she tilted her head toward me.

 “Hey! I did too! Look what I found, sittin’ beside ya’ there! I’m the lucky one!” Roger tapped her on the shoulder. “What are you drinkin’ there?” he asked Chrissie. Oh, how I couldn’t wait for her to respond.

 “Lydia says it’s sex on the beach.” She mumbled and shot daggers at me.

 “Well, Chrissie…Lydia’s never had that, so she wouldn’t know now would she?” Roger raised his eyebrows at her, which turned her face as red as a tomato. I loved her nervous and ‘oh shit, he’s charming’ reaction. “Hey, I’m gonna go change into this shirt. Here, you take my jacket. I’ll be right back. Who ordered a drink for me?” Roger asked.

 “The leadin’ lady over there.” I pointed to Veronica but I was also trying to get my attention back on this game. Hell, I had missed two plays already.

 “Aww, thank her for me.  I’ll be back.” He kissed my temple, but I had my eyes glued to the telly. I was going to wait for Roger before I took the first drink. “Oooh! What the hell! You call that a play!?” I yelled at the telly.

 “Lydia? Did you…did you just yell at this game?” John asked me.

 “Yes.” I answered him. He laughed like I had never heard him before.

 “Shit, Lydia. Do you follow this?” he asked.

 “I breathe it, John. No! No! Nooooo! Idiot! He was right there!” I threw my hand at the telly. Freddie laughed wildly with John.

 “Oh, Lydia…just when I think I know everything about you! You’re a footall hooligan! Oh, Roger’s gonna’ freak! Darling, do you have a cigarette?” Freddie asked me. He was utterly delighted.

 “I do for you, love.” I knew he would love that response. I got into my purse again while holding my own cigarette on my lips. I could hear Brian and Chrissie just talkin’ away…they had no idea what was going on around them. I handed my pack of cigarettes and my lighter over to Freddie. “Pass it! Pass it! Paaaaasssss! PASS IT DAMMIT!” I didn’t notice that Roger had come back from changin’ his shirt until I felt my purse movin’ behind me. It was only now I realized…that shirt was covered in sweat and now it was wadded up in my purse…oooh Roger…”God, that was a horrible play!”

 I could hear Brian laughin’. “Holy shit! The look on his face right now!” Brian was pointing at Roger. He was standin’ at my left, starin’ at me.

 “Lyd…did you…did you just…are you…did…” I cut him off.

 “Roger, shut up and sit down here with me! Manchester’s behind! They’re playin’ like shit right now! Whaaaaaaa!” Oh my god! YOU CALL THAT A PLAY! Yes, yes sweetheart. I love Manchester and it has been brought to my attention that you may fancy them and…” I couldn’t finish my sentence because Roger had practically thrown himself onto me. I was hopin’ that while Veronica, John and Freddie were laughin’ at me, Brian was learnin’ a thing or two from Roger’s kiss.

Freddie rolled his eyes. "I swear, you two..."