Where There's a Will...

by M. B. Feeney

  It was an hour before closing when Will came back to the pub. I was glad it was dead, giving me an excuse to send Casey home early. When I hadn’t responded to Gwen’s teasing me about Will staying behind after the rest of the band, and Mary had gone home, she’d left, grumbling about my being a spoilsport. There was no one to witness us sitting at the end of the bar, sitting closely, apart from a couple of late night workers from the call centre around the corner.

  “How’s the video coming along?” I asked as I sipped my coffee. Will absently stroked the inside of my arm with his fingertips.

  “It’s looking great. I’m about halfway there with it, I think. It’s a bit frustrating having to work around Reece’s college schedule. Why he went back to school is beyond me.”

  I laughed as he grumbled about his limited access to the editing equipment, enjoying the contact between us.

  “It’s not like you’re massively busy right now. I’m sure you can manage to squeeze in some time over at Reece’s in between all the spare time you have. I’d kill for a bit of free time right now, but sadly, it’s not possible.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because this is my job. I’m the only one accountable for everything running smoothly. I only have Casey, so when she’s busting a gut behind the bar, I’m behind the scenes dealing with everything else. I moan, but I love my job. I honestly wouldn’t do anything else.”

  It was a speech I’d given in various forms over the past twelve months. I’d never planned on running a pub, and kind of fell into it after having a bar job while I was at uni, but now I was here, I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

  “I love your passion for it. Don’t you ever miss having more of a social life away from work? I mean, you work down here all hours, then you go upstairs. You don’t even leave the building unless you’re going to the post office or if someone forces you to take a few hours off.”

  “When I was first offered the management training, I refused. I was adamant that I was going to get my degree, move to the US, and work in museums. I finally caved because the brewery offered me a decent pay rise. It didn’t take long for me to complete the course, and as soon as I did, I was offered this place. It was always going to be a temporary thing, but I love it here. Yes, it would be great to be able to leave work and leave it all behind me for a few hours, but I don’t miss it. This job is extremely social, and I’m constantly meeting new people. When I do have time off, the brewery get another manager to cover, but they never stay upstairs, Casey does that, so that the building is never completely empty. When I’m away, be it on holiday, or just not here, I miss the place as if it were my kid.” I began to blush. “God, I sound like a pathetic jobsworth don’t I?”

  “Not at all.” He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “You love your job, not many people can say that.”

  He pulled away and looked around the lounge behind us. It was empty’ I hadn’t noticed the last of the customers leaving.

  “How long will it take you to get finished up?”

  “About half an hour. You go upstairs, I’ll be up soon.” I locked the large doors and went behind the bar to start cashing up. I handed Will my keys to the flat and made my way down to the office.

  When I’d finished with the money, I made my way back upstairs to give the lounge a quick clean, but was surprised to find the place spotless. Will had obviously taken it upon himself to do it while I’d been busy making sure the money was counted and locked away. With a smile on my face, I turned all the lights off and climbed the steep stairs to the flat.

  Ready to have a shower and a fresh cup of coffee, I walked into the flat. Soft music was playing and the lights were dimmed.

  “Will?” I called out, not sure where to go looking for him.

  “In here.” His voice came from the direction of the bathroom. I opened the door to find a full, steaming bath with candles on every available surface.

  “Oh, wow.”

  “I thought you needed a treat to help you relax. You have a bath, and I’ll make some fresh coffee for when you’re ready to get out.”

  As he walked past me to leave me alone, I took hold of his hand. He turned to look at me, a questioning look on his face.

  “Thank you. You didn’t need to do this.”

  “I know I didn’t, but I wanted to. Get in before the water goes cold. I’ll be in the kitchen. He gave me a quick kiss, and left the room, closing the door behind him.

  I lay in the hot water, relishing the heat working its way into my stiff muscles. It was such a lovely gesture, one I could get used to after a long day on my feet, but I needed to be realistic. Will would go back to the States eventually, and I’d be left alone to deal with work and the aftermath on my own once again. The thought made my eyes prick with tears, which made me feel stupid.

  We’d both always known that this… thing that was happening between us was going to be temporary. We’d known there wouldn’t be anything more than great sex and a lot of flirting, but the more time I spent with him, the harder it became to keep that in mind.

  Eventually, the water began to cool, and it was time for me to climb out. I dried myself and pulled on my thin robe that had been hanging on the back of the door for almost a year. I never wore it, but I’d forgotten to get my thicker one. With a deep breath, I opened the door and walked out into the kitchen.

  Although I’d offered Will a room in the flat, over a week he’d slowly moved into my room. It didn’t bother me at all. It was quite nice finishing work and not having to crawl into an empty bed, but for the same reason, getting up at the arse crack of dawn was harder and harder the more I got used to him being there.

  Waking up with his arm wrapped around my waist, and him spooning me was a wonderful sensation, one I hadn’t experienced for a long time, but it was a struggle to get up and ready to head down to work. I’d never been one to constantly hit snooze on my alarm, but having Will around made me want to.

  “Is it morning already?” He grumbled as I tried not to disturb him ten days after the band had flown back to the US.

  “Go back to sleep, I need to go and get ready for my delivery.” I grabbed some clothes and went to have a shower.

  As the hot water ran over me I thought about the situation Will and I had found ourselves in. It was more companionship rather than rabid shagging in every room, which came as a bit of a surprise. Not that we weren’t screwing like horny teenagers when I wasn’t too exhausted after work, it was just that we’d seemed to settle into a routine that was comfortable for both of us.

  Gwen and Casey, naturally, had found out he was staying with me after two days. Casey had come in early after being given a lift rather than travelling by bus, and had seen Will locking the door to the stairs as he left for the day. Of course, I was subjected to a barrage of questions which I refused to answer.

  “Morning Zoe.” Mike, one of my regular draymen called out as I opened the doors to the cellar.

  “Hey Mike. I’ll be in the office, give me a shout if you need me.”

  “Will do love.”

  I left them to do their jobs while I went to get the ancient computer system up and running. As I sat in the office, I thought some more about Will. When he walked into the pub that first night, I’d never expected to, almost three weeks - or was it longer? I couldn’t keep track - later, be in a weird pseudo-relationship that resembled something more long term. Even after we had sex the first time, I assumed it was going to be a short fling, and then he’d leave the country.

  Yet, here he still was, and I wasn’t bothered. I thought I would have been, as I’d been so insistent that whatever happened between us would… well, now I didn’t know what to think. He’d be going back eventually.

  Interrupting my thoughts, the phone rang.

  “The Bridge Inn, Zoe speaking.” I answered on autopilot even though it wasn’t even eight a.m.

  “Hey Zoe.” Casey sounded awful. “I don’t think I’m going to make it in for my shift
today. I’ve got my dad’s man flu.”

  “Get into bed and rest up. Drop me a message later about tomorrow.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No need to be. I’m sure I can get someone to cover. Go back to bed and drink plenty of orange juice.” I ended the call and dialled the number for the pub around the corner, hoping they’d be able to spare a member of staff.

  They couldn’t. I paced the kitchen after the draymen had finished with my delivery, swearing and trying to work out what to do. I’d sent Gwen a text, but she couldn’t get out of work to come and give me a hand for a couple of hours.

  “Shit, fuck, bollocks, wanker.” I muttered as made my way upstairs, ready to write up a ‘no food today’ sign on the bar. Because I wasn’t paying attention, I walked smack bang into Will as he was walking down to meet me as he had done most mornings.

  “Fuck, are you okay?” He asked after I got slammed into the side of the bar.

  “Yeah, just a bit pissed off.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. It was an accident.” He waved his phone at me to indicate he’d been as distracted as I had.

  “No, not at that. Casey’s sick, and I can’t get cover for her. I’m going to have to close the kitchen.”

  “I’m free.”

  “What?” I looked up at him, completely confused.

  “That’s why I wasn’t looking where I was going. Reece just messaged me to say I can’t go over there today because he has a full day of classes. I’m free to help out.”

  “Er… can you pour a pint?”

  “No idea, but I can cook pretty good.”

  Without hesitation, I grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him down to the kitchen. I gave him a whistle-stop tour of where everything was and the recipe poster on the wall. Before I went up to open the doors to the pub, I pulled him in for a deep and heated kiss.

  “I owe you big there Harvey.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll cash in.”

  Lunch, typically, was manic, but Will managed to keep up. When it was over, he came up to the lounge looking absolutely shattered.

  “How the hell do you do that every day?” He asked after taking a long drink of the pint I put in front of him.

  “Practice. Lots and lots of practice.”

  “No wonder you’re always exhausted after work, the shitty early mornings not included. You still manage to look amazing though.”

  I didn’t know how to respond, so I just laughed as I moved around the pub making sure the tables were clean and all the glasses were washed. The feeling of Will’s eyes on me the entire time wasn’t uncomfortable, but I felt as if I were on stage at Britain’s Got Talent or something similar.

  “Why are you watching me?” I asked as I wrote a list of bottles I needed from the cellar.

  “I’m merely admiring the view. Also, I’m trying to work out how I want my favour repaid.”

  “Of course you are. Well, it’ll have to wait until I’m not busy.”

  “But, there’s no one here.” He looked around to emphasise the fact. The pub was indeed empty.

  “Will, there’s no way I’m getting naked in an open pub in the middle of the day. Anyone could walk in, again, and that includes people from the brewery, you know. The people who pay my salary.”

  “You’re a party pooper. Just know, I’m making sure I get my way eventually.”

  “Carry on being a cocky git, and you’ll be sleeping in your own bed tonight.”

  “In that case, I’ll be on my best behaviour. How about you teach me to pour a pint, so I can help out some more.”

  “Get your arse round this side of the bar then, and prepare for a masterclass.”

  “You love my ass.” He wasn’t wrong, I did, but naturally I didn’t say a word.

  Ten minutes later, he had made a complete mess, and still couldn’t get to grips with tipping the glass slightly so as not to fill it with froth.

  “The head’s too big, try topping it up a little.”

  “You didn’t complain about my head being too big the other night.” He muttered, getting frustrated with himself.

  Laughing, I moved behind him, my arms either side of his body, and took the glass into my hands.

  “You don’t need to be so delicate. Just tip the glass, let some of the froth run over until it’s perfect. Like this.” I placed the full glass onto the bar in front of us. “Try again.”

  Before I could step back, Will turned to face me and kissed me. What started out as soft and slow soon descended into hard and passionate and I was soon leaning back against the fridges, his erection pressing into my leg.

  “Oh, get a bloody room you two. Wait, you already have.” Gwen’s voice filled the empty pub.

  “What is it with people walking in on us?” Will adjusted himself before going back to the pump, and trying to pour another pint. I merely raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘I told you so’.

  “I really don’t want to know what prompted that question.” Gwen dropped her bag onto the bar and joined us behind it, as I realised I hadn’t told her about Preston catching Will and I screwing on the bar. “Anyway, the cavalry has arrived.”

  “Oh, you star!” I pulled her into a tight hug. “I can go and get the office stuff done. You can train him up. He’s a bit rubbish, but he’s trying.”

  “Yeah, very.” Gwen joked, sticking her tongue out at Will as he pulled a damn near perfect pint, threw his hands up in celebration, and poured the lager over his head.”

  “Don’t. Say. A. Word.” He put the glass on the bar and muttered about going for a cold shower.

  Gwen and I watched him go, laughing loudly. As he reached the door, he turned and flipped us his middle finger. It only made us worse.

  Sam phoned me out of the blue as I was walking to the post office to do the banking after Will had soaked himself in lager.

  “Isn’t it the middle of the night there?” I asked as I answered.

  “Yeah, we’ve been in the studio and I can’t sleep.” He sounded exhausted which made me miss him even more.

  “You need to sleep. Are you eating properly?”

  What was going on with me? I was starting to sound like his mother, and he was only a year or so younger than me.

  “Yes mom. Jeez, when did you get so bossy?”

  “I’m always bossy. I am a pub landlady, remember.”

  “Well, I doubt Will’s complaining.” He laughed down the phone. Fucker.

  “And what would you know about that?”

  “I spoke to Reece yesterday, he told me Will had moved in with you.”

  “He hasn’t moved in, he’s just staying with me because Reece is loved up, and Will feels like he’s intruding.”

  “That makes sense. The apartment is like a damn box, and they’re all in each other’s pockets. But, from what I hear, it’s not just a room you’ve offered.”

  “Excuse me Sam Hollis. What are you implying?”

  “Nothing at all. I’m just going by what Will hasn’t been telling me when we speak.”

  Thanks Christ. I had visions of the two of them chatting away, Will telling Sam everything that was happening in the UK. Sam was intelligent enough to know when he wasn’t being told the whole truth though.

  “There’s obviously nothing to tell. Have you spoken to Preston recently?” I changed the subject in the hopes that speaking about his best friend would make him forget about me and Will.

  “I know what you’re doing there, but yes I have. We’ve been in contact a lot actually, it’s great. He and Melanie are really trying to make a real go of things.”

  “That’s amazing news. Tell him I’m pleased when you next speak to him.

  I pushed the door to the post office open and stood in the queue.

  “Yeah, I will. Look, I’ve got to go. I’m crashing hard, but I’ll call again, okay?”

  “You can call me anytime Sam. I miss your stupid face.”

  “Of course you do; I’m awesome.”

  Laughing, I ended the
call and carried on waiting.

  When I got back to the pub after my trip to the post office, stopping off at my favourite bakery for a sneaky doughnut on the way back, I found Will and Gwen behind the bar, looking as if they both belonged there. Both were chatting with the handful of punters that were in the lounge, laughing and joking.

  From my vantage point, unseen by the door, I watched them. Well, mostly I watched Will. Whenever he did something that didn’t involve flirting with me, he made it look effortless. He moved with ease, regardless of where he was. Even when he took me to see Hamilton, he moved through the theatre with the authority of someone who belonged. It didn’t seem to matter where that was.

  “Hey you.” Gwen spotted me. She noticed I was watching Will, grinned, and then summoned me over.

  “You need to keep him; the punters love him.” She spoke loudly, causing Will and the two older men still sat at the bar waiting for their drink to laugh. “Seriously, he’s been ripping into them something major, and they don’t give a shit.”

  “So, you’ve basically been teaching him the ‘Gwen brand of bar-maiding then?” I quickly sidestepped the slap that was heading for my upper arm.

  “Well, I am brilliant at this job, why shouldn’t he learn from the best? I didn’t let him kiss me though, I’ll leave that part of the job to you.”

  Groaning, I went to put everything away in the office before getting ready to scrub the kitchen. It had looked like a complete bombsite when I’d left, which had caused me almost physical pain; Gwen followed me and found me staring at the spotless room.

  “Oh yeah, he came down while you were out and cleaned up his mess. Seriously, you need to keep him.”

  We went to sit in my office, and for the first time ever, Gwen closed the door; it meant she was deadly serious and a lecture was heading my way.

  “I can’t ‘keep’ him. He doesn’t belong to me, and he’ll be going back to the States soon.”

  “Semantics. Look, I know you wanted this to be ultra-casual, but it’s obviously not. The guy is living with you for Christ sake.”