Neil
Lol, if I had a penny for every time you IB’d me that at work...
Kim
Hey! I go to you because you’re the only guy I trust, ok?
Kim
And it’s BAD this time.
Kim
I was processing a contract for a $100,000 deal for Apple stock…
Kim
And I added two extra zeros.
Neil
You processed a $100,000 deal for $10,000,000???
Kim
I guess the key stuck?
Neil
Here’s what you’re gonna do.
Neil
Come clean to the broker.
Neil
Maybe he can save or amend the deal.
Neil
Then come to McKellan’s for a tequila shot.
Kim
God, that’s exactly what I need right now.
Kim
You ALWAYS make me feel better.
Kim
Why didn’t things work out when we dated?
Neil
Because you didn’t think I was good enough for you 😉
Kim
Oh, Neil, you know it wasn’t that.
Kim
It just wasn’t right.
Kim
It felt like I needed something more…
Kim
Didn’t you need something more?
Neil
You made me happy, Kim.
Neil
But I’m not gonna force you into something you don’t want.
Neil
Seriously, it’s fine.
Neil
I want to be with someone who wants to be with me.
Neil
And we still get to be friends, right?
Neil
Good. Because I like helping you with your emergencies.
Kim
Shit, I better go reach out to the broker.
Neil
I don’t have to - you got this.
Kim
Let’s plan on drinks around five?
Kim
Imma have to GTFO as soon as I can.
Neil
Just have to finish up two things…
Kim
Ugh, you work too hard.
Neil
That’s because it doesn’t feel like work to me.
Kim
Well I brought my sketch pad, so…
Kim
I’m gonna go creep on some people in the bar and draw.
Neil
Nice - don’t start on the hard stuff without me.
Kim
No promises about the wine list though.
Kim
You said you’re paying for all of this?
Neil
A man could go broke supporting your Merlot habit.
Neil
But of course I’ve got you.
40 minutes later, a disheveled Neil Morris walks into the pub.
His tie is loose around his neck and his hair is mussed in a sexy bedroom style.
When he gets close to her seat at the bar,
Kim can’t help but run her fingers through it.
Neil
What? I didn’t get a haircut.
Kim
No, it’s all messy. You know I like it like that.
Neil
Oh, I didn’t even think of that, to be honest.
Neil
I guess I was pulling at it while I was figuring out my deal.
Kim
Damn straight - you always do.
Kim lifts her glass in salute, wobbling slightly.
Neil reaches out his hand and holds her steady.
Neil
So were you waiting here a long time?
Kim
It didn’t feel like it, because I was drawing.
Kim
I sketched four people - wanna see?
Neil
Hell yeah. I love your stuff.
Kim
Thanks. I was pretty into this guy.
Neil
Kim, I know we’re friends, but I still don’t want to hear that.
Kim
Relax. Him - with the wispy white beard that goes into his lap.
Kim
He was so fun to sketch.
Neil
Whoa, that dude is gnarly!
Kim
Haha, you definitely can’t pull off “gnarly.”
Neil
I can too - I’m from California, remember?
Neil
I can also pull off “hella.”
Neil
As in, you look hella beautiful.
Kim
Oh god, my eyes just rolled so hard they hurt.
Kim
Anyway, take your tequila shot. I already ordered them so they’d be waiting for you.
Neil
Damn woman, you take care of me.
Kim
To us taking care of each other today.
Neil
To us taking care of each other. Period.
Kim eyes Neil over the shot glass, but decides to let the toast stand.
He isn’t wrong. He saved her.
Plus, it’s Neil - she trusts him implicitly.
Neil
It’s Tuesday night—we probably should go easy on the shots.
Neil
Let’s go back to wine. I’ll treat you to a bottle of La Mondotte…
Kim
God, I just need to relax after today.
Neil
Okay, then give me your hand.
Kim places her hand in Neil’s palm,
Feeling the zing of electricity when their skin comes into contact.
Softly but firmly, with the pad of his thumb,
Neil begins to work small circles into Kim’s muscles.
Kim
Oh my god, that feels amazing.
Neil
If you keep making those sounds…
Neil
And as much as I want to be your friend, Kim - you’re making sex noises.
Kim
Well, that hand massage basically feels like sex.
Kim
You don’t know how cramped my muscles were from sketching.
Neil
They always get cramped after you sketch.
Neil
You told me that once.
Neil
I remember everything you tell me.
Kim searches Neil’s blue eyes for a long moment.
When the silence becomes palpable,
Kim
Let’s order that bottle of wine after all.
12 hours later, Kim wakes up in a strange room…
Or maybe, the strangest thing about it…
Is how familiar it feels.
Within seconds, she hears a voice in her ear -
A voice she’d know anywhere.
Neil
What the HELL did we do last night?!
