Forever and Always (Sequel to Nothing More, Nothing Less)

Chapter 52

            “I don’t know Lou,” I said loudly over the loud music in the bar. I turned my beer bottle in my hands and looked at the bar counter, “It’s just killing me not being able to kiss my wife.”

            “But I’ve seen you kiss Maya,” Louis tilted his head at me and took another sip of his beer.

            “Yeah, but those were just little pecks. I mean like really kiss her. She won’t let me.”

            He raised his eyebrows, “She won’t let you?”

            “No, Lou have you seen her? Maya’s a wreck…”

            “Well Maddie is the same way too,” he looked down at his hands, “I miss her…”

            I bit my lip, “I miss Maya too…” I really did. I didn’t like how she barely said more than five words to me. I wanted everything to go back to normal, but I wasn’t sure how long that was going to take.

            “When do you think they’ll get better?” Louis asked out loud.

            I shrugged, “Hell I don’t know! It could be months for all I know…”

            Louis’s face dropped, “I hope not…”

            I took another gulp of my drink and set it back down in front of me. We were quiet for a little bit. I looked up at my best friend, his blue eyes piercing into mine. “Louis, it’s been so long.”

            “What do you mean, ‘so long’?”

            I sucked in a breath of air, “Maya and I haven’t,” I brought my voice down, “We haven’t had sex in an entire week. You don’t know how hard that is for me.”

            I saw a smile spread across Louis’s face, but I kept my head down. “I understand,” he answered, “I mean you and Maya…” he nodded and sealed his lips into a thin line.

            I looked up at him and put my hand on his left forearm, “Louis, this is serious.”

            “No Harry, I understand, it’s the same with me and Maddie.”

            I tilted my head at him, “Well how often do you two have sex?”

            He shrugged, “Once or twice a week usually… depending on the night.”

            I nodded and turned my bottle on the counter in front of me. I wanted to be with Maya right now. Why did I suggest this girls night tonight? All I wanted to do was lie down on the couch with my wife and maybe fall asleep with her in my arms.

            “Why, how often is it for you and Maya?” Louis pressed.

            I shrugged, “Pretty often…”

            “As in every night?”

            I shrugged again, “Yeah, sorta…”

            I had a feeling Louis wasn’t surprised by this, “I’m sorry mate, I’m sure she’ll come to you when she’s ready. It’ll be one of these days…”

            I inhaled the stale air around me and crinkled my nose. Out of all the bars in town, we had to come to this one. My evening was not going as well as I’d hoped.