Words Left Unsaid

            “Bartender, I want a drink and I want it dirty,” the man said pounding his palm on the bar.  Logan pivoted on her toes to face him. 

            “I can make you a wonderful drink, but I don’t do dirty anymore.  Not for you.”

            The man clutched at his chest.  “You wound me.”

            “Dick, why are you here?” Logan’s voice sounded wearier than it should have.

            “Don’t tell me it’s been a long night, it’s still early.”  Charm dripped from Richard, like always.

            “Why, Dick?”

            “You must mean why do you have to call me that stupid nickname?  You know its Richard now,” his voice stern.

            “Why must you dodge all my questions?”

            “Because you’re so feisty when you’re angry.”

            “And it doesn’t take much for you to get me angry, huh?” Logan asked as flatly as she could manage.      

            “Aren’t you slacking on your bartenderess duties?  Here I am drinkless and you haven't even taken my drink order.  So snap, snap little mistress.  I want my drink. Now,” Richard slammed his fist on the bar in emphasis.

            “Really?  Are we five?”  

            “Really?  Who are you to judge the paying customer?  Drink.  Now.”

            Logan started filling a glass with ice, her jaw clenched and every muscle taut as they performed their task in brisk hatred.

            “Did I say what I wanted?”  Richard held out his hand to halt Logan's actions.

            “Dick, what would you like?”

            “Whiskey and Coke, of course,” Richard answered her. 

            “Of course.”  Logan just continued to make the same drink she started. She poured Whiskey and Coke into the glass at the same time then turned away from Richard.  She reached into her shirt and pulled out a vial that rested between her boobs.  Logan moved the diamond ring aside and poured a few drops into the glass.  She turned around and finished pouring the drink for Richard.  “Here you are.”

            “I saw my ring.”

            “I’m sure you did.”

            “Give it back.” Richard ordered as he held his hand out ready to receive the ring.

            “Now why would I do that?”

            “Because you have no use for it now.”  Richard paused.  “I am not marrying you.”

            “Of course not.  I caught you.”

            “I wasn’t exactly hiding.  The ring, you know it was my grandmother’s.  That was important to you once.”

            “A lot of things were important to me once—you, your ring, your family, our friends, our life together.  Do I need to continue?”  Logan paused and patted the hand Richard was resting on the bar.  “I didn’t think so.”

            “If it’s not important to you then give it back.”

            “You always were a broken record.  I’m not giving it back and it’s not going to kill Rebecca Michael if she doesn’t have it.  In fact, I’m sure she’d actually be more thrilled with a little blue box.”

            “It’s not like that.”

            “I’m sure it’s not.”

            “I’m not marrying her either.”

            “Why not?  Did she loose her sparkle once you didn’t have to sneak around behind my back?”

            “I never said that.”

            “You never say a lot of things.  Doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”

            Richard shrugged as he took a long sip of his drink.

            “Let me guess, she isn’t as classy as your parents would like.”

            Richard shrugged again, the glass still up to his lips.  “As if I’m going to tell you anything.  You should know self-incrimination has never been my forte.”  He raised the glass in a slight toast and then took another long sip.

            “Because I’m going to tell the girl who tried to steal my life.”  Logan placed her hand on her hips.

            “That’s not exactly fair.”

            “And I’m the only one that has to be fair.  Where was your sense of fairness during our whole relationship?”

            “Calm down, Miss Drama Queen.  All I’m trying to say is you aren’t exactly the easiest person to have as a friend.  Case in point right now, why wouldn’t you just give the ring up and everyone would be happy?”

            “Who would be happy?  I wouldn’t, Rebecca Michael wouldn’t, you certainly wouldn’t be happy.  Dick, just let it be.  Buy her a new ring and say it was your grandmother’s.”

            “That would be a lie.”

            “It wouldn’t be the first.  Your whole life is a lie.”

            “Why is this ring so damn important?”

            “It's my reminder, my payment, and my reward.”

            “What?”

            “Ask your father.”  Logan turned around, paused to collect herself and walked away.

            “Logan,” she heard Richard say a little louder than his normal voice.  She ignored him as she continued to walk around the bar to a table occupied with a causally dressed couple.  Logan took a deep breath in through her nose.

            “Good afternoon, my name is Logan.  Is there anything I can get you?” she through as big of a smile as she could manage.

            “Do you have any happy hour specials?” the guy asked.

            “We do, they are all on this page.” Logan fumbled with the guy’s menu to flip it to the correct page.  “Just take a look and let me know once you’re ready to order.”

            “We will thanks,” the girl put her hand over the guy’s and glaring slightly at Logan.

            Logan forced another smile aimed at the girl.  “Great.” She walked back behind the bar.

            “Another case in point.” Richard chuckled.

            “Dick, just finish your drink and leave.” Logan started cleaning glasses.

            “You walk away too much.”

            “I’m sorry?”

            “You walk away too much.  It’s why we didn’t work out.  That drives me crazy.”

            “You’re right.  I’m sorry.  How foolish of me to walk away when it was clear you want my best friend and not me.”

            “I never said that.”

            “Ugh!” Logan yelled in frustration.  “Again with that phrase!  You mean a lot of things you are too much of a coward to say.  You might as well say all those things you imply but never say.  Maybe then you can finally have a relationship that works.  Goodbye, Dick.”  Logan threw her rag down and walked towards the door.

            “I still want my ring back!” Richard yelled after her.  Logan’s only response was a taunting wave goodbye.