Later...

Cat sat in her usual spot in the bar, her fingers tracing the edge of a glass of cranberry juice as her eyes gazed habitually over the people in the room. It was the usual crowd, a mix of local regulars and several foreign sailors just staying in town for the night. It wasn’t even unusual for Cat to be drinking juice. Nothing had changed and yet the world seemed a little upside down.

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A man known as Baz, slid into the seat opposite her. His seat. Her old friend and lover. He smiled at her. “You’re back.”

Cat smiled a half smile, as if she was happy but didn’t quite have the energy. “Never really left.”

“Come back to mine tonight?”

Her gaze traced his strong shoulders, ran along his neck. She imagined kissing it. Her eyes tilted up, focused on his square jaw brunette hair unshaven and oh so touchable. Drawn down to his lips, she forced her gaze upward to meet his soft brown eyes.

“Sure,” she replied.