Seasons of Love

By Josh Brigham

Charlene works hard. It's necessary to make it in New York. Between school and work there is little for much else. Something little becomes something bigger though, and lasting. But can she balance it all?
Darrel is a talented bartender with a penchant for singing. He meets Charlene and falls for her. He falls hard. He wants more but it's just not the right time.
A story of timing, a story of wanting, this is the story of seasons of love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Josh Brigham
• Release date: Sep 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386756262

Book preview

Seasons of Love

Josh Brigham

Published by Josh Brigham, 2018.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

SEASONS OF LOVE

First edition. September 29, 2018.

Copyright © 2018 Josh Brigham.

Written by Josh Brigham.

Spring

The bartender, a man in his early thirties with kinky black hair, shook his shaker. The ice cubes rattled around. The bar was full but there was a lack of conversation. Women and men filled the bar in almost equal number. The majority of the former were dressed identically, although no formal dress code had been issued. Black tops, dark skinny jeans, and knee high boots wrapped around the bodies of each woman. A handful of umbrellas dangled off the arms of the women like a secondary purse.

Charlene was in a sun dress. Bright yellow sunflowers decorated the fabric that went down to her thigh and almost kissed her knee. When she turned the dress would open slightly and petal outwards. She didn’t make sudden moves though. She hugged her arm and waited as Ploy paid for the drinks.

The organizer had set up a row of bar high tables. She’d dyed her hair blonde and the roots were showing. The table that Charlene was assigned wobbled slightly. She looked next to her and Ploy gave her a sad smile. It had been her friend’s idea.

Each date was five minutes long. Enough for an introduction, maybe a few sips of a drink. It was an assembly line of potential love. The first guy she met was in his late twenties, he had a nice smile, even though he was missing one of his back teeth.

I’m going to retire early, he said.

Congratulations, Charlene said. She figured he worked for a start up that had been bought out. That happened frequently in the city. He was new money rich. The lack of a back tooth was a character quirk.

I’m going to be unemployed.

Her face fell. She took a sip of her Cosmo. The triple sec made it sweet. Orange flavors filled her mouth followed by the tartness of raspberry. She looked down at her drink. He was explaining macroeconomics to her. She hadn’t asked him about the world market.

The next man was short. He was bombastic. The type of guy who livens up the party even if there isn’t one.