[Weekly Prompt #16: Free] Original Fiction: 'Fun'

[but_can_i_be_trusted]

Title: 'Fun'
Fandom: Original Fiction
Prompt: Weekly Prompt #16: Free
Character/Pairing: Original Characters
Rating: PG (Warnings for alcohol use and very mild innuendo and language)
Summary: I didn't envy him tomorrow morning's hangover.
Authors Notes: Fic = Mine. Characters = Also Mine.

"Jerry, I'm so glad you could meet me here tonight," he mumbled. His speech was slightly slurred as he eased onto the bar stool next to mine. "Sorry it was such short notice, and everything, but there's something I just gotta get off my chest." He waved to the bartender, lifting a tumbler. "Another round each," he said, nodding toward me.

"How many of those have you had tonight," I wondered. "I'm not sure you need another round."

He sighed heavily. "Just enough to get my courage up," he muttered. Our drinks came. "Thanks," he added to the bartender, quickly throwing his back. Just as rapidly, he ordered another.

Being the clearer-headed of the pair of us, I opted for a brief sip. "So, what's this 'something' you're so bugged about, that you had to get your nerve out of a bottle," I asked him. This could only be interesting, at the very least. I couldn't wait to see where this was going.

"I slept with your wife."

At that, I damn near choked on my drink. "You slept with--"

"Jessica. Yeah." My barfly neighbor sighed again, giving me an aggrieved--and mildly cross-eyed--stare. "While you were in Newark on business. I mean, Jerry, I didn't want it to happen. Honestly, I didn't--"

"I believe you."

"--but, God, we just ran into each other one afternoon, and she offered to take me for a late lunch. And then, honest to God, I thought she'd just drop me off at my place, and that'd be it," he insisted, his hand clutching at my sleeve. "Jerry, I hate how much I enjoyed it. It was just one of those things, you know? They just...happen!"

"Sure, they do," I grinned. "Sure. They happen to lots of people."

"You're..." He gulped, unsteady in his seat as he gauged my reaction. "You're not pissed at me, Jer? Neither of us...but one thing led to another, and..."

"And things got out of hand. I get that. Listen to me," I told him, gently firm. "No hard feelings. Accidents will happen now and then. It was just the once--"

"Cross my heart, Jerry," he insisted, drawing an X over his chest. "Not happening again. I swear!"

"Okay, then. Calm down." I patted him on the shoulder, then clinked my glass against his. "Bottoms up."

"Right." He smiled, shaky but relieved. "You're tops, Jer. Never gonna happen again. Felt good to tell you that; I feel so free now..." He lifted his glass, tossing back the rest of his drink.

And then he was out like a light, falling out of his stool to sprawl alongside the bar. Looked like the poor sap couldn't hold his liquor any better than he could keep a secret. I didn't envy him tomorrow morning's hangover.

I chuckled. "That was fun," I muttered, taking my time with my own beverage.

Why was it so fun that that poor sot just confessed a one-night stand to me?

Because I'm not Jerry.