St. Paul Part 4

"That'll be nice if she comes out." Steve said, looking at Jimmy. But Jimmy had already removed himself from the conversation.

The office hadn't changed in their absence, and he grumbled out a good-bye to Steve to sit in his own chair, staring at the phone. He figured his wife would be having lunch right now. Probably the fettuccine, or at least that's what she used to always eat when they'd go to the little Italian diner on the Eastside. But he didn't know, he supposed Filio's wouldn't serve a meal that inexpensive. He thought about calling her, justifying it wouldn't be to interrupt her meal so much as he didn't want to bother her at work, and did want to see if she would want to catch a quick drink later on. But then he remembered she hadn't said yes to anything he'd asked her in the past couple of weeks. He thought out loud "Why start now?"

He stood from his desk, walking back towards the elevator and punching the down arrow. He emerged on the second floor, walking towards the convenience store only to find his mouth mumbling out "Pack of cigarettes."

"What type?"

"Does it matter?" He looked down, looked at his fingers on the counter. "Better make them lights, though."

The employee muttered something and handed over the cigarettes. He paid then rapped the top end of the pack into the palm of his hand, waiting for change. He asked "Do you have matches?"

"Just lighters."

He handed over more money and walked down the stairs into the outdoors. The cars were stuck in a jam all the way from the end of the street down to where the capitol stood. The creepy lady from payroll stood behind him, taking long drags and hacking good, phlegmy coughs.

A cigarette popped out of the pack and he looked it over, searching it for imperfections. He placed it in his mouth but let it hang there. His hands moved into his pants pocket, removing the cell phone in hope before replacing it.

Hands cupped around the end of the cigarette, even though it was a windless day, and he inhaled. The smoke streamed into his mouth, down his throat like he was meeting a friend who had been gone too long. A slight hint of nausea came back to him from four years ago, but he repressed it. He took another drag and sat down to watch the world roll by.