Drinking Buddies

Richie & Libby

by Atonia and Layne

After leaving the hospital in Coff's, Libby drove back to the Glen feeling worn and tired. She felt better knowing Abby was okay, but now that she knew about her friend, everything else going on in life came back to haunt her.

Dan Evans had basically used her and then left her. She'd broken things off with March because--well, because what had happened with Dan had hurt so bad, she was afraid of being hurt again. And because she felt that she'd let things get out of hand in her life, getting involved with two men at once. Now, though, Libby was feeling alone and devastated. Wasn't there a happy medium?

Arriving at the Glen, she made an abrupt turn into the parking lot at Millie's. Maybe she'd have a drink. Just one drink and then she'd go home. She knew drinking wasn't the answer to her problems, but one would sure numb the pain a little right now. Crossing the parking lot, Libby entered the door of the bar.

It was about 9:15 when Richie woke up from a nap. He’d been in the Tavern earlier with Jean, but all she wanted to do was talk about Travis and he’d had enough of thinking about Travis McGee. He rolled off the bed and went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. He knew he wouldn’t be sleeping now, not for a while anyway. He decided to go back to the Tavern and have a couple of drinks, something to slide him into unconsciousness.

He was surprised to see Libby sitting at the bar alone. She was usually with March if she was in the Tavern. He took a seat beside her, “Libby, what are you doing here by yourself?” He ordered a double scotch.

Libby looked up, startled. She'd been lost in thought and hadn't even realized he'd come in. Or more like, she'd been lost in misery. "Oh, hi, Mr. Roberts. Uh- Just having a drink." She held up her margarita to show him, before taking another long drink of it.

She never saw her landlord much, despite living right above his office. She was usually gone to the Times office before he came in and he was usually gone by the time she got home. She either slid her monthly rent check under the office door, or just handed it off to Miss Peeg.

Libby finished her margarita and ordered another, ignoring her resolution to have just one.

Richie swallowed about half his scotch and grimaced as the fire hit his throat, “Well I’m trying to put myself to sleep. What’s your excuse?” He noticed the new drink being set before her and, looking at her in the face, also noticed she didn’t look very happy. But then his outlook on the world may be making everybody look unhappy. “Hey Steve, put me some water in the rest of this, yeah I know I’m a wimp.”

"Pretty much the same," Libby told him, drinking the new margarita even faster than she had the one before. Richie Roberts looked almost as miserable as she felt. Maybe it was just a bad time for everyone.

"What about you? What are you doing here alone? Where's Mrs. Roberts? Or Jean?" Libby had seen him in here having a drink with Jean before. She'd heard about Mr. Roberts' reputation around town lately. Didn't figure it was any of her business. He was a good landlord, and that's all she cared about.

“You must be the only one in The Glen who doesn’t know Toni is with Travis McGee.” He’d said it softly, still the words were hard to get out, “And as for Jean- I don’t know, she was in earlier, Travis dumped her for Toni and I really didn’t want to hear anymore about it, so I went up and took a nap.” He swallowed his watered down drink and pushed the glass back for another.

“So what’s your problem? You don’t sleep either?”

Libby remembered hearing something about Mr. McGee and Toni Roberts. She'd dismissed it as idle gossip. No wonder he looked so upset. "I'm sorry Mr. Roberts. I heard something about that. Thought it was just talk."

"Guess I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I got dumped, then went out and dumped someone else myself. Not quite the same, though. I wasn't married." Libby felt sorry for him. She reached out and laid her hand over his. "I'm so sorry. You gonna be okay?"

Richie stared at her hand on his and slowly turned it over so her palm rested on his, “Oh…yeah I’ll be okay. Just have to find my feet again and I’ll be fine. It doesn’t matter whether you’re married or not…dumped is dumped you know? It doesn’t hurt any less. Can’t imagine you getting dumped.” He reached for his new drink and took a sip. “Ha, maybe they should change the name of this place to Heartbreak Hotel.” His attempt at humor fell flat on him and he took another drink.

Libby drank the last of her second margarita. She left her hand on his, thinking he looked like a guy who could use a hand to hold about right now. She managed a half-smile at him. "Can't imagine you getting dumped either. Can't think of anything Travis McGee has that you haven't got!" She tried to cheer him up.

"Heartbreak Hotel, huh?" She started on a third drink without even thinking about it. "There must be a less depressing Elvis song. All Shook Up? It's Now Or Never?" She knew she was being silly. Talking just to be talking to someone, but it was nice not to have to think about her troubles.

Richie leaned his head against hers and sang, “Are you lonesome tonight? I just wanna be your teddy-bear.” He giggled and finished his drink pushing the glass across the bar for another. “You know what McGee has that I don’t? Cows and Toni, and I don’t need either one…I don’t know anything about either one…never did.” He took a drink, “And you know what Elvis knew about heartbreak, he couldn’t sing like he did without knowing, you know? Now…Blue Suede Shoes…I don’t know, I don’t think I’d wanna know about them.”

She was a little startled by that giggle. Somehow, it didn't sound right coming from a guy like Richie Roberts. But at least he seemed a little happier. Although that could be due as much to the scotch as anything else.

Libby looked at him and grinned, as he lifted his head from hers. "Cows? Surely she wouldn't leave you for...cows?" She pretended to think for a moment. "I sure wouldn't leave a guy like you for cows. Maybe we should be singing something country. I mean--heartbreak and cows. Can't think of anything that works for that right now." She downed the rest of her margarita and pushed her own glass back for another.

“I’m sure it was the cows Libby, yeah it sounds like a country song. My life is a country song. I bet George Jones could sing it. So you wouldn’t leave me for cows eh? You’d leave me for something though. I’ve been married twice you know. I guess I don’t know how to do it right.” He turned his drink up. “I failed marriage 101 and 102. Flunked out.”

"Nah. I wouldn't leave you." Libby knew she was drinking too much, but so was he, and she didn't want to feel left out right now. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe it was your ex-wives that flunked and not you?" She looked at him as seriously as she could, considering the drinks she'd had.

"And besides-" She went back to joking, thinking that might be better. "Take it from someone who hasn't been out of college long. When you flunk a class, it usually has something to do with the professor!" Libby smiled at him, thinking that he was probably a lot of fun to be around when he wasn't upset and drinking.

"And at least you got married." A picture of Dan Evans came into her mind. "You didn't just get used."

“I’m smart enough to know it was me that flunked, but it doesn’t matter. Maybe I didn’t have a good professor either. Used and abused Libby, we were kicked to the curb. Who the hell would use you? You’re a great girl Libby,” Richie found another drink in his hand, “Let’s go beat him up, maybe we can lick a few cows while we’re at it,” he grinned. Richie knew he was well on his way to drunk and didn’t care. He had a friend here to go with him. “So we’re getting drunk together tonight. Is that okay with you?”

Libby giggled. "That sounds like a good idea!" She clinked her glass against his and took another drink. "Let's go beat him up. While we're at it, we can go beat up your ex-wife! Maybe we shouldn't bother the cows. It's not really their fault!"

"I didn't actually come in here to get drunk, but what the heck! You gonna take me home if I pass out?"

“Hey, I know where you live,” he grinned, “yeah I’ll get you home but then you have to get me home. I’m staying here at Millie’s now, so we’ll be back and forth all night.” He took a drink, “damn cows. Let me know when you’re gonna pass out okay?” He winked.

"Deal!" Libby grinned back at him. "You can always just stay with me, you know. You do own the apartment after all."

"Just as friends, though," she added hastily. "I'm not looking for anything else right now." Briefly, she wondered if she should be insulted that the man who had the busiest reputation in town with the ladies hadn't tried to make a pass at her.

“I ain’t looking for anything else either, nothing serious, it gets all out of hand. We can stagger down the street and give old Jessup something to talk about, or you can stagger upstairs with me. I only got one bed but it’s big you know; you’d be way over there and I’d be way over here,” he leaned one way and then the other and smiled.

Libby caught him before he fell, laughing. "Uh- Maybe leaning's not such a good idea right now!"

"Old Jessup's probably going to be talking about us anyway," she told Richie, as he righted himself and took another drink. "I saw him leave just a few minutes after you sat down with me." She brightened. "Wouldn't that be funny, though? Him spreading rumors about us all over town when there's nothing going on!"

"Staggering upstairs with you sounds easier. It's uphill, but it's a much shorter walk, and something tells me neither one of us would be too good at walking right now!"

She gave him a long look. "I just hope you don't like sleeping on the same side of the bed I like sleeping on."

He put his arm around her shoulders bracing himself a little, “If I get in on the wrong side of the bed, just push me to the other side, I’m easy. Just ah, point me toward the stairs, it’s the second room on the right.” Richie had no idea what he was doing with Libby but it felt right and he didn’t care anymore. He needed somebody.

She put her arm around Richie's waist, helping steady both of them. Briefly, she wondered what sort of picture the two of them made, but then she dismissed that. It was nobody's business what they did. They were both adults and if Jessup or anyone else wanted to talk, let them!

She and Richie Roberts were being friends, that was all. Helping each other through what was a difficult time for both of them. After all, she'd been friends with guys before. Even if she hadn't ever slept in the same bed with them. Right now, what Libby knew was that she didn't want to be alone, and he was here.

In his room, she looked at that huge king-size bed. Ought to be plenty of room for two people to sleep in that without really sleeping together, she thought to herself.

Richie shrugged out of his jacket letting it hit the floor; bracing himself on Libby he kicked off his shoes and removed his belt. Still holding on to her, he fell across the bed bringing her with him and wrapped his arms around her and passed out.

So much for there being plenty of room! Carefully, Libby managed to push off her own shoes and shove them onto the floor. For a moment, she felt awkward. Was she really here sleeping in the same bed with Richie Roberts?

Then, realizing that she felt warm and safe wrapped in his arms, Libby relaxed. She drifted to sleep, hoping Richie would still want to be friends tomorrow.