I sympathize, Lyuba, "said Mishka, patting me on the shoulder. - Do not worry, someone is always extreme. - I do not understand something, Mish ... - What are you talking about? An additional shift was written to me again, or what? - So you still do not know that you will work for the New Year?
"Bl-i-in!" - Has exhaled and left from behind the counter in a back room that nobody has noticed, how strongly I was upset. Actually noisy parties I do not like and do not hide it. It's much better to wrap yourself in a blanket and listen to good music. It's no wonder that it was me who was thrown off this shift ...
- Why should you worry? - Zhenya has thrown. - The night will surely be noiseless. Orders for corporate parties were not and will not be, so that you can easily watch TV. "Well, yes," I thought, even more frustrated with her consolations. "A lonely New Year in an empty cafe ... Is there anything better?"
"You did not have any plans anyway."
- What's the difference?! Me, ask, at least, it was possible? Zhenya looked at me with such a look on her face, as if she wanted to say: "Ask, do not ask ... Everything is so clear, it is enough to look at you." You might think, in what happened, I was to blame! After the divorce, I lost all my friends. They are common with Alex and the institute, because we were married while we were studying. And when they parted, the meetings with their friends began to boil down only to stories about who they saw my ex-husband with, and what his passion looks like.
I even roared , returning home. Therefore, I decided to break off relations. And soon the firm, where she worked for six years, was shut down. There was either an unemployment benefit, or to become a barman in a small cafe where a cousin uncle found me a place. Of course, I chose work. After all, if you stay at home and live memories, you can go crazy. I've been standing at the bar for almost a year now. It's not that bad. I like to communicate with visitors. Everyone wants to share their problems. I listen to anyone. Sometimes I keep quiet, sometimes I sympathize, sometimes I advise how to resolve contradictions with my wife or overcome difficulties with my superiors. I get pleasure from it. Even I feel a little bit of a psychologist. Yes, and colleagues treat me well, maybe because I'm always ready to replace them, go out on Saturday, when the bar most customers. "Yes ... There's nothing to be done, I'll have to be on duty," she reassured herself. - Well, okay. The change is like a change, not worse than many others ... "To create a mood, I put on a smart dress, although I usually try not to attract attention at work.
There were no clients , and the guard, who was on duty with me, dozed off. Turning on the TV, I found my favorite comedy, over which I laughed until I cried. And so, when the tears were wiping, a tall guy entered the cafe. He looked at the sleeping guard, grinned and headed straight for the bar. A short haircut, an open face, a confident gait, an impenetrable look. But, when he came to the counter, I suddenly noticed in his big gray eyes either a vexation, or some kind of irritation.
"Coffee, please," the stranger said with a strained smile, "and hotter, or frozen-just scary!" I thought he really wanted to say something else, but he could not decide.
- Let's guess. Too early to get away, and the bride is still not ready? She tried to talk him.
- Bride? However, yes. This morning she really was my bride. The visitor's hands suddenly trembled.
- We lived together for five years, and in February we were going to sign ...
And today she suddenly left me. On New Year's Day, imagine! The most suitable day, "he laughed nervously. - We bought the rings, we decided where we would go after the wedding. I was so happy! But Inna began to return home late, she said that work was added at the end of the year. Well, I ... That's what a fool, he believed every word she said.
- Sighing heavily, the boy continued:
- And in the morning she suddenly burst into tears, confessed that she wants to spend New Year's Eve with another. A colleague from her firm. Do you understand how I feel?
- Of course ... More than I understand! - I smiled sadly and stroked him gently on the arm lying on the counter. - My husband left me on my birthday, when they were sitting at the festive table. Only we poured wine, the phone rang. She picked up the receiver, waiting for congratulations, but Alexei asked Alexei's unfamiliar girlish voice. Lesha blushed and spoke so hard that I even joked: "Is this your mistress?" And suddenly her husband nodded in response: "I did not want to spoil you this holiday, but since it happened so ..."
- Here's scum! - burst out at the visitor. "He, apparently, is a type ..."
"Do not ... New Year's all the same," I tried to steer the conversation away from the painful topic. - Oh my God! What am I? It's almost twelve already! I went to the fridge and took out champagne. Tried to disinhibit the guard, but he slept soundly.
"It's good that you are here." She handed the glass to the stranger. - And then I would have to drink alone for the New Year ...
We had a bite of tartlets , and later the visitor offered the following toast:
"Now let's have a drink for your wonderful smile!" And by the way, what's your name?
"It's very simple, Lyuba," I blushed with embarrassment and pleasure.
-Lyuba ... That's wonderful! Lyubushka, Love ... Just think about it! To meet Love ... And when? On New Year's Eve!
"What's your name, mysterious stranger?" You have not introduced yourself yet.
- My name is Max.
And we both smiled. Time has ceased to exist. I saw only those gray eyes and their reflection in them. Reflection fucking liked me. It seemed that we are floating in zero gravity ...
- Now! - Maxim suddenly broke the "weightlessness" and instantly disappeared. An hour passed, and he did not return. The alarm was replaced by despair, it was thought: "That's always the case. Well, all right ... New Year's delusion - suddenly it came, suddenly it's gone ... You'll think. Ordinary story about Cinderella ... "But the" delusion "here, and refuted my words, proving that it is the real reality. Maxim stood before the counter and held out a red rose on a long stem. Her petals were slightly powdered with snow.
"A modest New Year's gift," he said embarrassedly, took out a cracker from his pocket-and in a moment, confetti swirled over us. I raised my hands, trying to catch colorful circles, and suddenly felt that I was in Maxim's arms. He kissed me.
My head spun ... We did not notice how the rest of the night flew by ...
- Next year I'll go to the Carpathians again! - said Eugene after the holidays.
- Something and I ate all sorts of evening parties, perhaps, too, somewhere I will go, - laughed Mishka.
"Just first decide which of you is on duty next New Year," I interjected. - And do not count on me, because there are plans already!
- Plans ?! - at the same time exclaimed colleagues. - Does Luba have plans ?!
"It's strange that it surprises you," I answered, but did not begin to talk about the miracle that happened on New Year's Eve. And that the next New Year we are going to meet with your beloved at the resort in Courchevel, also did not say anything. And although I do not know how to ski, but with Maxim I'm ready to learn anything.