with Daniel and arguing with the big lug to get into bed with me because it was too damn cold. That whole week at the office had been awkward and depressing.
Daniel had moved on with no problem. Each time we had talked that week, he’d been detached and straightforward, not leaving any room for conversation. He kept things business only. Like how it used to be. It fucking hurt.
“Here,” Quinn said, handing me another shot. “You look like you can use this.”
“Thanks.” I downed it, then slammed the glass on the tabletop. If I drank enough, would it make the emptiness in my chest go away? Worth a shot. Pun intended. I ordered us another round, and we drank them down.
“I’m done,” Quinn said, refusing another.
“Guess you’re doing the dishes.” Monty reached over and brushed Quinn’s bangs aside. “Your cheeks are so flushed.”
“Leave me alone, you beast.” Quinn gently swatted at him. He’d had five shots total, but with little to no alcohol tolerance, he was pretty gone.
“So much for drinking me under the table,” Monty told me with a lopsided grin. He’d worn a backward ball cap with the Texas university logo he’d played college ball at stamped on the front, looking more like a frat boy than a high school football coach. “Looks like it’s me and you, then.”
“Want me to get another round?” I was a lightweight too, but I was no quitter. I’d keep drinking until I physically couldn’t anymore.
“I can get it this time.” Monty hopped up from the table and walked toward the bar across the room.
Quinn watched after him with a small smile. “God, I love him.”
“I know you do.”
He looked at me, and I bit back a laugh when I saw that his glasses were crooked. “I’m sorry you’ve been depressed this week. You really liked him, huh?”
I reached over and fixed his glasses as I thought on my answer. I kept nothing from Quinn, so when he and Monty had invited me over for dinner that past week, I had spilled everything, telling them about the snowed-in trip and how close Daniel and I had gotten.
It choked me up a little that they had planned tonight because of me. I was lucky to have them.
“Yeah, I did like him,” I finally answered. “Fuck, I still do.” Then, because the alcohol had taken away my filter and made me even more emotional, I word vomited. “I’ve never been with anyone like him, Beck. He’s gentle and sweet. And fuck, he’s a damn good kisser. I felt so safe when I was with him.” My eyes stung. “I was happy.”
“Does he feel the same?”
“No,” I said, then sighed. “Maybe. I don’t know. Doesn’t matter even if he does. We can’t be together. It’s impossible.”
“Hey.” Quinn patted my arm. “I’m living proof that nothing is impossible. Do you know how hard I fought against that knucklehead?” He motioned toward Monty, who was standing in a rather long line at the bar. “Forgiving him once felt impossible to me. But thank god I did. I can’t imagine my life without him. All I’m saying is… give it time. If he feels as strongly as you do, I don’t think much can keep you apart for long. Company policy be damned.”
“Wow, Beck. When did you become such a rebel?”
He chuckled. “Since I started dating one, I guess.”
“Monty’s not a rebel. He’s an idiot.”
“Yeah, well, he’s my idiot.”
By the time we left the club, Quinn had sobered up enough to drive us home so we didn’t have to leave his car there. I was drunk and heartbroken… two things that were a recipe for disaster. After plopping down in bed, still fully clothed, I grabbed my phone and opened up a new message to Daniel.
Me: Wat r uoi doing
His response came less than a minute later. Was he awake too, thinking of me?
Daniel: Are you drinking?
Me: Wat makese uoi think thrat
Daniel: Your impeccable spelling, for one.
I focused hard on the screen to try to see what he was talking about. My spelling looked fine to me. I jumped in shock when my phone started ringing, and his handsome face popped up on my screen from the contact photo I’d set for him.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” Daniel asked, his voice stern.
“Why?”
“Just answer the question, Reed.”
I sighed and flopped to my back on the bed, stretching my legs out. “I’m in the back room of the club about to get drilled in the ass by a frat boy with tight