was large, yet everyone else managed not to run into others. But I stopped when I saw a handsome man with a sincere, apologetic look on his face.
“I am so sorry about that. My rude friend seemed to forget we were surrounded by people.” He handed me a napkin.
I changed my mind. He was very handsome.
“Apology accepted,” I said as I wiped my hand clean.
“So, are you here with anyone?” he asked.
I smiled. For real this time. “I’m with friends. We’re celebrating my birthday tonight.”
“Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.”
“Do these friends include a boyfriend?”
I laughed. “Nope. I dumped him two days ago.”
The guy laughed and stuck out his hand. “I’m Todd. And the asshole who pushed me is Clay.”
“Hi, Todd. Hi, Clay. I’m Madeline.”
“Sorry for the run-in,” Clay said. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks,” I said to Clay.
“Can I buy you a birthday drink?” Todd asked, still holding my hand. He looked down at my other hand and blushed. “I mean, I know you already have a full glass, but I can wait until you’re finished.”
How cute. The guy was flustered. Over me.
It was just the pick-me-up my confidence needed after Griffin’s rejection.
“Thank you. I would lo—”
“She’s with me.”
I looked over Todd’s shoulder as Griffin stepped around him and put his arm around me.
Todd immediately dropped my palm and held his hands up. “Sorry, man. She said she didn’t have a boyfriend.”
I sighed. “I don’t. This is my friend Griffin. Griffin, this is Todd. Todd, Griffin.”
Todd eyed Griffin warily even though I’d explained to him my relationship with Griffin. He looked at me. “Maybe some other time. You have a good night, Madeline. And happy birthday.”
Todd and Clay walked away, and I gave Griffin a look.
“Thanks for that. Weren’t you just telling me that you promised to help me get some on my birthday?”
His eyebrows rose. “That’s it? We’re not going to talk about what just happened between us?”
“No.” I was still a little hurt, but I would get over it. Griffin was my best friend, and him rejecting me wasn’t something to throw away our friendship over. I put my hand on his arm. “Let’s just pretend like I never asked you what I asked you, okay?”
“But I didn’t even give you—”
“There you are.”
We both turned to see Troy standing beside us.
“Do you care if we head down to My Favorite Place?” he asked me. “It’s getting cold out there.”
Christina popped up next to Troy. “I say we stop at the bars on the way down to Griffin’s place for a birthday shot before we end up there.”
I would have thought it was an excellent idea a half hour ago, but I no longer wanted to get drunk and crash at Griffin’s apartment. I could already feel how awkward it would be to lie there next to him. He’d probably be afraid I was going to jump him, and I would be afraid that he was afraid I was going to jump him.
I was sure the whole asking Griffin to sleep with me would blow over but not within a few hours; it was best I started sobering up, so I could go home.
“Actually, let’s just head down there anyway. I don’t really feel like stopping at a bunch of places.”
“It’s only two other bars,” Christina pointed out.
“I know, but let’s just go to Griffin’s.”
She shrugged. “It’s your birthday.” She looked down at my hand. “You’d better finish your beer first. I’ll go tell April and JJ we’re taking off.”
Damn. I’d forgotten I still had a full drink.
I lifted the glass to my mouth and started chugging. It wasn’t until I was about halfway finished that I thought to ask Troy if he wanted it.
“You want the rest of this?” I asked him.
“Sure. We’re planning to Uber home, so I might as well.”
I looked at Griffin. “You’d better finish your beer too,” I said, eyeing his half-full glass.
Troy raised his hand. “I’ll drink that, too, if you don’t want it.”
Griffin pushed the glass into Troy’s chest and grabbed my hand. “Let’s go outside. We can talk while we wait.”
I didn’t want to talk. It was my birthday night, and we were supposed to be having fun.
I was about to tell him that we could talk tomorrow, but I heard April yell from behind me, “Wait for us.”
I laughed and turned around until all four of our friends caught up.
“Here’s your purse,” April said, handing it to me.
“Thanks.” I had been so caught up in what had happened with Griffin that I’d almost left it