Clare awkwardly glances between Kylie and me. Warily, she leans into Holly. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
I don’t know why she’s so concerned. I’m not that far gone that I can’t be left alone. Besides, I have Kylie, beautiful, shot-taking, auburn-haired Kylie.
“I really have to pee.” Holly grimaces.
Reluctantly, Clare nods, and they leave Kylie and me behind.
In their absence, my hazy vision swirls around the back of the bar. O’Reilly’s is a time capsule to Boston’s heyday, the mid-to-late ’00s, with Patriots Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, and Celtics championship banners and pictures hanging from every inch of wall around us. Over Kylie’s shoulder, a signed photo of Adam Vinatieri kicking a field goal in the snow sits below a framed picture of Tom Brady with his hands on his head in disbelief. The red and blue confetti falling around him blurs in my current state. Uh oh.
I pull out my phone, sending Liam an SOS to come get me. I never should have let Holly shoo him away and leave me to fend for myself. I manage to clack out the message before the phone falls from my hand in a clatter on the table.
“They did you dirty.” Kylie laughs, downing the last shot on the table.
“They’re five-foot-two terrors.” I sip on my water. A dangerous undertaking considering I’m not entirely confident I have a mouth or a head to supply water to, since I can’t feel either. “Why would you willingly be friends with them?”
“Nah, they’re good eggs,” Kylie says with a small smile. She looks deeply into the empty shot glass, swirling it around on the table.
My brow furrows. Kylie’s view on the situation doesn’t seem to match the heightened tension in Holly’s shoulders when Kylie approached the table, and I don’t know what to make of that. “Do you know Holly from work?” I ask since Holly works for a large software company. A coworker might explain it.
“Oh, uhm, no. Actually, it’s kind of a funny story how we met.”
“I like funny stories.” I fumble with my tongue, trying to find my straw again.
“I had this massive crush on one of her friends, and I was working on a project for our MBA together. It was obvious that he was emotionally unavailable, but because I apparently hate myself, I tried to push a whole friends-with-benefits thing with him and pretended like I was totally fine with it because the sex wasgood.” She blushes, looking at me. “Who could say no to earth-shattering sex, you know?”
“Not me.” I laugh nervously, shifting in my seat. How many of Holly’s friends are getting their MBAs? Please tell me it’s a fad, and everyone is doing it.
“Anyway, one night I got tanked and told him I wanted more. He tried to let me down gently, but I made this huge scene in one of the local bars, and Holly came to my rescue. And, well, now we’re best friends, and dude switched to online classes, so good riddance.”
I take a long pull of my water and smile tight. Keeping my mouth occupied so I don’t say anything regretful is the best path forward.
“Oh!” Kylie perks up, angling energetically in my direction. “You might know him since he was such good friends with your brother.”
“Know who?” Clare mercifully rejoins us. She lays a plate and fork in front of me with a wary grin.
“Liam.” Kylie’s shoulders slump as she runs her hands over the tops of her arms. “I was just telling Evie how Holly and I met.”
“Oh.” Clare’s voice dips. “We try to forget that start.”
“What are we trying to forget?” Holly slides back into her seat.
“Liam.” Kylie pouts, resting her chin in her hands.
“Ah.” Holly’s gaze darts up to me and back at Kylie.
“And how stupid I was.” Kylie’s eyes gloss over.
“Oop, and now the spiral’s started,” Holly whispers. “Sorry.”
“And the earth-shattering sex—”
“Okay. Whew, I need some air.” I exhale, standing from the table.
Everything inside burns in a hot angry buzz, but I’m not jealous. At least, I don’t think I am. Liam’s free to have his own history, and I can’t blame Kylie for being interested.
You’re jealous because you’ll never have that.The Chaos Gremlin bursts onto the scene inside my brain.
Dammit, Chaos Gremlin. You’re the worst.
