We’ve already crossed too many lines. If Mom had any idea what I was doing with Ryan, she’d be horrified. But if I don’t find a new place soon, I’m scared that I won’t be able to resist.
The front door of the café chimes as a couple leaves, breaking me out of my reverie. I’ve been sitting here, thinking for longer than I meant to. I drain the last dregs of my wine as Brinley makes her way over.
“I guess I should pay for my drinks and let you close.”
“Actually, Nate paid for it already,” she says, shrugging. “He said if he wasn’t sneaky about it, you might try to pay for it yourself.”
I laugh. “I’d never fight him for the check. Nate’s still getting to know me. He doesn’t know how much I love a free drink yet.”
“Can I get you anything else?”
I glance down at my empty glass. I’m not ready to go home, not when there’s the possibility that I’ll have to face Ryan. I still have no idea where we stand.
“Would you hate me if I ordered another glass of wine? I just really don’t want to go back to my apartment yet.”
Brinley smiles. “Fine by me. Let me go to the back and grab one of the good bottles.”
While she goes back behind the bar, the last patrons in the café grab their coats and leave. Now I feel bad—Brinley will be stuck at work until I finish my drink.
“Is everyone gone?” Brinley asks when she returns with a bottle of red wine in hand.
“Yup. It’s just me. You can kick me out whenever you want to.”
Brinley fiddles nervously with her apron. “Actually, do you want company? I could really use a glass too. No pressure if you want some time to yourself.”
I perk up immediately. “Please drink with me! I’d love that.”
Thank god. I could use another girl to talk to. Cat’s done her best to be there for me since she got engaged, but it’s not enough. She’s constantly traveling for work, and I know she wants to enjoy her time with her fiancé. But I’ve been lonely.
Brinley grabs an extra glass from behind the bar, then gives us both a generous pour.
“Cheers,” I say, holding up my glass. She clinks it, and we both take a long drink.
“So, you’re living with Ryan now?” she asks. “How’s that going?”
“Exactly how you think it’s going,” I say darkly. “He lives for every opportunity to torture me.”
Brinley nods. “All those guys are the worst.”
“Oh, for sure.” I take another sip of my wine. It’s dry, crisp, and delicious. “How well do you know them?”
“Better than I’d like. Obviously, Luke and I aren’t on the best of terms, so I didn’t spend too much time hanging out with them. Let’s just say, I know a lot of women that those guys messed around with. Their egos are so big, they think it doesn’t matter how they treat people. Women are just happy to bask in their presence.”
I cringe. “I bet Ryan is the worst of them.”
“He’s definitely the sluttiest—no offense. But they’re all awful in their own ways.” She ticks them off on their fingers. “James, cold and heartless. Nate, grumpy and selfish, except with Cat,apparently. Luke uses his charm to get away with literal murder. And Beau…well, Beau is just infuriating.”
“You’re mostly right, but Nate’s not so bad,” I admit. “Yes, he treats Cat really well,buthe also buys me wine.”
Brinley thinks for a moment. “Fine. Maybe I was wrong about Nate. But he’s still a grump.”
“No arguments there.” I laugh. “The sky could start raining diamonds and chocolate bars and all Nate would do was glare at it.”
“I think we have a children’s book in stock where it rains chocolate,” Brinley says.
“Maybe I should get that for Nate for Christmas.”
“Got much shopping left do you have to do?”
