“It is,” he nods.
“Then why are all of you paired up permanently now?”
He shrugs. “It worked out that way.”
I open my mouth to say more, but I lose my train of thought. I am done with this conversation and with him.
“Thanks for the ride.” I slam the door closed before he has a chance to say anything.
Holidates. I hope not to forget the name before I get upstairs.
TWO
Alex
I’ve never beenblackout drunk. I got a strong buzz here and there while partying with my friends, but I’ve never been in a position where I completely lost control of the situation or I didn’t remember anything the next day. I’ve always valued my self control more than anything else.
Now, as I stare at the amber liquid in my glass, I wish I could just grab the entire bottle and down it in one go. Forget about reality, or, better yet, never come back to reality again.
I pick up the cell phone, ready to make a phone call to one of my friends. But then I remember that they are all busy with new girlfriends or wives, who are no fans of mine. I somehow managed to dig myself into a big hole with everyone, to the point where I know that I don’t even get invited to some of the get togethers they participate in.
”Fuck!”
I squeeze my hand into a tight fist, ready to throw the glass against the wall. That would imply lack of control, and that is not something I would do.
And all this because of what? A woman.
The word tastes bitter in my mouth. This is one position I never imagined myself to be in. My father lectured to me from a very young age that women are the root of all evil. They are only after your money, and the more money you have, the more they try to pin you down. The easiest way to do that would be through a pregnancy, which is why I have been very strict about using condoms and making sure that the women I was with were on birth control as well. There would be no accidents on my watch.
Enter Mona Higgins, the woman I can’t get out of my head, especially after it’s become very obvious that she blocked me on any platform I could reach her, including at her job.
The phone rings in my hand, and I am way too hopeful when I whip my head around to look at the screen. Disappointment floods my system when I see that it’s not her.
”Hey, man, how’s it going?” Kyle sounds way too cheery for my liking.
I’ve always considered us best friends, but after my behavior in front of his girlfriend, I am not even sure he considers me a friend anymore, let alone a best friend. We are now friendly acquaintances, with him also contracting with my video game company as a game developer.
”It’s fucking going,” I answer, not in the mood to talk to anyone right now.
”You are such a joy,” he lets out a snort of laughter. “Thank God I’m not depressed, or I’d wanna throw myself off a building with the way you’re acting.”
I roll my eyes, phone stuck to my ear. “Don’t hesitate jumping on my account.”
”Oh wow, you really are in a foul mood today.”
I reach for the glass sitting on the side table and take a healthy sip. The alcohol burns down my throat and all the way into my stomach. It leaves a trail of despair and agony in its wake.
”Why did you call, Kyle?” Other than for work related stuff, we haven’t communicated in a while.
He clears his throat a few times, which is at complete odds with the carefree vibe he normally puts out.
”Cal and Evie are having a backyard get together. Probably the last one before the snow hits. There’ll be a bonfire…”
Cal is part of our guy group. He and Evie have been a couple for a while now, and out of all my friends’ significant others, I probably like Evie the best.
“And…?” I say snarkily when Kyle doesn’t finish whatever he’s go to say.
”And I am calling to see if you’d like to come, fucker. Why do you think I mentioned it?”
