“At least it’s nacho cheese.”
“I know.” Smiling at her, I rip a bite off for myself and dunk it into the metal ramekin. Fuck, that’s good. I’m starving.
Because we ran out, we are missing the food at the reception, and before that, I was too anxious to eat.
The last thing I wanted was to watch Chloe marry my brother. My goal was to get drunk enough at the reception to not remember a second of it.
Now? Now I have no idea what is going to happen because Chloe is sitting next to me in a dive bar instead of dancing the night away.
“Maybe I could be nacho cheese. It’s spicy enough to not be boring.” Another hiccup as she stares into the tiny container of cheese.
“Okay, Chloe. I think it’s about time we cut you off.” I smile at her. “No more wishing you were food.”
Pulling the almost empty bottle away from her, I slide her water glass closer to her.
“Where am I supposed to go tonight? It’s not like I can go back to our place.”
“How about we go up to my cabin for a few days?”
“Really?” Chloe sways on her stool. “You’d do that for me?”
I clasp a steadying hand over her elbow. “You know I would do anything for you.”
“But he’s your brother.”
“And?”
“I love you, Dax. You’re the best friend anyone could have ever asked for.”
That’s me. The best friend. The one that she’s never been in love with.
No, she’s been in love with my cheating dickhead of a brother.
“I know. You’re my best friend too.”
It’s not like I can tell her I love her. I mean, I do, but not in the same way she loves me.
Before either of us can say anything else, her head thunks to the bar top.
Fuck.
I wish I could hear her saying those words to me in a different way. But right now, her emotions are a jumbled mess because of leaving Duncan and her wedding behind.
Right now, my best friend needs me more than ever. I’ll be there for her no matter how much it hurts.
That’s all I can ever be to her.
All because of my fucking dickhead brother.
God, I really do hate him.
Chapter Three
CHLOE
My entire body feels like a lead weight. Mouth? Like sandpaper. My head? It feels like I was clobbered with a sledgehammer.
And then I remember why I feel so crappy.
