And fuck me, she’s confirming another date.
My heart beats a little faster when I realize she’ll be at the bar where Asher and I go… at nine thirty.
“A whiskey on the rocks, please,” Asher orders, sliding up to the wooden bar and taking one of the stools. I sit next to him and hold up two fingers to order the same. The bartender nods and gets to work making our drinks.
“What are we doing, Ashe?” I ask because I know Asher. Sure, we used to go out but it was a two drink maximum and that was before he had Jade. I know he’d much rather be home with her.
“We’re getting a drink?”
“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter,” I snark back at him, finding the clock on the wall and keeping an eye on it. Twenty-two minutes until Roxie arrives.
“I’ve just noticed you needed a night out.” He shrugs.
“How long have we known each other?”
“Alright, alright, Jesus fucking Christ,” Asher rolls his eyes. “Yes, I did have something I wanted to tell you about.”
“I’m all ears,” I say just as the bartender slides our drinks over to us.
“Well,” Asher suddenly gets nervous and downs his drink in nearly one gulp.
“Jesus, man.”
“Jade’s pregnant,” he blurts out.
“Oh.” My eyes widen and I sit back in my chair. Jade’s pregnant. “She’s only twenty-one.”
“I know.” He nods, running a hand through his hair nervously. “I know. It wasn’t part of our plan or anything, but… We’re happy. I’m so fucking happy man. So unbelievably over-the-moon happy as can be. Jade’s having my baby.”
I’ve seen Asher happy before. It’s always been a little subdued, like he’s worried the other shoe will drop. As the three–well, four actually–of us have learned over time to expect. But this… This is purely good.
“Jade’s pregnant!” I say a little louder, a big smile growing on my face and throwing my arms around Asher. “My brother’s having a baby. Oh my god, I’m going to be an uncle.”
Wow, a baby. A baby…
“How far along is she?” I ask, just as the bell above the bar’s door rings and my attention zeroes in on the two people that walk in.
A tall blonde guy with conventionally attractive features but he’s scrawny like a bean pole and barely taller than his date.
The love of my life.
My heart jumps in my fucking chest. She’s so beautiful.
Roxie’s signature half blonde, half black hair is curled and pinned back from her face, with smokey makeup but her lips painted red. The little black dress shows off her pale, toned arms and tight waist that I know fits perfectly in my hands so well.
She’s wearing heavy combat boots and has…one of my old plaid shirts wrapped around her waist.
“You’re not even listening, are you?” Asher’s voice cuts into my oogling and I force myself to turn from Roxie before she can see me.
“I am. I’m sorry,” I apologize quickly, turning my attention back to my best friend who just told me life changing news.
“No problem,” Asher says with a chuckle. “I may have brought you here before her date for a reason.”
What?
“The hell?” I hiss, “Why the fuck–” I start to cuss him out, but Asher sits up and leans on the bar.
“You need to see how fucking miserable she is. You think she’s happy and moving on, but you only see what you want. Look at her.” Asher nods towards the other side of the bar and I slowly turn my head towards where she must be.
