No. Of course not.
I took it like a sadomasochistic champ and had a few beers with my brothers. The one thing I did was turn my back on Addie and Wesley.
No way I’ll willingly watch their date progress.
It’s been an hour. Two beers haven’t calmed the mind-numbing whirlwind of thoughts stripping away my brain cells. I’m restless like a bee in a matchbox.
Addie relaxed when I approached, trembled at my touch, then promptly shot me down.
A walking mixed signal.
A red fucking flag, for sure.
“Oh-oh,” Conor nudges his chin over my shoulder.
“What?” I clip.
“He’s ditching her.” His eyes widen as he watches the scene unfolding behind me. “Holy shit, he looks pissed.”
There must be something fundamentally wrong with this girl. She’s a looker. Smart, coy with a hint of attitude. Perfect at first glance, but she’s somehow alienated five men tonight. Each one had the same expression—halfway between deep shock and cringe.
“Maybe she’s married,” Cody chips in. “What else would scare away so many guys?”
“Pregnant?” Conor drops his gaze at the beer he’s sliding between his hands. “Whatever it is, if neither Finn nor Wesley wants her, you should steer clear, bro.”
“That’s the plan,” I mutter.
“Yeah... good luck,” Cody muses in a hushed tone, his back suddenly arrow straight. “She’s coming over.”
Sure enough, that’s when Addie saunters closer. She grabs a stool from a table nearby, dragging it toward ours, her steps a little wobbly, eyes glossy, swimming with the bottle and a half of wine in her system. The half she hasn’t downed yet is protectively tucked under her arm as she sits between my brothers.
“Hi.” She sets her empty glass on the table, holding the bottle out to me in hopes I’ll uncork it. “I’m drunk.”
“You don’t say,” I clip, annoyed she’s here and drunkalone. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”
“Probably,” she waves me off, the resigned expression clouding her face not something I enjoy in the slightest. “Keep it flowing. I’ve got nothing left to lose.”
Cody kicks me under the table. Either to get my attention or let me know I should watch my attitude. “What did you do to Wes?” he asks.
Addie’s drunken gaze eventually finds Cody’s.
How the hell will she get home safely in this state?
There’s a pause, then a deep eleven creases her forehead. She turns to me, back to Cody, then me again, head whipping left and right like she’s watching a tennis match.
“Twins,” she mumbles.
“Triplets,” Conor corrects, and Addie’s world tilts on its axis when she finally zooms in on him.
“Wow... so pretty, pretty, pretty times three. That’s nine times pretty.” She sits up, her hopeful eyes wider than saucers. “That’s three chances!”
“I hate to interrupt your train of thought, but you’re making literally no sense,” Conor says, hailing the passing waitress to order more beer. “Three Coronas and a glass of ice water.”
“Unless you tip it over her head, it won’t help,” Cody chuckles.
The amused sound fades, his face contorted by a horrified look when Addie leans in like she’s considering falling asleep on his shoulder. He scoots his stool as far away as he can, his arm touching mine.
I pass Addie the wine, watching her down half the glass in one chug, her ladylike manners long forgotten.
