Page 5 of Miss Belief

“Dirty-sock-and-Mento-smelling Andy in Accounting was more fun.”

“Jesus. I was striving for comfortably numb.”

“You overshot into near asshole territory. And self-medicating with alcohol could cost you your career.”

I didn’t miss the way his face blanched.

“You’re right. It could. I need to find Fred and apologize.”

“You can if you want. Either way, I don’t believe he’ll say anything. But the heavy drinking needs to stop. I know you’re my boss, but you’re also my friend.” Or at least friendly. “I had my first hangover in forever this morning, so I can’t imagine how miserable it would be to come into the office with one on a daily basis.”

He cocked his head to the side, flashing me his killer boyish grin, reminiscent of the Reid of the past. “Why were you drunk on a random Sunday night?”

“I blame Sex in the Driveway.”

What was great about Reid was the way he always took my crazy in stride. As if it amused him to hear what might come out of my mouth. It had been awhile since he’d engaged in conversation with me.

“Mm, I may need more details, if I’m allowed to ask.”

“The drink’s name is Sex in the Driveway, it’s like Sex on the Beach, but with vodka, peach schnapps, and blue curacao instead of the cranberry juice. I call it sweet, but deadly. Anyhow two pitchers of cocktails during Chloe’s last night here, and I had a wicked hangover.”

“Chloe went back to LA?”

I nodded.

“I’m sorry to hear it. I know you guys were close.”

This. This was the guy I missed. “There he is.”

He didn’t bother to pretend he wasn’t aware of what I was talking about. “I’m sorry. I understand how it feels to lose your best friend. Hell, Aiden would be kicking my ass if he were here.”

“Apology accepted. And I’m sorry for what you’ve been going through.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“Anything I can help with?”

He picked up a card from his desk. “Any chance you can fast-forward through this wedding I have to go to in two weeks where I’ll see the ex?”

“I’m fresh out of that particular superpower. But, wait, I thought the wedding wasn’t until this summer. Or is it a different one?”

What could I say? I was nosey and had learned of the impending “see-the-ex wedding” through Chloe.

“It’s a different wedding between my college friend and Vanessa’s cousin that was originally scheduled for next year. They had to move it up because of a surprise pregnancy. Now it’s a beach wedding at a resort in Turks and Caicos under the guise of suddenly desiring a destination venue instead. But lucky me, I’ll have another wedding to go to in June where I’ll see the ex too.” He paused before expelling a frustrated breath. “So give it to me straight—how will it go?”

“Well, if your intention is to go to the wedding and look as though you’ve been absolutely miserable and clearly aren’t over your ex, then mission accomplished.”

His jaw locked. “And if that’s not what I want?”

“You need to stop drinking. Stop moping. Get your mind off of her and at least appear to have moved on. We can come up with a plan.”

His brow quirked. “We?”

“I thought I’d offer my assistance, but if I’m being too oversteppy, then I’ll back off.”

“It might be nice to have someone who keeps me from being a mopey almost asshole. Aside from ditching the cheeseburgers, what else needs to be part of my plan to at least appear I’m over my ex?”

“Get some sleep, go to the gym, and get a haircut.”