Page 60 of Whiskey Neat

“Dude,” Kit says. “Breathe.”

I exhale a few shaky breaths until the room stops spinning enough for me to form a coherent thought. “I fucked up, guys.”

“How?” Kit asks. “We saw him leave, so you didn’t accidentally kill him or something.”

Jerryn smacks Kit’s arm. “Be serious.”

“I am being serious. He looks like he murdered someone.”

I close my eyes and shake my shoulders. “Does emotional murder count?”

“Oh no,” Lowen says. “Indy. What did you do to him?”

Scrubbing my hands over my face, I shrug. “I don’t know how it happened. Something about Salem brings out this weird, romantic, almost clingy vibe in me that doesn’t make any fucking sense. I asked him to stay.”

“Overnight?” Ridley’s voice reveals his shock.

“Yeah.” I swallow past the bitterness on my tongue. “I took him to dinner and…” I scratch the back of my neck. “It felt like a date. I was acting like it was a date. I stopped doing that shit a decade ago when people couldn’t figure out that I was just priming them for later.”

“And this was different?” Bane asks.

“I think so? I didn’t have to warm him up, you know? We agreed from the beginning that this was just sex.” I clamp my hands together because they’re fucking trembling. “But it’s like I wanted to take him out and spend more time with him. I just don’t fucking know why.”

“He’s a good guy,” Lowen says casually. “He’s fun. He’s a friend, right? It makes sense you’d want to spend time with a friend.”

“I don’t fuck my friends. I knew this was a bad idea. Now I have to see him at work all the time and pull back so he doesn’t think I’m catching feelings or something.”

“Is he acting like he’s falling for you?” Kit asks. “Or are you freaking out all on your own?”

“Because you asked him to stay,” Ridley adds. “But he’s gone.”

Their questions do more harm than good as my heart rate speeds up again and a wave of heat washes over me. I swear to fuck I’m allergic to emotions.

“Breathe,” Lowen says softly. “Talk to us. Safe space and all that.”

My thoughts are racing, pulling me to my feet to pace the crowded room. Finally, the panic subsides when I’m hit with a memory from three years ago. I chuckle, exhaling as my world rights itself again.

“Fuck. I remember now.”

“Care to clue us in?” Jerryn asks. “Because you’re weirding us out.”

“Sorry.” I sit down again, leaning back. “It took a few minutes for me to realize what’s happening.”

“You’re falling for Salem?” Lowen asks.

I scoff. “No. This happened to me once before. With this guy Maxi. Same shit—coworker, had a vibe. We were spending so much time together that our friendship took on a relationship feel before I realized what was going on. I got this. I just need to draw a thicker line. Friendship and coworkers on one side, sex on the other.”

The guys stare at me like I’ve turned green.

“Did Maxi want more?” Kit asks.

“Yep. Of course. They always do.”

There’s a subtle exchange of looks around the room.

“What?”

“How is this situation like that?” Bane asks. “Salem doesn’t sound like he’s trying to get more.”

---