Page 3 of The First Time

Our plane doesn’t take off until noon, but I need to be at the airport by ten, which means I need to leave here by nine. I set my alarm for seven-thirty so I can eat breakfast and make sure I have everything without being rushed.

Part of me is itching to stop at the restaurant on my way to the airport, but I know Zane will literally lose his mind.

I close my eyes and picture the mountains of Como as I start to fall into a deep sleep. This trip is going to be exactly what I need. Nothing is going to get in the way of me finding myself.

Chapter Two

Josh

“You going to take your shot or just stand there and ogle those girls over there?” I shout at Liam as he not-so-subtly glances at some blonde in the corner of the bar.

“Fuck off, I was just trying to line up my shot,” he lies as he moves his pool stick back while he leans over the table.

Eric, his brother, leans into me at our round, high-top table in the corner. “He’s a shit liar, isn’t he?”

“I heard that,” Liam shouts after he takes his shot, which hits his solid ball but bounces off the corner pocket. “Dammit!”

“If Asher were here, we’d be kicking both your asses in this game,” Liam growls before he takes a swig of his beer.

Eric and I both roll our eyes. “Yeah, well, looks like your brother has just proven that he’s the real talent in this game,” I reply.

Liam, Asher, and Eric are all brothers. I went to college with Asher years ago. They also have a little sister named Layla, but I try not to think about her. Actually, I try to avoid her at all costs. We have a history, and it’s complicated.

“Can you believe that he bailed on us again tonight?” Liam says begrudgingly.

“He’s got a lot going on,” Eric points out, being the older, wiser brother and all. “With just moving into the new house with a three-year-old and now living with Charlotte.”

“It’s your shot,” Eric nudges me. “Let’s end this game between you two now so Liam can go work his magic on his little crush over there.”

I chuckle as I grab my stick and move along the table, trying to find the perfect angle to sink the last ball. I’m down to just needing to sink the eight ball to win.

“Left corner pocket,” I point with my stick, then line up behind the ball. The eight ball sinks into the intended pocket, and I hear Liam curse under his breath.

I stand up tall and smile widely at him. “Nice game, man. Better luck next time.”

“Whatever, I’m outta here,” he growls, then makes a beeline straight for the blonde. She smiles effortlessly up at him.

Yeah, he’ll be going home with her tonight. If Layla were here, I’m sure she’d have some snarky comment about how she’s surprised I’m not the one taking a woman home. She always seems to imply that I’m some massive man whore.

Now, I’m not saying that I’m a prude, but she acts like I’m out here taking women home left and right. Truth be told, it’s been a while for me. I just haven’t been feeling it lately. I don’t know what it is that's makingme feel this way.

“Well, I think I’m gonna head out,” Eric says while clapping me on the shoulder. “I’ve got a big meeting tomorrow with an investor.”

“Nice. Good luck. I hope it goes well.”

He blows out a breath. “We’ll see. Later.”

I look around the bar, wondering if tonight should be the night I get back on the horse and try to pick up a girl. Liam is laughing it up with the blonde, who has a beautiful brunette sitting next to her. But once again, I’m in no mood to take someone home.

I nod at Liam to let him know I’m heading out. He gives me a confused look, probably expecting me to hit on the hot friend, but I just shrug my shoulders and walk out the door.

On my drive home, I start to think about what’s been bugging me lately. Not that I want to admit it, but I think I know what it is, or who it is.

Layla.

Ever since my best friend, Asher, has been dating her best friend, Charlotte, we’ve seen a lot more of each other. It was easier to ignore our past when we didn’t see each other all that much. But now, every weekend, I’m coming face to face with her. She ignores me, rolls her eyes at me, says sarcastic shit to me, and I should just ignore it like I used to. I just don’t understand after ten years, why these feelings are resurfacing like this.

Just as I walk into my house, my phone lights up with an incoming call from Asher. What could he be calling for this late at night?

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