Page 59 of Ever With Me

Cormac’s lips pursed, a spark of interest in his eyes. “Wow. You really like her, huh?” He spread his palm on Brooks’s chest as he lifted the glass again. “But I’m serious. Don’t do it, Brooks. Just throw it away. I like Maddie. But like you said, a woman you barely know isn’t worth it.”

Holding Cormac’s gaze, Brooks tipped the glass to his lips and swallowed. “I don’t need a reason for a drink.”

“As your friend, I can’t sit back and let you do this.” Cormac snatched the glass and walked it over to the sink, then dumped it down the drain.

The heady feeling from those first sips burned through Brooks’s veins. He clenched his jaw, his mind buzzing with anger.

Don’t do it.

Listen to Cormac.

He’s right.

“You got somewhere else to sleep tonight?” Brooks asked flatly.

Cormac jerked his head up. “You serious?”

“Get going.”

“What about Audrey?” Cormac crossed his arms. “If you won’t stop for your own sake, then stop for her.”

“Leave, Cormac.”

God, I hate the sound of my own fucking voice. The same voice that got me in trouble last night when I just didn’t know how to shut up with Maddie. Just like I should shut up now.

“I’m not leaving you and Audrey?—”

“Out. Now.”

Cormac’s expression darkened. He pushed past Brooks, then left the game room. A minute later, the front door slammed shut.

Dammit, Brooks.

He should call Cormac back. Apologize.

Cormac had been a good friend for years—one of the only people I truly trusted.

But when had trusting people gotten him anywhere?

Maddie’s face flashed through his mind.

“Fuck it.” Brooks grabbed the bottle of bourbon from the counter, then headed outside.

17

MADDIE

Maddie killedthe engine of her car and stared up at the house.

She didn’t want to be here—not after the evening she’d had confessing to Lindsay and Pops about Brooks, then getting grilled to death about the details of her arrangement.

Brooks’s texts while she was talking to her family hadn’t helped. Naomi had seen the one aboutwhenever I wantand flipped out, convinced that Brooks was using her for sex.

So she’d ignored Brooks and procrastinated, dealing withthatproblem.

She’d wanted to turn in for an early night, exhausted emotionally and confused as all hell.

But then Cormac had called as she was getting ready for bed.

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