Page 10 of Autumn's Coming

Chapter Four

Cody

At least we were starting at a nice bar—something upscale, quiet. A place people went to for drinks, not dancing.

I’d put aside a long night of work for Dylan. Here, though, I could reply to emails.

It wasn’t a lot, but it made me feel better.

Dylan leaned over the table and tapped on my phone screen. “Dude, c’mon. Put that thing away. We’re here to have fun, not work.”

I looked up at him. With one hand, I picked up my tumbler of bourbon and gave it a little shake, rattling the ice in the glass. “I’m having a great time, thanks.”

“Oh, please. You’re still on your damn phone, probably answering work emails. Can’t you put it away for a little while? One night won’t kill you.”

It wouldn’t kill me, but it was very inconvenient.

Still, he was the groom-to-be. I nodded and tucked my phone into my coat pocket. “All right. It’s put away.”

“Thanks. Don’t get it back out unless you’re calling us a Lyft or something.”

“Sure thing.” I took another sip of my bourbon.

This was going to be a long night.

I was happy for Dylan, of course—he was a hard worker, and a good man. He was loyal to his fiancée, who he talked about like she hung the moon. He didn’t tolerate any of the ‘old ball-and-chain’ jokes men liked to make about marriage; instead, he insisted that his fiancée was his best friend and he couldn’t wait to marry her.

It was sweet, really.

But this wasn’t my scene. I didn’t like to party. I didn’t care for getting drunk, and I certainly wasn’t looking to take any women home.

And with that thought in mind, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Dylan leaned close, talking into my ear. “Dude, there’s a really hot brunette checking you out. At the bar.”

Of course.

I looked up. She was indeed beautiful, with long curls and a dress that fit her like a glove. She smiled at me, then took a sip from a glass of red wine.

I lifted my bourbon toward her in a little toast and took a sip.

She smiled.

Even if I didn’t plan on taking her home, there was no reason to be rude.

Dylan grinned, taking a long drink from his own glass of bourbon. He was quickly on his way to being drunk, and it was obvious that he didn’t plan on slowing down. “Hell yeah, dude, get her number,” he said with a laugh. “Take her home!”

“You’re very drunk, Dylan.”

“Yeah! It’s my fucking bachelor week, dude. I’m gonna be wasted until Saturday!”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe don’t go into your wedding with a hangover?”

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me.”

I didn’t plan on worrying about him, but I did want his wedding to be nice.

He threw an arm around my shoulders, laughing. “I promise, it’s all gonna be good.”

---