Page 57 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘So, loseeverything?’ I ask with a laugh. ‘Guess I should apologize to you now, as I’ve lit a fuse that could soon implode their world.’

‘You make my life complicated, Adler. Day one of your new life, and you toss in a live grenade. Sobriety has made you fearless. You call her yet?’

‘How am I supposed to call her? She’s had me blocked for ages.’

‘That’s right, you ass-face. I guess you’ll have to quit being a coward and go see her.’

‘I’m not a coward; I’ve been back less than twenty-four hours.’

‘Your timing is perfect because Bryce invited me to Sing! for Bianca and Berkley’s birthday tonight. Come by. I’ll text you the details.’

‘Will Alex be there?’

Cole laughs into the phone. ‘To my knowledge they’re casually dating again, so yes, I assume he’ll be there. Do you want to wait in the wings or would you rather fight for her?’

‘Just show up uninvited and crash her party?’

‘I’minvited –witha plus one. Wanna be my date?’ He laughs. ‘Come on, man, this isyourcircle of friends that I’ve been added ontoonlybecause of you. All I’m doing is inviting the guy that connects us all.’

I’ve spent the last few months figuring out how to fix what I’ve broken in me and thoughtthatwas scary – this is downright terrifying.

I could’ve stayed at rehab for any amount of time, but I chose three months because I didn’t want to rush through it and end up in a worse place down the road. Finally, I felt good enough to maintain my sobriety without being contained within a fancy rehab center. I know what makes me happy. I see what’s missing and I have a plan – sort of. No way will my being intimidated by her ‘casual’ boyfriend stop me.

‘Show up and move slowly,’ Cole suggests. ‘I won’t even tell anyone you’re coming. You know her better than anyone on the planet, Will; try not to forget that.’

I used to know her best. God, I hope I still do.

22

BERKLEY

‘Finally,’ Bianca says when Alex and I walk into Sing! ‘I thought you were never coming.’

‘That makestwoof us,’ I say, irritation dripping from my tone as Alex makes his way across the bar to where Gunner is sitting.

‘What took you so long?’

‘Alex wanted to give me a birthday “gift” since I seem stressed lately.’ I drop my purse onto the table they’ve claimed. Balloon bouquets are placed along the center of the table, the number 25 in silver mylar balloons and lavender and periwinkle plain ones as fillers. My and Bianca’s favorite colors.

Bianca scrunches her face. ‘Seriously?’

‘Yep, but I give up. He just cannot figure it out, and it takes forever until finally I fake it and disappear to the bathroom for a quick “shower”.’

Bianca blows out a breath, glancing across the bar to where Alex is now laughing at something with Gunner, Bryce and Cole. ‘Does he know he’s bad at it or—’

‘Or.’ I cut her off. ‘Definitelyor. I mean, how do you have that conversation?’

‘You don’t, you just dump him for good,’ she says like it’s no big deal. ‘Your mid-twenties are no time to settle for mediocre. This might be the best you ever look.’

‘Um,what?’

She smirks. ‘You should be having the best sex of your life at this age. You shouldwanthim. Your clothes should be throwing themselves off. Find the guy who doesthatfor you.’

I let out the heaviest sigh in all of history. ‘What if you only get one of those guys in a lifetime, and mine was an idiot?’

She glances over with a frown. ‘Crap. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.’

I wave a hand like it’s not a big deal. ‘Forget I asked. That was one of those questions no one else was actually meant to hear. I don’t want to talk about it. Or him. Let’s just get hammered,’ I joke. Mostly.

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