Page 131 of Any Second Now
Maybe not on the outside. But inside.
I’m in love with that woman, and she’s currently getting ready to leave Colorado to go back to her old life. Fuck. I wish I could get her to stay. I wish I could change her mind. I wish I had the nerve to try.
“If you wanted to see her once more, maybe see if you two could talk things out…”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” This time I mean to sound curt. I need to remind Kellen—and myself—that it’s truly over.
Isn’t it?
“Yeah, well, that’s what I thought—” I know he’s about to launch into a speech about my sister and him and how things magically worked out for them.
“This is nothing like you and Lucy, Kellie,” I interrupt. I sigh and run my hand over my face.
“Right. It’s not like me and Lucy.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “It’s you and Raleigh.”
“There is no me and Raleigh.” But my objection sounds weak.
“Ready to go, mate?” Lachlan slaps his hand on my shoulder. “There’s a bar across the way we might swing by before heading to the club.”
“Bad choice.” Kellen shakes his head. “There are going to be so many people there who were at the game. You sure you want to deal with that?”
“Yup.” Barrett pops between us like an annoying little brother, draping his arms over our shoulders. Him being taller than me is infuriating. “Hopefully, all the hot women who were in that one section make an appearance.”
“The ones you kept winking at?” Lachlan rolls his eyes and laughs.
“Yep. Those women.”
“Let’s go then.” Lachlan heads toward the door and looks back over his shoulder at me. “Coming?”
That dude is totally burying his feelings about Melissa. There is no way he is over the breakup. This is a complete cover-up. Andit’ll be painful to witness how he takes it out on poor girls at the bar.
He’s gonna have so much sex getting over his ex.
And I will too. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.
But the idea of sleeping with someone else is revolting. Like honestly makes me want to gag.
“See you next week,” I say to Kellen without another glance, following Harley out the locker room door.
I force myself to leave the arena, heading down the crowded New York street where we all but blend into the throngs of people, and into the bar they’ve chosen. It’s an Irish pub packed with Friday night drinkers, some dressed in business casual, maybe leftovers from office happy hours, and some in far less clothing out for the start of their night.
A trio of women immediately notice us, and Lachlan and Barrett waste no time going over to talk to them. Harley gets the first round and we stand in silence behind the boys and the two women they’ve descended on. The third woman gives us both interested eyes, but neither of us looks her way.
“Why aren’t you going after Raleigh?” Harley asks me, anger in his voice.
“What?” I turn to him, confused by the hostility.
“If I had a chance to convince the woman I love—because from what I’ve heard, you’re in seriously deep—to stay with me, I would do it in a second.”
“I’m not in love?—”
“Oh, fuck off.” Harley runs his hand over his newly grown beard. I have a feeling this is going to be an intense year for my friend. “You obviously are. And by the look on your face right now, you know it. Whatever’s happened with Raleigh this summer has changed you. You’re different because of her. Yet you’re here at this shitty bar, to get drunk, and I’m gonna guessnothit on women?”
I swallow and dip my chin. I know I love Raleigh. I’m ashamed I even tried to deny it.
“Yeah. You’re right.” I stare into the amber liquid and drain half the pint.
“I lost Emily. She’s gone. I can’t go fight for her anymore, because I already tried and failed. I did the whole romantic gesture thing to win her back… but I crashed and burned. It’s over with her. It’s over.” I look up and Harley’s clenching his teeth, like he’s trying not to scream or cry or bite something. “Tell me: is Raleigh in love with someone else?”
