Page 64 of Begin Again Again

But it was already too late. His cock was limp against his thigh, his desire replaced with the flat certainty this wouldn’t work. He was exactly where he’d been a million times since Audrey left. Beth smiled up at him, her eyes full of the same excitement that had just vacated his body. He needed to backpedal, fast. Sal glanced over and he caught their eye.

Help, he thought.Help me.

And like a mind-reader, Sal said something to their green-haired friend and came bouncing over. “Hey, dudes, how’s it going?”

“Um, great,” Beth said. “How are you?”

“Solid. Feel like another drink?”

“You’ve still got your drink,” Beth pointed out. “And so does Byron.”

“Good point.” Sal tapped their scotch to his. “Chug?”

Byron nodded. He downed his drink. As always, Sal finished second. They made a face and shuddered. “Now that’s sorted—drink?”

“Sure,” Byron said. He could feel Beth staring at him and refused to meet her gaze. “You want another Coke, Horoscopes?”

“I might go to the bathroom,” she said, already moving away. “I’ll come find you.”

“No worries.”

He watched her go, her ass swaying under her short dress, so round and perfect… He had to invite her to his. Hecouldn’tinvite her to his.

Sal punched him in the arm. “The fuck was that about?”

“What?”

“Shitting on Klaus, then sending me the panic bat signal eyes. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t pull that.” Sal’s eyes narrowed. “Are you scared I’m getting along with your girlfriend?”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“But you like her, or she wouldn’t be here.”

Byron looked at his sister. Sal’s dressing gown had slipped, showing half the tattoo they’d had done late last year—a baby shark, partly for the song and mostly for him. There were so many things he wanted to say to them right then, but he knew they’d come out crumpled. Paper jammed in the back of a printer.

“Is this about the Aperol Spritz thing?” Sal offered. “If it is, don’t worry. Beth likes you. Just rush shit.”

Byron wished that he could go back to that afternoon, drink ten less Aperol Spritzes and not tell Sal anything about his sex life.

“I mean it,” they said. “It doesn’t matter.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” Byron spotted Beth’s bright hair moving toward him—apparently, she peed at the speed of light. “Look, I might head out.”

Sal gave him a withering look.

“Sorry. Your show was good.”

“Whatever.” Sal reached into their pocket and pulled out a box of Marlboros. “See you soon. Or whenever you show up next.”

They strode away, making a beeline for Beth. Before Byron could intervene, they’d grabbed her, pulled her close and whispered something in her ear. Beth glanced at him, eyebrows raised. Sal pulled her closer and said something else. He watched, feeling the same admiration and irritation Sal always conjured in him. Beth’s expression became thoughtful. Sal kissed her cheek before vanishing into the glittering crowd that filled the warehouse.

“Fucking hell,” Byron muttered. “Why?”

Beth picked her way toward him, smiling as though she knew a secret. “Hi.”

---