There were five shots of whiskey on the bar.

Rory swallowed the first one, slamming the glass down on top of the wooden surface. He pushed the glass out of the way and his fingers danced around the rim of the second.

Wendy had excused herself to go to the bathroom and he didn’t particularly care if she came back anytime soon. Not because he didn’t like her or because she was annoying. Quite the opposite. Wendy’s only flaw was that she wasn’t Gina. And it wasn’t like that’d bother Wendy. After all, she knew the truth. They were in an arranged public affair, but at least Wendy was able to go home every night to the man she actually loved.

Rory didn’t have that choice and keeping up the charade was costing him.

A hand patted him on the back and he craned his neck to see Dev taking a seat at the bar beside him.

“It’s a beautiful night at a beautiful event, so I’m going to need your ass to cheer the hell up, buddy.”

“I’m not in the mood to be cheerful, but I’m hoping this whiskey will get me halfway there.” He grabbed one shot into his hand and pushed another shot towards Dev. “So cheers to matrimonial bliss.”

“Yeah, I guess I can cheers to that.” Dev shrugged and threw back the shot. “Damn, that’s some good shit.”

“Yeah, but the real question is…” Rory took his shot and then set the glass down onto the bar. “Will it do the trick?”

“Rory, you know you’re my best friend. You’re practically my brother, so can I give you some advice?”

“That depends.” Rory cocked one brow. “If I don’t like your advice, can I kick your ass?”

“Sure, but just to be clear, the only reason you kicked my ass about your sister was because I barely fought back. It wouldn’t go so easily this time.”

Rory inclined his head in acknowledgement.

“Especially since you’re being a fucking moron,” Dev added nonchalantly.

“I’m being a moron? What did I do?” Rory growled.

“Nothing. That’s the point. What are you doing now?” He gestured to the empty shot glasses.

Rory sighed and bowed his head. What else could he have done? The last time he had seen Gina, she wouldn’t give him an inch, much less a mile. Love was a two-way street, and if she didn’t feel the same way he did, what was the point?

Rory reached for the last two shots—one for him and one for his best friend. They clinked their glasses together before tossing them back.

“You know, drinking isn’t going to fix whatever is ailing you, Rory.”

“I’m not looking for a permanent solution,” Rory pointed out with a shake of his head. “I’m just looking for some temporary relief.”

Dev nodded, a brief smile folding across his lips. “I like that. We could use it in a song.”

Rory didn’t pay him much mind though. “I’m crazy about that girl, crazy about Gina Fucking Saldano, of all people. If you would have asked me six months ago what I thought about her? I would have told you she was the biggest pain in my ass, and now she really is the biggest pain in my ass, except…” He turned to Dev with a frown. “Except now I think I’m in love with her. She’s all I can think about. I keep waiting for it to start hurting less or for me to miss her less and every day it’s back. Like this gaping hole in my chest.”

“Then what the fuck are you doing, man?” Dev jumped from his stool and threw his arm around Rory. “Go get her.”

“There’s no point, man.” He threw his shoulder to push Dev backwards. “She said she didn’t want to be with me.”

“Bro, I’m going to tell you this once and only once, but I need you to look at me, okay?”

Rory shoved back the rush of irritation and spun around on his stool to face Dev. “What?”

“I think you’re looking at this wrong. You don’t think she loves you?” He shook his head furiously and chuckled under his breath. “I think the problem is that she loves you too much. Loves you enough to give up her own happiness to make sure the band and everything you’ve worked for doesn’t get fucked up. I think she backed away because she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness to make sure that your security wasn’t threatened.”

He heard the words, but refused to let them sink in. Hope was the last thing he needed now. Losing Gina once had nearly killed him. Losing her twice would finish the job.

“I think you’re being a little too optimistic about this scenario.” He spun back around and leaned across the bar with two fingers held up, signaling he wanted two more shots. The bartender nodded and began to pour their drinks as Dev climbed back into the seat beside him. “It’s easier for you, I guess, since you’re on the outside looking in.”

“Easier?” Dev snorted. “Have you forgotten how hard Cheri and I had to work to get to the point where we’re at today? We almost lost everything. Nothing is easier. It’s all perspective. And yours is fucked right now.”

“You know that’s not what I meant.” He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “What would you have me do, Dev? Force her to talk to me?” Rory turned back to his friend, intent on hearing him out. One way or another, he knew he needed to figure out what his next move was going to be and he needed to figure it out soon because this feeling roiling inside him was for the birds.

“If you really want to see how much she cares, pussyfooting around ain’t gonna do it. Be honest. Let it rip, no regrets. Throw a grenade at it and blow the whole thing up.” Dev climbed to his feet and patted his friend on the back. “I’m going to leave you here to think while I go to the bathroom. And I trust that you’re eventually going to wise up and do the right thing like you always do. Don’t disappoint me, bro.”

“Yeah, right,” Rory sighed and gritted his teeth. He cocked his head over his shoulder to see Gina dancing with Quinn out on the dance floor. His buddy had crashed the party a little while before because he couldn’t stand to miss out on the fun. For the first time that night, he saw Gina wearing a genuine smile. The smile that pierced his heart every fucking time.

Dev was probably wrong. Gina probably just didn’t feel the same as he did, which meant, if he did this? If he tossed the grenade, there was a very strong possibility that it would blow up in his face.

But if he didn’t?

He would be letting the only woman he’d ever loved walk away without a fight.

Fuck that.