It was my night off, and I was drunk. I’d needed help escaping my sad thoughts of losing Scottie, and there was nothing like booze to numb painful feelings. The blond guy next to me at the bar was almost as drunk as me. He was sexy and he had super grabby hands, but that was okay. I was single now since Scottie had dumped me and basically said he never wanted to see me again. If I wanted to let this guy touch me, that was my business.
Fuck Scottie.
I continued to flirt with the guy next to me. When he pulled me in for a kiss, his mouth was wet and hot against mine, but I didn’t push him away. All I wanted was to forget Scottie and the pain of losing him for five minutes. The guy ran his hands over my crotch, and he swept my mouth with his tongue.
“Let’s go behind the building, baby. I’ll let you fuck me.” His breath was warm against my ear.
I wasn’t really interested. My cock was soft, and I was probably in no condition to be fucking anyone. But I hated the power Scottie still had over me. I’d been a hot commodity on the bar scene not that long ago; now all I could think about was the damaged man with secrets that’d I’d fallen in love with.
“Maybe later,” I slurred.
“Baby, I need it now.” He placed my hand over his bulging crotch and smiled. “You want me to fuck you instead?”
I shook my head.
He pulled me in for another wet kiss, and I grimaced and pushed him off. “Stop.”
He frowned. “You run awfully hot and cold.” He sighed and sipped his drink.
I gave him a sideways glance. He was attractive, with blond curls and big blue eyes. Would I feel better if I fucked him? Would it help erase memories of Scottie’s taste and scent? I groaned and accidentally knocked over my beer.
I jumped up. “Shit.” I mopped at the liquid with my cocktail napkin, but it didn’t do much good.
Chuckling, my blond friend said, “Dude, you are fucking wasted.”
I snorted a laugh. “Yep.”
The bartender gave me a dirty look as he wiped up the spilled beer with a bar towel. Someone put their hand on my shoulder, and when I looked up into the mirror behind the bar, I saw Scottie’s boss and his husband behind me.
“Let us get you a cab.” Alex looked perplexed.
I swiveled on my stool to face them. “What? Nah, I’m doing great.” I tried to hide my beer-soaked sleeve in my lap.
Rafe sighed. “When you’re spilling your drinks and making out at the bar, it’s definitely time to go.”
I squinted at them. “What are you guys doing here?”
“We were trying to have a much-needed date night, but then we saw you.” Rafe’s gaze was full of concern.
Alex laughed. “My husband has a penchant for strays.”
“Pfft.” I grimaced. “I’m fine.”
“You are not even close to fine. You’re a mess.” Alex grinned and then wiped the smile off his face when Rafe frowned at him.
“I feel sorry for your liver.” Rafe took my arm. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
“I don’t need a cab. I can walk. I’m just a few blocks down.” I stood unsteadily.
“Are you leaving?” My blond friend looked disappointed.
“Yeah, Mom and Dad are here.” I smirked.
Alex hooked his arm through mine on one side while Rafe took the other. “You’re definitely grounded for a week, young man,” Alex said, laughing as he helped me toward the entrance.
Once outside, the cold night air felt good against my skin. I hadn’t realized how stuffy it was inside. Alex and Rafe let go of me and I swayed a little, but I stayed upright.
Alex gave me a stern look. “I thought you and Scottie were dating? Why was that other guy’s tongue down your throat?”
I winced when he said Scottie’s name. “It’s a long story.”
Rafe gnawed his lower lip, but he didn’t say anything.
Alex turned to his silent husband. “Am I missing something? Scottie and Lance were a thing, right?”
Ignoring his husband’s question, Rafe said softly, “I had a feeling Scottie’s depressed behavior had something to do with you.” He sighed. “Did you break up with him?” He almost sounded angry.
“Me?” I chuffed. “He’s the one who broke things off. He won’t even answer my voice mails.”
“What did you do?” Alex’s tone was accusing.
My face warmed and I lifted my chin. “Nothing.”
Rafe rubbed his jaw as if deep in thought. “I knew something was weird when Scottie went to dinner with Brandon tonight.”
My blood boiled at his words. “He what?” He’d gone on a date with that dog rescue guy? We’d only been split up a week.
“In all fairness, you just had some strange guy’s hand on your crotch.” Alex grimaced.
I ignored him and hugged myself, feeling demoralized. “I can’t believe he would date that guy.” I’d only been flirting. But Scottie and Brandon had a history. Hearing they’d gone out together was way more upsetting to me than if I’d heard he was drunk and letting some stranger paw him.
“Brandon’s a good guy.” Rafe’s gaze was hard to read.
My stomach ached at the idea of Scottie moving on from me. “It’s not fair. I didn’t do anything wrong.” I rubbed my eyes and slumped.
“Well, something happened.” Alex looked skeptical.
“Yeah, but for once it wasn’t anything I did.” I stepped sideways unsteadily, and Rafe grabbed my elbow.
“What happened?” Rafe’s tone was gentle.
I held his sincere gaze. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
I closed my eyes and tried not to think about what Scottie and Brandon might have been up to tonight. Would Scottie sleep with him? My gut clenched at the idea of anyone but me touching him.
Rafe sighed. “Scottie was the happiest I’d ever seen him when he was with you.” His dark gaze held mine. “You were good for him. You brought out the best in him, and I think he did the same for you. How can I help?”
“Help?”
“Yes. We need to bring you two together so you can talk this out.”
Alex squeezed his husband’s shoulder. “Rafe is a natural peacemaker. You should let him work his magic.”
“I don’t think anyone can fix this. Scottie doesn’t want anything to do with me.” I stumbled over to the building and leaned against the wall. My legs were wobbly, and my head hurt.
“Scottie’s miserable.” Rafe followed me, and he spoke quietly. “He’s very private, but I’ve known him long enough to see his different moods. He’s in pain.”
“I don’t get what set him off. Why would he dump you?” Alex asked, a deep line between his brows. “You two were totally into each other at our Cinco de Mayo party.”
They both seemed so concerned, it was hard not to confide in them. But I wasn’t sure how to even explain the problem. It was still hard for me to wrap my head around. “It wasn’t anything I did. It… it was something my dad did.”
Rafe frowned. “Your dad?”
I licked my lips and continued. “My dad was a lawyer.”
“Okay.” Alex shrugged. “So what?”
“I don’t want to tell Scottie’s personal business.”
Rafe tilted his head. “Can you just tell us the basics?”
I hesitated. “Scottie was involved in a violent assault about five years ago.”
“I knew something like that happened.” Rafe nodded.
“I’m still confused.” Alex scratched his head.
I wasn’t sure if telling them was the right thing to do or not, but I felt like I needed to confide in someone. “You’re not going to believe me.”
“We will.” Rafe sounded firm.
I shifted uneasily. “My dad… my dad defended his attacker.”
Alex gaped at me, and Rafe’s eyes widened in disbelief. The awkward silence stretched as we all stared at each other.
When I couldn’t take the silence anymore, I said, “I know. It’s a lot to take in.”
“Holy crap.” Alex spoke up finally. “What are the odds?”
“I can barely believe it myself.” I stared at the cracked sidewalk.
“Did you know this when you first started dating him?” Rafe asked.
“No.”
“It must have been a horrible shock to both of you,” Alex said.
“Yeah. Shocking and so unfair. I… I love him and now I think he hates me.”
“He doesn’t hate you.” Rafe studied me intently.
I shrugged. “He acts like he does.”
“My guess is he’s hugely confused.” Rafe looked to his husband. “I would be.”
“Yeah. I’d be nuts,” Alex agreed.
It suddenly sank in that I was standing against a wall that was probably covered in piss, and discussing my love life with people I barely knew. I straightened and gave an embarrassed laugh. “Sorry. This really isn’t your problem.”
“It kind of is. Because I want to help.” Rafe had a funny look on his face. He whispered something to his husband, and then he faced me. “What if I told you Brandon and Scottie are having dinner two doors down?”
Excitement and frustration pushed through me. “Really?”
“We aren’t telling you this so you can go in there and make a scene.” Alex’s voice was gruff.
“No. That’s the last thing we want.” Rafe squinted at me. “But if the three of us walked in together and Scottie saw you… maybe it would force him to deal with his feelings for you.”
My heart thumped in my chest at the idea of seeing Scottie. “Or maybe he’ll just reject me again, only publicly this time.” I didn’t love the idea of being shot down in front of Brandon.
“If you really want him back, I think that’s a risk you should be willing to take.” Rafe pursed his lips.
“Wouldn’t he wonder why the three of us are hanging out?”
“We can say we ran into each other.” Alex laughed. “We did run into each other.”
I frowned. “I don’t want him to get even madder at me.”
“He needs to see you. Right now he’s pretending you don’t exist. It’s how he’s able to push you away.” Rafe gave a sly smile. “But if you’re right there in front of him, it will be impossible to ignore you.”
I ran a finger under my collar. “Are you sure you’re not overestimating my charm?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh, God.” I was really nervous.
“Come on.” Rafe grabbed my arm and pulled me after him.
“Wait. Shouldn’t we make sure they’re still there?” Alex asked, his eyes glittering in the streetlamps.
“Good idea.” Rafe grinned.
Alex trotted up ahead, and he stopped at the front of a small Mexican restaurant. He pressed his back against the brick wall and flashed a mischievous smile. Then he leaned slowly over and peeked into the big picture window. He was silent for a few moments, and then he held up his thumb. “They’re at the bar,” he whispered.
My stomach somersaulted with excitement. “God. Are you sure about this? I’m relying on your judgment because I assume you’re sober.”
“We are,” Rafe said.
I ran a shaky hand over my hair, and I met Alex’s gaze. “Do I look okay?”
He grinned. “Yes.”
“They’re not kissing or anything, right?” I asked uneasily. I didn’t think I could control my anger if I witnessed that firsthand.
“No. They’re just talking,” Alex said.
I swallowed hard and lifted my chin. “Should you guys go in first?”
“Definitely.” Rafe scanned me and he straightened my collar, then he held my shoulders. “You’re going to be friendly and nothing more. No dirty looks at Brandon. No touching Scottie. You can’t be anything that might be misconstrued as stalkerish in any way. It’s important you’re just relaxed and friendly.”
Sweat trickled down my spine, and I felt like I was going to throw up, I was so nervous. “Sure. Relaxed.” I pressed my hand to my pounding chest. “No problem.” I sucked in a shaky breath. “Is it possible to look relaxed while you’re having a heart attack?”
Alex snorted and opened the door for Rafe. “I guess we’ll see.”