I wiped at my mouth after setting my beer back on the bar. I was in some deep state of shit. I felt things slipping out from under me and instead of grabbing on like a stubborn motherfucker, I just let it go. And look at where it had gotten me? Fucking hell.

I'd given Ainsley my heart on a silver platter and she flipped that shit out of my hand and stomped on it with her sexy as shit high heels.

I'd hoped the buzz of the bar would drown out my thoughts but it wasn't happening. I held my hand out for a refill and just as I was about to put the bottle to my lips it was snatched from my hand.

"What the fuck--?" I stopped as my eyes registered that it was Scott.

"I'm thirsty. Thanks." He raised his hand and motioned for the bartender to send two more bottles our way.

"Fucking rude," I grumbled as I ran my hands through my hair and loosened the bowtie around my neck.

"Rude is fucking my sister when I know how you treat women. I hope she was worth losing your best friend over."

"I didn't fuck her, you fucker!" Without thinking, I stood up and grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled my fist back. He took the punch to the nose like a champ and came back swinging. We were both on the floor, getting our punches in when we were pulled apart. Both of us breathing heavily, but there was a smile on Scott's face.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I demanded. A girl who would normally turn my eye came up and tried to press something to my nose. I dodged her and shrugged the man holding me off my shoulders. "I'm cool," I insisted as I slapped some cash down on the bar.

"I'm really happy."

"I can see that. It's fucking weird."

"You love her."

I scowled at him. "I thought maybe it was love, but it wasn't. I got burned. Is that why you're happy? To see me fall, finally?"

Scott's smile faded, and he grabbed his beer, taking a long drink. "James. You know I'm not that kind of guy. Are you sure she doesn't love you?"

He just had to rub salt into my wound. "Yeah, I'm pretty fucking sure."

Scott sat down. "That's too bad. I was playing future Christmas mornings in my head with you and me and my future wife, whoever she may be, and Ainsley all stuffing marshmallows up each other's noses."

I pinched the bridge of my nose as I sat down beside him. "I think you might need to go see a doctor. You aren't making any sense."

Scott chuckled and clapped me on the shoulder. "I'm just saying I was getting used to the idea of you being my brother-in-law."

I swallowed the beer down quickly, making it burn. "I didn't say any goddamn thing about marriage." I didn't say it, but I'd have lied if I said I hadn't thought about it. And that was the kicker to my balls. I'd thought of a future with her. And her future didn't have me in it at all.

"All right. Well, I'll just have to settle for your friend, then." He slid my phone towards me and I stuffed it into my pocket. "Katie is moving in with her girlfriend in a couple of weeks. You're welcome to move in when she's gone."

"No." I'd probably never step foot into his house again if I could help it. All I'd be able to think about would be Ainsley and all the places I'd kissed her. All the jokes we told, all the laughs we shared, all the secrets. "My mom said I could move back in with her. I think I'm going to take her up on it. My life was good before." Good in a detached kind of way.

Scott was quiet for a minute as he finished off his beer. "All right, man. Well, the offer always stands."

"Thanks," I said, going quiet too. It was awkward as shit sitting next to my best friend whose sister had enchanted me. I could blame her for that too. I'd add it to her list of wrong-doings. Maybe if the list got long enough, I might no longer feel like someone had punched my heart out of my chest.

He turned his head and stared at me, his eyes squinting. "I think I fucked up too."

"With Ainsley?"

He shook his head. "No. With the cougar co-worker. We, uh, we had a fling thing and..." He didn't finish, his eyes moved to the doorway over my shoulder.

I turned around and stared at the girl I loved standing in the doorway, her hands clutched around the string of her purse as if it were her lifeline. Fuck. I turned around and quickly drained the last of my beer and stood up.

"James?" my name on her lips was like a plea. She was begging. I never could resist her, I wasn't about to start now.