Eleven

Austin

I peeled my eyes opened, squinting against the sun blasting in through the windows. My head weighed a solid ton. When I tried to sit up, my head spun.

“Fuck,” I groaned, lying back down.

I didn’t remember the last time I’d gotten blackout drunk. How much had I fucking drunk to get to where I was? What exactly had I done last night?

Jesus Christ, I must have been obliterated.

I sat up in bed again and waited until the world stopped spinning. Then, I noticed that I wasn’t in my bed. Nor did I recognize anything. Not a damn thing.

I was shirtless but still had my pants on. At least that was a good sign. Maybe.

After a few minutes, I eased out of bed and walked into the living room. I cringed. I definitely recognized this apartment. I had, in fact, been here before. My eyes darted around the room as I wondered if I could make a hasty escape. I took a step further out of the bedroom and saw a skinny brunette in short shorts and an oversize T-shirt, brewing coffee. She shifted from one foot to another as she danced to the techno music coming out of her phone.

I sighed heavily. No chance of escaping this.

I cleared my throat, and she whirled around.

Her hand flew to her chest. “Austin, Christ, don’t scare me like that!”

“Uh…hey, Mindi.”

“Babe, you look horrible.”

“Thanks,” I said with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

Mindi was one of Patrick’s many crazy exes. She wasn’t exactly his ex-girlfriend since Patrick didn’t do relationships, but she was pretty close. Then, she’d gone and threatened to stab him with a butcher knife if he didn’t define their relationship. So…that had been the end of that.

But he’d first met her through Maggie…and Maggie was not a person I wanted to see right now.

“Uh…what the hell am I doing here? And…is Maggie around?”

My eyes darted to her closed bedroom door.

“She’s out of town, but I figured she’d appreciate me saving your life,” Mindi said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “Do you want some?”

I shook my head as a relieved sigh escaped me.

“Like, what do you remember about last night?” Mindi asked.

“Nothing. It’s a blur. Did we hook up?” I sure fucking hoped not.

She snorted. “Ew.”

“You’re so good for the ego.”

“I mean…I’d be down if you could convince that golfer brother of yours. You know how I am about brothers, Austin.” She batted her eyelashes at me.

“I’ll take a pass. Landon is engaged anyway.”

She popped out her bottom lip. “Shame. Mags would probably gut me anyway.”

“So, why am I here?”

“You were at the bar, talking to this girl. You were going on and on about this other girl, Jules, who you’re apparently obsessed with. And something about being an alcoholic and the company. I was getting off my shift and saved you from yourself. So, you’re welcome.”

I tilted my head back and cringed. Great.

“Well, thanks.”

“Anytime. Now…if you could put in a word with Patrick for me,” she said with hopeful wide eyes, “that would be really great.”

I knew there was no chance in hell that was going to happen, but I nodded anyway. If what she had said was true, she had rescued me from a much worse situation. I was just fortunate that Maggie Hooper was not in town. She was probably the last person I wanted to deal with at the moment.

I called an Uber to take me back to my house and promptly flopped back down in my own bed. But, no matter that I needed so much more sleep, my mind wouldn’t shut off. I’d gotten so wasted that I told complete strangers about my problems. All because Julia had struck a nerve. Jensen and the rest of my family and the company had all tried to tell me something, and I’d refused to listen.

I didn’t want to fucking listen. But, if I had, then I might not have ended up at Mindi’s apartment. I wouldn’t be hungover and regretting my actions from last night. Would I have yelled at Julia like that if I’d been sober? Would I have pushed Jensen’s buttons if I’d been sober?

For the first time in a decade, I wasn’t sure what the hell I was doing with my life. Everything felt muddled. Usually, when I got frustrated, I would have a drink, and suddenly, it would be better. Today felt different.

I shook my head to clear the cobwebs. Maybe I’d know what the hell was wrong with me when the hangover cleared.

Nothing really helped.

I’d felt off all weekend.

By the time work rolled around on Monday morning, I knew I needed to do something. I stared down the bottle of whiskey after I changed into a suit for work. My mouth went dry. I reached for it and then set it back down. Then, I reached for it again. I pulled the top off, pouring myself a shot into a whiskey glass. Then, I walked out the door without it.

When I made it into work, I skipped my office entirely and went straight up to the top office floor. I knew Jensen would already be in. He was a bit of a vampire. Insomnia had always been his curse. And I wasn’t disappointed when I stepped into his office. It was strange to think that, one day soon, this would be Morgan’s office, and someone else would occupy the room down the hall.

Someone who was not me.

Jensen glanced up from his computer at my approach. “Austin. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

My brother looked tired. It couldn’t be easy, stepping away. He wasn’t the type to lay this all on Morgan and walk. He was a fixer by nature. I was sure he had been working day and night to make everything would run smoothly in his absence.

“I came to talk about the CFO position.” I shut the door behind me and eased into a seat in front of Jensen’s desk.

Jensen pinched the bridge of his nose. “You want the job.”

“Well, of course I do,” I said.

“Look,” he said, finally glancing back up at me again, “I want to apologize for the conversation that we had over Memorial Day weekend. I was so excited for Morgan and disappointed about what had happened with the board in regard to you. I shouldn’t have said the things I did. You know I hate when we fight.”

I nodded. “Yeah, well, maybe I needed to hear it.”

Jensen’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Come again?”

“I don’t know, man. I just think things aren’t going how I expected them. And I didn’t have a drink this morning.”

“When was the last time that happened?”

I shrugged. “No idea.”

“All right. So, where do we go from here? How can I help you?”

“I don’t want this to be a big thing,” I said, immediately deflecting.

“Does this have something to do with Julia?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would you think that?”

“I live with Emery,” he reminded me.

“She say something?”

“She might have mentioned that y’all ran into each other at the First Friday Art Trail.”

“Yeah, well, Julia wants nothing to do with me. It’s probably better that way anyway.”

“Who are you trying to convince?”

I flipped Jensen off, and he laughed.

“I’m here for you, no matter why the sudden change of heart. You know that we all worry about you. The last thing we want is for you to spiral and end up like Dad. I’d hate to see this damage your health and ruin any chance at a normal relationship with a girl like Julia.”

“You really think I’m far enough gone that I could be like Dad?” I asked, shuddering at the thought.

“If you’re talking to me about it right now, then no. And I’d like it to stay that way.”

“All right.”

It was a relief to hear that. Even though addiction ran through our family, I’d never once considered my drinking a problem. Even all the times my family had needled me about it, I’d never thought that I’d end up buried six feet under for it. That was a chilling thought.

Yet…I wanted that drink that I’d left on the counter this morning. I missed the numbness that came with the feeling. Even after my troublesome weekend, it didn’t stop me from wanting it.

Just another taste. One more shot.

“Austin, I think we should figure out a course of action from here,” Jensen encouraged.

I slowly rose to my feet. “I think I’ll just give it a try on my own. See how it goes.”

Jensen frowned and clearly did not like that suggestion.

“You really think there’s no chance that the board will look at me for CFO?”

Jensen stared down at his screen again and sighed. “It’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility.”

“But?”

“But we have already been inundated with applications for the position.”

“Didn’t you just post it on Friday?”

Jensen nodded.

“Well, fuck,” I muttered. “Anyone good?”

“A couple,” he admitted. “I’ve seen two that I really like—David Calloway and Elizabeth Leyton.”

“David Calloway? Like, the Silicon Valley guy?” I asked with wide eyes.

“The one.”

“What the hell does he want with us?”

“A Fortune 500 would be a step up for him. He brings a lot to the table,” Jensen said.

“Shit. Where have I heard of Elizabeth Leyton before?”

Jensen laughed. “I think you slept with her sister in LA that one summer.”

“I did? That summer is a blur.”

After my dad had died, I’d gone to LA for an internship to work for a talent agency. It’d been no pay and shit work, but I’d been more interested in the process at the time and getting fucked up with every gorgeous Hollywood star who wanted an in with my agency. I’d been taking the LSAT and applying to law school at the time with the hopes of moving into the agency. Then, life had caught up with me, and I never went back.

“Anyway, Elizabeth seems to be the brains of their family. I wouldn’t count her out.”

So, basically I’m fucked.

“All right,” I said. “Well, great.”

Man, I need a drink.

“Austin, we’ll figure it out. Okay?”

“Yeah. Sure. Sounds good.”

I nodded at Jensen before disappearing out of his office. Somehow, that conversation had shifted so suddenly. I’d thought, if I took this step, like everyone wanted, things would improve, but again, it seemed as if it didn’t matter what I did. A drink sounded really, really good right now.

I hurried into my office and closed the door. I knew that I had a bottle or two hidden in my desk. Sure, I’d gotten in trouble for it before, but, fuck, who cared?

As soon as I found the bottle of whiskey, my irritation seemed to dissipate. As if my body knew exactly what was coming.

Then, I just stared at it.

I didn’t want to be my father.

Alcohol eased the pain and stopped me from feeling. I didn’t know how everyone functioned without it. And, still…I wasn’t sure I was functioning with it.

I put the bottle back and closed the drawer.

My stomach flipped. I could do this.

Just as I started up my computer to get to work for the day, my door opened. I glanced up to find Julia standing in my office.

Julia’s here? Why the fuck is she in my office after this weekend?

And then I realized that I didn’t care. Because she looked fucking hot, and her eyes were shining. I couldn’t tell if she was pissed at me or nervous, but I realized I was fine with either.

“Fine,” she spat fiercely.

I shot her an exasperated look. “What are you talking about?”

“Okay, fine. I’ll go out with you.”

“You will?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yes. Under one stipulation.”

“What’s that?”

“No alcohol.”

My eyes landed on the drawer that I’d just shut. Could I go on an entire date and not drink? Is it horrible that I even had to contemplate that?

“All right. What do you have in mind, Jules?” I asked with that same cocky grin.

“Fuck if I know,” she muttered.

“I’ll figure something out. Friday night?”

“Fine,” she said again. She seemed angry with her decision, as if she wasn’t expecting to have a good time. As if she couldn’t believe she was giving in.

“What changed your mind?”

“I really don’t know,” she said.

Then, she bit her bottom lip, which sent my mind straight into the gutter. My dick twitched at the look, and it took effort not to say fuck a date. I wanted her body.

“Glad you can admit you want me at least.”

She huffed. “I did not say that.”

“Don’t worry, Jules. Your secrets are safe with me.”

She cut her eyes away from mine, and I could see that there was so much more under the surface than she wanted to admit. To me or anyone.

“Just pick me up after six thirty because I’ll be at the range until then.”

“Why don’t we start there?”

“Have you ever even fired a gun?” she asked with her own cocky grin.

“Wait and see.”

“Good luck, Wright.”

“Don’t need it.”

She rolled her eyes and then sashayed out of my office. I watched her perfect ass as she disappeared.

Well, fuck.

I had a date with Julia Banner. Without alcohol.

This was going to be interesting.