Chapter 33

___________________

Alex

I SAT AT THE bar, feeling even shittier than I had before for what I had done to Rose. She didn’t deserve it, but in my defense, I was only trying to teach her a lesson. How was I supposed to know she was a great person once you got to know her?

“My man.” I choked on my gin and tonic from the blow of his hand to my shoulder. “A few years out of the Corps and you’re getting soft on me.”

I stood up, and he pulled me into a hug. I patted him on the back with a little extra vigor, letting him know I had gotten anything but soft.

“Well, well, well. You finally made time for the guy who saved your ass more times than I care to remember.”

He signaled the bartender and ordered a drink, then turned his attention back to me with a sly grin stretched across his face. “Yeah, well, I’ve been trying to smooth things over since you’re the guy who got my ass in hot water this time.”

I held my hands up in defense. “You’ve got nobody but yourself to blame for that one. That wasn’t part of the plan, remember? Shaming her in the middle of the coffee shop for being a gold digger was.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t warn me about how fuckin’ gorgeous she was.”

The bartender placed his vodka and cranberry in front of him and he took a gulp.

“I know it was stupid. I hurt the poor girl and almost jeopardized what I have with Alicia.”

“You mean to tell me she took you back after that?”

He nodded and smiled with satisfaction.

“Man, you really do have nine lives.”

Brock was one of the best friends a guy could ever ask for, but he was a shitty boyfriend. I wasn’t sure why he even tried having a commitment with any of them when he knew it was impossible. Women were not only drawn to his good looks, but they were also enticed by the fact he was a Marine in a Special Forces unit. A fact he definitely used to his advantage when it came to picking up the ladies. He had met the girl he was currently with the last time he was here visiting. I was shocked they were still together after several deployments and no doubt several women, and even more shocked when he told me they were engaged. I had never been formally introduced to her. He had been planning on doing that while he was on leave this time around, but given the circumstances, I wasn’t sure it would be happening.

“Yeah, but now she’s on my case more than ever to set a date.”

“What? No offense, dude, but given your track record, you’d be the last person I’d want to marry.”

“I know, that’s what I’m sayin’!” He chuckled.

“Look, the whole thing with Rose. Just leave it, okay? She showed me the text you sent her…and—”

He held up his hand to stop me. “Wait, hold up. You didn’t tell her how this all went down?”

“No,” I replied, ashamed to admit it.

“I don’t get it. Why didn’t…” His eyes widened, and I could see it all coming together in his mind. “You’ve got a thing for her, don’t you?”

I shook my head, not quite sure how to answer that. “I don’t…I don’t know.”

Letting out a loud, boisterous laugh he banged on the bar. “Yeah, you do! That’s pretty awesome. She’s a great girl. At least one of us will be hittin’ that.”

“Just stop talking about her like that!”

“Whoa…touchy! You really do like this chick.”

“She’s just a totally different person than I had her pegged out to be.”

“You mean, she’s nothing like that bitch you’re married to?”

“Was married to. My divorce was final last week.”

“Wow, finally! Congratulations! Allow me to buy you another drink. We need to celebrate that!” Brock hated Vanessa almost as much as I did. “So, how does Rose feel about the two of you potentially hooking up? Because I gotta tell you…when she’d mention you in conversation when I was with her, it seemed like she despised you. But I don’t know, I sensed a change in her that night she introduced me to you, and she saw how pissed you were…which, by the way, you could’ve won an academy award for the way you acted toward me. No one would have ever guessed we’re like brothers.”

The truth was, I wasn’t acting that night. I was genuinely pissed. Pissed at myself for playing that game with her and pissed at him for taking it to another level. My silence gave it away.

“Wait, don’t even tell me you guys already…”

I nodded.

“Wow! You can thank me for that.”

“What? Get the fuck out of here. You had nothing to do with it.”

“Of course I did. She was obviously so distraught over losing me, she ran into the arms of the first available man she saw.” He smirked.

“Yeah, whatever.” My phone vibrated from my pocket with a text. I was hoping it wasn’t Tina Wellington again. I had texted her earlier in the day to let her know drinks were out for tonight, and she texted me back to set up a rescheduled date. I didn’t have any intentions of rescheduling. I didn’t even have any intentions of meeting up with her tonight. I just knew it got under Rose’s skin to think I was, and I wanted to mess with her a little. I couldn’t hold back my smile when I saw the message that had come through was from Rose and not Tina.

Rose: Call me when you can. I have some great news!

“Aww, is that from her? Oh, Alex, I love you. Do me harder, Alex,” Brock teased, gyrating back and forth in his barstool.

I tried my hardest not to laugh as the people next to him took notice and looked at him strangely. I put my phone back in my pocket, deciding to get back to her after I was done meeting up with Brock.

After a few more drinks and a lot of reminiscing, we decided to call it a night. His phone had been blowing up all night with messages from Alicia wanting him to check in with her. I didn’t get how either one of them could want to be in a relationship like that, but I kept my mouth shut and didn’t say a word, hoping he’d come to his senses and realize he wasn’t the marrying type or relationship type for that matter. We walked outside and embraced in a hug. He was leaving for Africa for several months. I was no longer privy to the details of his mission, but I knew it was dangerous. And as crazy as it was, I was jealous, wishing I could be going with him instead of stuck in an office, trying to figure out exactly what it was I wanted to do with my life.

“You be safe, man.”

“I’m gonna try my hardest,” he replied, his jokester personality from inside completely gone. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.”

“Sounds good.”

He turned around to face me just before entering the cab. “Alex, if you really are serious about her, you need to tell her. Don’t go into it with any secrets between you.”

I almost didn’t recognize the somberness of his tone. It was so out of the norm for him.

“Especially if you guys end up getting married. How are you gonna explain your best man to her on your wedding day?” He chuckled, morphing back into the Brock I was used to.

I shook my head and smiled. “See ya later, bro.”

“See ya later,” he responded before ducking into the cab.

I stood on that busy sidewalk for some time after the taxi pulled away, feeling myself getting a little choked up. I was hoping I would see him later, but I knew firsthand that nothing in life was ever guaranteed.