At my silence, he straightened and tried to keep a straight face. “Holy shit, did he propose?”
My hands knotted, and I looked away.
He snorted. “You’re kidding.” When I didn’t answer, his expression grew serious. “Whoa. You’re not kidding. Congratulations? I guess a lifetime of nice sex may be someone’s idea of a happily ever after, though I’m not surewho.”
For the first time in my life I understood the phrase about gazes shooting daggers and I wished mine would. He’d be dead ten times over. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Ouch. Poor guy. Now I actually feel bad for him.”
I followed Liam to the bar and accepted the beer he offered. I figured I’d need more than one before the night was over and drank deeply, hoping the cool brew would soothe the dryness in my throat. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far. We got along so well and he seemed to understand I wasn’t looking for anything serious.”
“This is what I mean about you and these guys. That’s how I know you’re about to break up with someone. You always bring them here. I almost feel bad for him,” he said as he studied Andrew. “He has no idea you’re about to break his heart.”
“I don’t break their hearts!” I sipped from my beer, contemplating his words.At least, I don’t think I do.
Liam took an order from a couple who could barely keep their hands, and mouths, off each other while I worked up the nerve to walk over to Andrew and get it over with. It didn’t escape my notice that I’d never been so into a man, Andrew or otherwise, who got me so hot I forgot we were in public. Maybe Liam was onto something aboutnicemeaning something bad.
“Don’t worry,” Liam said when he was finished with the couple. “I’ll keep an eye on him in case he freaks out.”
“You’re making this out to be a bigger deal than it is.” Maybe if I repeated it enough, I’d start to believe it.
He leaned on the counter after handing me another beer. I hadn’t even realized I’d downed my first. “C’mon, Charlie. You and I both know you’ve left a trail of men in your wake. It was only a matter of time before one of them got serious before you managed to shake them loose.”
“You make me sound terrible.”Was I really that bad?
“No, you’re not that bad.” He was smiling again at my habit of speaking my thoughts out loud, but this time at least I didn’t want to punch him. This time I was thankful he was my best friend, so he could lie and tell me all the things I wanted to hear instead of the truth. “But you better let him down gentle.”
I polished off my beer and accepted a third. I had a feeling I was going to need it. “Thanks for being here, Liam.”
“Anytime, shortstack. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” He winked at me as he straightened. “Besides, you need someone who’ll rock your world. Not someone whosenice.”
“You’re really asking for it,” I told him.
I could only sigh as I made my way through the crowded bar to Andrew’s side with guilt hanging like a heavy weight on my shoulders and settling uncomfortably in my stomach. It didn’t help that when he heard me approach, Andrew turned to me with a wide, slightly wobbly smile on his face.
“There you are! I was about to come looking for you.”
“I’m sorry I took so long. You know girls’ bathrooms.” I waved a hand, but he still mostly looks confused.
“I ordered you a cosmopolitan, but I see you’ve already gotten a drink.” We’d been together long enough he’d memorized my drink order. It should have caused a pang of affection to chime in my chest, but there was…nothing. I frowned as he pushed the glass across the table. Noticing my expression, he asked, “Is something wrong?”
My smile wobbled and I downed half of the cosmo for liquid courage. It joined the beer already sloshing around in my stomach and the combination ignited.Not a good idea, Charlie. I set the drink down and moved it out of reach.Get it over with.
“Actually, Andrew, there’s something I think we should talk about.”
He rolled his shoulders and shifted in his seat. “Good, I’m glad you mentioned it. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about, too.”
Caught off guard my throat closed on the words and I gestured for him to continue. A sense of foreboding settled over me like a dark cloud and I glanced around surreptitiously for Liam’s comforting presence, but he was still busy at the bar. Besides, I didn’t need him to come to my rescue. I could handle Andrew.I hope.
Andrew took my hand in his and all I could think about was how clammy it was. I had to resist pulling mine away. “You know how much I care about you,” he said and tried to look deeply into my eyes. I hated when people did that. It always made me feel so incredibly uncomfortable. “We’ve been dating for a while now and…”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I wasn’t sure how I’d react if he actually proposed, but I knew it wouldn’t be pretty. “Stop, Andrew. I think I know what you’re going to say.” My heart is beating triple time and I wouldn’t be surprised if it leapt out of my chest and onto the table in between us—but not in a good way.
His shoulders relax and he sends me a grateful smile. “You do? Good. I was afraid we were on the wrong page.”
Oh, you have no idea.
“I found the ring,” I blurted.
