“Why does he have you fooled?”
“Isn’t this against guy code—me talking to you about him?”
He shakes his head. “No code, not when you seem so frazzled.”
That’s a polite way of putting it. I bite the inside of my cheek and thumb the condensation on the glass between my palms. “I saw him earlier with another woman.”
Charlie leans away, crossing his arms. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He scrubs his hand over his face. “I’m not sure what to say, except, I know he more than likes you Rachel. I’ve never known him to be anything but transparent with his intentions.”
I pick at the cardboard coaster in front of me, the urge to cry coming to the forefront. I push it away. “Oh, he was transparent, all right.”
Charlie stands, seeming at a loss. “Listen, I need to get behind the bar. You’ll be okay? Do you want me to call anyone?”
I shake my head.
I lose count of what time it is or how many drinks I’ve had. I don’t even fully comprehend Felicity showing up with Nate until she’s joining me in the ladies’ toilet.
My head spins as I pee and rest my temple against the cold, tiled wall.
“Are you okay?” she calls out.
“Fine. When did you get here?” I ask, my words slur.
She chuckles, low. “About an hour ago.”
I flush when I’m finished and join her at the sink. She looks over me with pity. “Want to talk about it?”
I tilt my head back, a wave of dizziness assaulting me, so I stare at my reflection that’s slightly blurred, instead. “Does it bother you? That I slept with Nate?” I ask her.
She bites back her grin. “I wasn’t with him when you did. So no, it’s a moot point. Anyway, don’t change the subject—what happened with you and Olly?”
I groan and slump against the sink. “I thought he cared about me. I went to see him, to apologise. To tell him how I feel…and he was with someone else.”
She nods and eyes me. “Charlie said something like that in his text.”
My shoulders sag. “It’s why you came. Are you my search and rescue?”
Laughing, Felicity grabs hold of my hand. “No, I’m your friend.” And that’s when the torrent of tears come. She pulls me into her and hugs me.
“The worst part is, I’ve never felt like this about anyone else before,” I say, pulling back and wiping my nose.
“What did he say when you saw him?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. I was peeking in his window.”
Felicity tries to cover her smile. “You were spying on him?”
“God, no. I was going to apologise. I heard him, and I peeked through his window.” Saying it out loud, I sound like a fucking crazy bitch.
“You need to talk to him.”
I know she’s right, but right now, he is the last person I want to see. “Fancy having a shot with me?”
“Why not? Nate drove,” she replies, linking her arm through mine as I exit the restrooms, a little wobbly on my feet.
