AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Where's Lucy and Maddie?” They would usually be with them, but I guess not tonight.
Winston laughs. “They ditched us earlier for each other.”
“Yeah, apparently Maddie,” Grant glares at Winston, “needed to go do something and Lucy had to go too.”
“Don't look at me,” Winston tells him. “Lucy's the one who decided it was better than going out with you tonight.”
Grant rolls his eyes as two guys walk up to our table. “Hey, Patrick, Jonathan. Guys, these jackasses are two of Lucy's brothers.” He laughs, and I'm surprised the guys chuckle. From what I've heard, they aren't all that nice when it comes to their sister.
I zone out of the conversation as they begin to talk, and I eat. What they say doesn't matter to me. Maybe it would if I wasn't so concerned about Audra. I want us to work, damn it. I haven't wanted anything as much as this in a long time, but that doesn't mean shit if Audra doesn't want it too.
“Let's play a game,” Bo interrupts my thoughts as he nods at the pool table.
I should have known it was a bad idea because as soon as he breaks, he starts talking. “You asked her about moving in?” I nod curtly. “She said no?”
“She didn't say anything,” I correct, feeling like it should matter more than it probably does. “Next thing out of her mouth was to cancel our plans, which I guess suffices for a no.”
“Have you started freaking out yet?”
I want to take my pool cue and jab him in the gut. “No,” I semi-lie and Bo leaves it at that. Like I said, all that really matters is that they are healthy. If Audra doesn't want more than what we have now, then that's fine. Even if I want more. I can survive either way. I just wish Audra would be up front with me about what she wants. She can tell me what she's thinking about everything, but this.
We don't talk for four more games with me drinking beer after beer after beer. Thoughts of Candace and my current situation with Audra swirl in my mind, fueling the drinking. And it doesn't miss my attention that Lucy and Maddie show up, heading straight for Grant and Winston with big smiles. My eyes scan the room as Bo takes a shot, landing on a girl I've slept with a time or two before. When was the last time I had sex anyway? It feels like a lifetime ago.
“Don't even think about it, Neil,” Bo's voice cuts through my thoughts, making me turn to him. He glances at the girl to show me that he saw me looking. “Don't do anything stupid.”
“Fuck off, Bo.” I shove my pool cue at him much harder than I meant, and he stumbles backwards into a passing waitress. I stalk over to the table, ignoring all the eyes on me as I throw some cash down to cover my food and drinks and start walking out of the bar.
Like I would have actually gone after the girl! It pisses me off that he thinks I would do that to Audra, whether she ever found out about it or not. She's carrying my baby girl! I love her! And he thinks I would throw away the simple possibility of being with her like I want because she shut down on me today? Just for a piece of ass?
Fucking bastard.
I don't have to listen to his shit because I can get the hell out of here.
My phone rings and I answer it angrily, “What?”
“Neil?” Audra's voice sounds on the other end.
“Neil!” Bo calls from behind me.
I ignore him. “Hey, babe. Sorry about that,” I say much nicer.
“Everything okay?”
“Neil!” Bo yells again as I unlock the doors to my car. “Don't you get in that fucking car!”
“Try to stop me!” I holler back, getting into the car with the intentions of getting away from him for a few to cool myself down.
“Neil, what's going on?” Audra asks with worry.
“Nothing,” I reply, locking my doors and cranking the car to get warm.
“Why are you calling me?”
“I just got home. Are you sure you're okay? You're slurring.”
Bo slaps an open palm on my window. “Neil, you're drunk. Get out of the damn car. You aren't driving.”
“Watch me.” I level my gaze at him. I wasn't going to drive anywhere, but if he won't go away, then I might as well leave.
