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“How’s it going, Nick?” I pat his shoulder once before stepping back.
“Oh you know, living the life.” He raises his rocks glass that’s filled with an amber liquid.
“Starting early I see,” Aaron comments next to me. “What are you drinking?”
“Scotch. You want one?”
“I think I’m gonna stick with beer tonight.” Aaron shakes his head.
“Suit yourself. Abel?” Nick turns his attention to me.
“Actually, scotch sounds perfect.” I nod, following Nick when he turns and heads toward the small bar along the far back wall, while Aaron joins the other guys sitting around a long rectangular table in the center of the room. Most of them I know, some I don’t recognize. Based on how a few of them are dressed, I’d venture to say they’re colleagues of Andrew’s from the law firm he works at.
Sliding up on a barstool next to Nick, I order a double shot on the rocks from the middle-aged man working the bar.
“So where is my brother?” I ask, looking around for Andrew. “Isn’t this his party?”
“Sam’s bachelorette party is tonight, too. I guess he wanted to see her beforehand. Probably wanted to pound one out really quick.” He chuckles.
“Not a visual I want.” I crinkle my nose and shake my head, nodding when the bartender sets my drink in front of me.
“So, listen, not to bring the party down before it has even begun, but I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to hear about your girl.” The moment the condolence leaves his lips, the familiar ache in my chest returns full force. Not that it ever leaves; I’ve just gotten somewhat used to it.
Lifting my rocks glass, I take a long drink before setting it back on the bar.
“Thanks, man.” I nod, keeping my gaze forward.
“I just...” He stops midsentence due to a commotion on the other side of the room. We both turn in unison to see my brothers Andrew and Alex enter the room.
“Gentleman.” Andrew holds out his arms and I instantly hear the slur in his voice.
“Fuck me. Is he already drunk?” Nick asks, clearly thinking the same thing as me.
“This is going to be a long night.” I knock back the rest of my scotch and gesture to the bartender for another.
“I’m getting married,” Andrew announces, as if we didn’t already know.
“Because the bachelor party didn’t make that apparent,” I mutter under my breath.
“Stop talking and start drinking,” Aaron yells at Andrew and the other guys all start laughing.
I turn back around, not interested in whatever else my brother has to say.
“You ready for this?” Nick chuckles, sensing my aggravation.
“Not in the least.” I grab my second scotch when the bartender takes my empty and replaces it with a full one.
I’m happy for my brother, truly I am. But it’s hard to join in on his happiness when I feel like my only chance at true happiness died the same dayshedid. Maybe that makes me selfish, that I can’t see past my own pain to celebrate for my brother. Or maybe it’s easier to be pissed off than to give in to what I’m really feeling.
“I say we get so hammered that we have fun no matter what bullshit we end up doing.”
“I’m game with that.” I clink my glass against Nick’s and dump the contents down my throat, the liquid burning a warm path all the way to my stomach.
——
“Ithought we were droppingyou off at your place?” I ask, my gaze going from the window of the SUV to Andrew, who’s so drunk at this point he can barely hold his head up.
Andrew has never been much of a drinker, so being able to handle his liquor is not something he ever mastered. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t finding a little humor in seeing him this wasted just three hours after his party began.
