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“Why don’t I have a key to your place?”
“Because I didn’t give you one,” I hiss at Chase. What the hell is he doing here?
“Why not? You have a key to my place. It only seems fair.”
“Because you handed it to me and told me it was for safekeeping.”
“Well, can I have one of yours?”
“Sure. . . Jesus. I’ll even let you leave a toothbrush here. Feel better?”
“Yes,” he says, walking into my place. “Speaking of brushing, I need your help.”
I’m not in the mood for Chase’s antics. Not that he does anything anymore. Being in love has really changed him. For a guy who was once the town player, he’s done a one-eighty. It’s great seeing my best friend as happy as he is. Seeing him right now, on the other hand. . . not so much. “Can this wait ’til tomorrow?”
“No.” He helps himself to a beer and takes a seat on my couch. “I need you to read this essay for my genetic engineering course.”
Just like me, Chase didn’t finish college. A bad breakup tore at his confidence, and he let it get the best of him. He left and decided having a no-fucks attitude was his way of coping. Until Bridget. Now, he’s back at the local university, finishing his degree. I’ve been so damn proud of him. Except right now. I want nothing to do with helping him. I wipe my hands down my face. “Seriously? Can’t Bridget help you?”
“Probably, but you know this shit. She would just smile, tell me it’s great, and I’d end up jumping her and be back at square one.”
I dig my thumbs into my eye sockets. Sighing, I head over and sit on the other end of the couch. “Look, I’ve had a shit day. I’m not the best person to look over that paper. Find some first-year student to sucker into helping you.”
“No can do. You’re my man. And you owe me.”
“How the hell so?”
“I helped you out the night of the wedding.”
I grab my beer, taking a swig. “Again, how the hell so? I don’t remember you doing shit for me.”
“Sure I did. I ran into your little nemesis while getting ice. She looked pretty worked up, if ya know what I mean.”
I spit out my beer. “Wait—you fucking saw her?”
“Yeah. Asked how it was going. She told me you preferred no one knew you two were together. So, I kept your secret. Not sure why you’re hiding it. She’s pretty fuckin’ hot. Nowhere near as hot as my angel, but—”
“That conniving little—”
“Whoa there, cowboy. I didn’t say anything. Your secret is safe with—damn, what happened to your wrists? Wait—shit, did you two get into some freaky—”
“We didn’t get into shit!” I pull at my long sleeves. Fuck, I’m going to murder her. “We didn’t do shit. I was wasted and didn’t even know who she was. She got me up to my room and naked. Talked me into letting her cuff me for some kinky shit—which I don’t normally do, but, again, I was plastered.” I run my hands through my hair. I can’t believe I’m admitting this shit. “She cuffed me to the bed and left. Told me she was going to get more stuff. She never came back. It wasn’t until morning that the cleaning staff finally came in and freed me.”
I’ve never wanted to punch my best friend in the face more than I do right now. “Wipe that fucking look off your face.”
“I can’t.”
“Why the hell not!”
“Because I’m in shock. This is how shocked people look.”
“No, asshole, you look like you’re about to burst out laughing. Just get it over with.” Chase looks like a goddamn tomato holding his breath. I knew I should have kept this shit to myself.
“Okay, fuck!” There it is. He bellows out an annoying ass laugh. The falling to the ground and rolling part is a bit much, though.
“Dude, that’s enough.” I give him another ten seconds, then kick him. “Seriously, get up or leave. I don’t need this shit right now.”
“Got it.” He sits back up, wiping at his tears. “Wow. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Probably not since that chick superglued you to the toilet seat in college.”
