AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good.”
Several tense moments pass, and I wash thoughts of Marcy down with my gin. Claude returns with a bowl of pretzels. I grab one and nibble on it. I should order something to eat, but my stomach is twisted in knots.
“Are you ready for the wedding?” I watch Arthur’s profile.
“Ready as I’ll ever be. I never imagined I would get married.” He shakes his head and laughs. “Especially not to a girl from the future.”
“Yeah, I still have a hard time figuring out the logistics of that.” I chuckle. “But she’s good for you. I’m glad you found someone who’ll deal with your grumpy ass.”
Arthur straightens. “I’m not grumpy.”
“Whatever you say.”
“I’m not.”
Claude reappears, and I seize the opportunity. “Claude, is Arthur grumpy?”
The bartender’s expression remains neutral as his gaze drifts between us. “Don’t drag me into this. I’m here to serve drinks, not mediate your petty bullshit.”
I frown. “You’re no fun.”
Claude shrugs and retreats to the far end of the bar.
“He knows us too well.” Arthur smirks before finishing the last of his scotch. “I booked the flight to Rome. We leave the day after the wedding.”
“I’m jealous, man. I’ve always wanted to see Italy.”
“So go. Nothing’s stopping you.”
“That’s not the point. You have someone to share it with.”
Arthur sighs and pivots to face me. “So find someone and go.”
“You say that like it’s the easiest thing in the world.”
“If you’d stop mooning over my sister, you’d find someone.”
I choke on my gin. “I’m not mooning over Marcy.”
“Yes, you are. You have been for years. It’s fucking exhausting—you two go back and forth like two stray cats. Admit it, she’s not interested. You should move on.”
But I don’t want to. The words echo in my mind. I finish the gin and slide the glass away. “Point taken.”
“Oh, speaking of my sister, she’ll be staying at the penthouse while we’re away. Kate insisted on getting a cat, and Marcy offered to keep an eye on her.” He pauses, tapping the glass on the bar. “I told her to call you if she has any issues.”
“Thanks. That’ll help me move on.” I groan and rest my head on the table.
“You’re welcome.”
Claude appears and refills our glasses. The conversation shifts to more neutral topics, mostly work and snatches of gossip about our mutual friends. I enjoy spending time with Arthur when he’s not breaking my balls. But I can hand it right back to him.
Right now, though, I don’t. He’s getting married, and we’re celebrating. I’m happy for him and Kate. They deserve each other. I couldn’t have envisioned a better match.
The longer we sit at the bar, the more we drink. Claude cuts us off at ten o’clock and starts pushing water in our direction. By the time midnight rolls around, we’re drunk and carefree, but not completely wasted.
Claude kicks us out shortly after midnight.
A black town car appears, and Cyril steps from the driver’s seat. He opens the back door, and with a disapproving shake of his head over our state of intoxication, he nudges us into the car.
