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The fragrance of leather and alcohol fills my nose. It's a busy night, and as I walk through the back, I note that people are talking, drinking, and dancing. The loud noise has a calming effect on me—it's what I need, a place where I can't hear myself think.
I keep walking until I stop next to my best friend, who sits at the bar with a beer in his hand.
"So?" he says without looking.
"Give me a Flaming Heart Scotch," I answer.
He twists his head and scans me for a moment. "Damn, what's bugging you, bro?"
Cole and I have been friends since we met at business school. We clicked right away.I sit next to him as the barman sets the scotch in front of me. I grab it and take a sizeable sip—reveling in the burn as it travels through my throat.
"Speak up," Cole says.
I stare at the whiskey glass in my hand while I answer.
"I met a woman." My mind rushes to Emma, and I run my hands through my hair.
Cole takes another sip of his beer and sets it back on the bar before he turns and studies me. "And? Did you bang her at the auction?"
A sudden urge to punch my best friend hits me. Having interpreted my body language, he holds his hands up apologetically.
"Hey, chill out. Your head will burst. I didn't know it was that serious."
A deep frustrated sigh leaves my lips as I take another sip of my scotch. "I fucked it up."
"How come?"
"I bid ten thousand dollars on her."
Cole's eyes widen, and he covers his mouth with his hand, trying to push back a laugh. I take that as a confirmation. I fucked up.
When I explain, he listens while drinking his beer from time to time, and when I'm done, I wait for him to respond.
Cole wiggles his eyebrows."Damn, you're into mommies?"
I nod my head while playing with my glass of scotch.
"Be sure of your feelings and intentions. There's a kid in the picture, and that's one thing you don't want to mess up."
I stare at my tumbler as Cole's words resonate in my brain.
"She must be one hell of a woman," he says.
"Yeah, she is. I've never felt so damn confused."
* * *
The entire drive back home,Charlotte rambles about Nick.
"He's sweet, Mommy. When can I see him again?"
I glance over to my little girl, bouncing in her seat.
"After I begged him to bid on you, he did, and he gave you his phone number," Charlotte continues, and I find myself stunned by her words.
I stop the car at the nearest parking space, and I turn in my place to face her. "Charlotte Campbell, what did you ask Nick to do?"
She jumps up at the change in my voice and answers with hesitation.
