This is why I didn’t want to do love. It’s dangerous. It’s scary. And as soon as I give in to the idea, the other person flips the switch.
I’m still a little under the weather. I’ll probably just stay in for the night.
Anger surges in my veins. Something is going on. Why wouldn’t I be able to stop over and see her if she’s sick? And if she is sick, why wasn’t she home the other night?
In a fit of rage, I start to type out a text, then delete it. After doing this for five minutes straight, I decide I’m too heated to send anything. I need to blow off some steam before I confront her.
Then my phone rings.
Walker.
“Hey, buddy,” I answer, trying to sound cool and casual. Not like his sister is currently in the midst of breaking my heart—one that I’ve worked so hard to keep guarded.
“Roman, it’s Friday night. Colton and I are going out for drinks and dinner. Come join.”
“Just left work. Where are you guys going?”
“I’ll text you the place. I’m heading there from the courthouse right now. See you soon.”
I hang up the phone and find the bar he’s talking about. It has good ratings and what looks to be a decent menu. Of course, it’s in the opposite direction of where I’m walking.
I turn around and make the hike eight blocks to the bar. Walker and Colton are already sitting at a high-top table when I get there.
“You made it,” Colton greets as I approach the table.
I pull my jacket off and throw it on the empty barstool. Then work to rid myself of my tie. “I made it. Started walking home after work so I had to haul ass to get down here. You couldn’t have made that phone call five minutes sooner?”
Walker covers his mouth to hide his laugh. “Sorry, man. Didn’t realize I needed to do things based on your schedule. My bad.”
“Let’s get a drink for this grumpy ass,” Colton says as he nods to the waitress.
I am a grumpy ass. I’m already regretting being here. What I would really like to be doing is pounding on Eva’s door. I don’t play games. If this is what a relationship looks like with her, I’m out.
I can’t be constantly walking around, wondering if we’re okay or not.
“We’ll do another round of beers. One for our friend this time too,” Colton tells the waitress, who smiles suggestively at me.
I nod my head at her, in no mood to give a fake smile.
“I’ll be right back with your beers,” she says softly, then walks away.
Walker hits my arm. “Dude, she wants you. You couldn’t even pretend to have some kind of interest? She’s hot.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not in the mood.”
“I don’t understand not being in the mood. Sex cures all moods,” Walker quips.
Colton chuckles, but all I can picture is sex with Eva. Sex with Eva would cure all my moods. It doesn’t even have to be sex. Just being near her cures everything.
The moment the beer is placed in front of me I chug half of the glass.
“So,” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, “tell me what’s going on with you two. I’ve been buried in this renovation, and I haven’t had time to catch up.”
I do my best to listen to their updates because I should care. They’re my friends. I shouldn’t be so drowned in my own sorrows that I can’t be happy for their successes. But after three beers and a burger that I barely tasted, I decide I can’t do this right now.
“All right, I’m calling it a night. I’m beat.”
Colton and Walker look at each other suspiciously.