"Do you want your usual?" Wyatt asked with a charming smile as I sat down next to him at the bar. "Or are Cosmos not your thing anymore?"
I laughed as I sat my purse next to me. The crack of a pool stick combined with the winning music of a dart machine sounded behind me. "Cosmos are still my thing," I told Wyatt with a laugh, "but I'm feeling something a lot stronger tonight."
"Bartender!" Wyatt called as he held up two fingers. "Can we get two shots of tequila, please?"
"Coming right up!" The bartender called.
Wyatt turned to me. "Do you want some food?"
"Yes!" I exclaimed. "I'm starving. I don't feel like making any decisions tonight, so you can order for me. You know what I like."
Wyatt ordered our food and I was counting down the minutes before the bartender brought us our shots. Maybe this night out would help clear my mind and make me feel a little better. God knows, I needed it. After all, I had this mysterious time off at work now. Speaking of...
I frowned and looked at Wyatt. "Do you know anything about a trip coming up?"
"A trip?"
"Yeah, apparently Logan had requested time off on my behalf at my job. I have no idea what it's for."
Wyatt closed his eyes briefly. Yep, he knew something. At least with Wyatt, I knew that he would tell me if I asked. "Yeah. It must be for the lake house. Our family is supposed to go down there for a couple weeks."
My eyes widened. "Weeks? Weeks!" The bartender sat my shot down and I threw it back. "Another one, please. And keep them coming."
"I take it you had no idea about this, did you?"
I scoffed. "No. I didn't. I found out from my boss when he told me it was approved."
This was just like Logan. Always making decisions for me. It's almost like, he thinks I'm going to say no, so he springs it on me last minute.
"I'm sorry, Lia."
I threw back my next shot. This alcohol needed to kick in already. I wanted to not think or get upset over all the stress I've been dealing with. I just wanted to enjoy my night out with my best friend.
"Are you and Logan doing okay?" he asked without looking at me.
I snorted at his question. "Aren't I supposed to bitch to my girlfriends about my boyfriend?"
"You don't have any girlfriends, Lia," he said with a laugh.
I frowned at that. I had girlfriends, didn't I? I mean, I had a few work friends but I wasn't close to many of them. Not close enough to talk about my relationship issues.
"Oh, my God," I breathed and looked at Wyatt. "I have no girlfriends. You are literally the only best friend that I have."
"Ouch."
"No!" I said sympathetically with a laugh. "I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean it like that. Besides, it doesn't change anything. This is weird. I can't bitch to you about my boyfriend because he's your brother."
He shrugged a shoulder. "Why not? You know I'll probably be on your side anyways," he teased.
I knew it was a mistake as soon as I looked at him. He was looking at me like he did whenever he tried to get his way when we were growing up. He had the pouty lips and the puppy dog eyes and I fell for it...just like I always did.
"Fine. But if I'm going to bitch to you about Logan, then first you need to tell me what happened with your girlfriend back in California."
Wyatt groaned and turned away from me.
"Oh, no. Tell me. Now." If I was going to have an awkward conversation, so was he.
The bartender brought us another round of tequilas. We drank them and I clapped my hands together. "Okay, Wyatt. Spill."
Wyatt was quiet for a few minutes and I started picking at our food that the bartender brought us. I could sense the tenseness in the shoulders and I started to feel bad that I forced him to tell me. Just as I was about to tell him to forget it, he started talking.
"We only dated a couple months. She's the one who asked me out, actually."
"Really?" There was surprise in my voice as I took a bite of a mozzarella stick. Logan was always more forward when it came to the ladies, but it still surprised me that this woman is the one who asked Wyatt out.
Then again, he was...very nice to look at. And he was an amazing person. I guess it wasn't surprising to have to have some random California woman fawning over him.
Wyatt cleared his throat before he continued, "Yeah. We were in the same Sociology class. She asked me out for a drink and I thought," he shrugged and threw back another shot, "what the hell?"
I ate another mozzarella stick. "So, how was the date?" Even though I had feelings for Wyatt, I still cared about him and was curious about his life. In the end, I just wanted him to be happy. Even if it wasn't with me.
"The date was actually good. We started seeing each other for a few weeks after that."
When he didn't answer, I asked, "Can I ask why it didn't work out?"
Another shot for the both of us. "We just didn't...click." He let out a heavy sigh before he looked at me. "You know, we didn't have that-- that spark. That connection that draws you in."
Something about what he said hit me close to home. I nodded absently and his eyes met mine. We stayed like that for several moments. There seemed to be an unwavering connection between us. That is until the bartender came up and broke that connection.
"Another round for you two?"
"Yes." Wyatt and I answered at the same time.
I cleared my throat and Wyatt looked away. "Your turn, Lia. What's going on with Logan?"
I tried to think of the best way to describe it. "Well, I told you about the stunt he pulled at my office. I was planning on calling him when I got home and tearing him a new one." Wyatt and I both laughed before I continued. "But when I got home, he was there waiting at my door." I kept my eyes on the bowl of bar nuts. I felt like if I looked at Wyatt, I wouldn't be able to keep talking.
"And then?" he asked when I didn't continue.
"Before I could even ask about him calling my office, he was pissed that he didn't have a key to my place."
"He doesn't have a key to your apartment?"
I shook my head. "He and I have talked about this before. I'm just-- not ready. I'm not ready for him to have a key. Let alone actually moving in together. I'm just not ready."
"That sounds fair," Wyatt said as I had another shot. "Is there more?"
Oh, yeah. There was more. "You are my best friend, Wyatt. I don't want to start problems between you and your brother."
"Why would you star-- Wait. Did he do something to you?" There was a hit of anger in his voice.
I turned to him with a small smile. "See, this is what I'm talking about. If I'm going to confide in you, I need you. I need Wyatt, my best friend. Not Wyatt, Logan's brother. Which means this stays between me and you. Can you promise me that?"
"I promise."
One thing I could count on was that Wyatt always kept his promises to me. "Logan didn't really do anything to me. It's that this key thing and me not wanting to move in with him has him accusing me of...of fooling around."
The tone in Wyatt's voice was a combination of anger, surprise, and disgust. "He accused you of cheating on him? Lia, he's known you forever. He should know that you would never do that."
A sarcastic laugh escaped me and I fidgeted with my napkin. "You know, he said the same thing about moving in. He said that I've known him forever and shouldn't have any problem with it."
"Well, what did you say when he accused you?"
"I opened my apartment door and told him to have a look for himself if he didn't believe me. I didn't have anything to hide."
Wyatt actually laughed at that. "Wow. I bet he hated that."
"Yep. He stormed off." Long sigh from me. "So, I went and took a shower, debated on staying home alone or coming here, and now-- boom." I smiled at Wyatt. "I'm drunk and bitching about my boyfriend. Not very good company I have to say."
"Lia," he said quietly, "you are always the best company. Whoever thinks differently is an idiot."
I slid from the stool and grabbed my purse. I put some cash on the table and faced my best friend. "Wyatt, thank you for inviting me here and listening to be bitch. But I have to work tomorrow and I know I will have a bitching hangover."
I pulled out my keys and he quickly took them from me. "Whoa. You are not driving. We'll call an Uber."
He walked me outside and the cool air felt nice. I pulled my coat together and closed my eyes as I tilted my head back. It had to be in the fifties tonight. It was perfect.
"It says the Uber is four minutes away."
"Okay. Thank you." It dawned on me that he had the same amount of drinks as I did. I turned to look at him. "How are you getting home?"
"I'm going to share an Uber to make you get home okay, then I'll take the Uber home."
I scrunched my face at him. "I don't need a babysitter, Wyatt."
"No," he said plainly, "but you need a best friend. And I'm the only one you got," he said in a sing-song voice.
I playfully pushed at his shoulder as the Uber finally pulled up. We climbed into the blue car-- or was it black? -- who knew. I leaned my head against the window and watched the crowded New York streets and lights swoosh by in a blur. I could feel the affects of the alcohol intensifying and I was glad that I ate some food. I really needed tonight. It's been so long since Wyatt and I had a night like that. Where we were just...Wyatt and Lia. I missed that more than anything.
"We're here," the driver said.
It took a minute for his words to process in my brain. Actually, it must have been a few minutes, because Wyatt was at my side of the car opening my door. "I got her," he said to the driver. "You go ahead and I'll call another Uber. Thanks for the ride."
He helped me out of the car and I could barely stand on my feet. "I'm fine, Wyatt." I slurred my words and I knew that I was anything but fine. He knew it too. One second I was trying to stay upright, and the next he scooped me up in his arms. I tried to tell myself to fight him and to make him put me down. But instead, I rested my head in the crook of his neck as he carried me to my apartment.
I must have fallen asleep for a few minutes, because the next thing I felt was the softness of my bed. I let out a heavy sigh as Wyatt slipped off my shoes and disappeared into my kitchen. I sat up in my bed when he returned with a glass of water and two aspirin. The bed dipped when he sat down and he handed the water and pills to me.
"Take this. It'll help with the hangover."
"Thank you." I took the medicine and drank most of the water. He sat the glass on my bedside table before looking back at me. "You know, you're pretty amazing, Wyatt."
He laughed and shook his head. "You must be really drunk to say that to me."
I giggled before I toyed with the bottom of his shirt. "I'm serious." My eyes met his. "You're always there for me."
There it was again. That spark he was talking about. That connection. I didn't know if he felt it or if it was just me. But it was there. I felt my body sway a little in his direction.
"Of course I'm there for you, Lia. I'll always be there for you," he whispered.
My eyes dropped to his lips. Even after four years, I could still remember how it felt when he kissed me.
"Lia..." His voice sounded strained and I didn't know what to make of it.
I could have sworn he started to lean into me. And then...
The ringing of my cell phone instantly broke whatever connection was between us. I leaned back and grabbed my phone from my purse. "It's uh-- It's Logan."
"You should answer it. I bet he's calling to apologize."
Wyatt got up from my bed and my eyes followed. "Wyatt. Thank you. For tonight."
His mouth lifted in a half smile. "You never have to thank me, Lia. But you're welcome. Get some rest."
Just as I heard Wyatt leave through the front door, I glanced down at my phone. Wyatt was right, I should probably answer the phone. I looked back towards the door to my room. Then I put my phone on silent, and went to sleep.