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I signaled for another shot, and the bartender slid it over. Her eyes volleyed between us like she wasn’t sure which one she was interested in. All I wanted from her was alcohol. This dude could have her. She was wearing entirely too much makeup; her eyelashes looked like furry tarantula legs, and her face was three shades darker than her neck. I hate these fake fucking Staten Island girls. They weren’t like Charlotte. She was different.
The whiskey burned my throat, and I hoped it would burn my heart right out of my chest.
“I always wanted a brother when I was little.”
Why was this guy still talking? “You can have mine.”
“Yeah, well … that wishing stopped when my mom died.” He looked down at his full, untouched shot glass. “I was thankful I didn’t have a sibling to go through what I went through.”
Shit. I wasn’t expecting that. I nodded in agreement, thinking about what my family was about to endure.
“Life’s not fair to anyone. Gotta keep fighting though.”
I downed my third shot. “Not in the mood for a motivational speech, man.”
“No one ever really is. The ones who refuse it are always the people who need it the most.”
I raised an eyebrow as he stood. “You always come to a bar to pay for alcohol that you didn’t drink?”
The man winked at the bartender as he placed a twenty on the bar. “I don’t drink anymore.” He extended his hand. “My name is TJ. What’s your name?”
I shook his hand, getting a better look at the tattoos on his arm. “Tanner.”
“Tanner, you should come check out my gym sometime.” He pointed at the logo on his T-shirt. “I think it would be good for you.”
“No, thanks.”
“Suit yourself. But whatever you’re looking for at the bottom of that glass, I can assure you that you won’t find it. You need to get up and fight for what you want.”
I chugged the rest of my beer as TJ walked away. What I want? What I wanted was for my father not to be dying, but there was no way I could stop that from happening. I wanted Charlotte to forgive me, but she wouldn’t, despite my efforts. I wanted to feel something good for a change, but that never seemed to happen.
So, I’d sit here and drink until I felt nothing at all.
Charlotte
“Hi, Charlotte,” Gabe answered his phone cheerfully. “What are you up to?”
“I’m finishing at the bakery in a little while.”
“Can I see you when you’re done?”
“Sure. What do you want to do?”
“Why don’t I take you to dinner? I’d like to take you to an actual restaurant this time.”
“We close at six- thirty, and then I have to run home and shower.”
“How’s seven- thirty?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“See you then.”
Mallory shook her head as she walked around the counter.
“What are you shaking your head at me for?”
“Why force yourself to go out with Gabe when you have feelings for Tanner?”
