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"I'm sorry, Si," he gritted out. It was painfully obvious that the apology was only given to placate his fiancée.

"No, I'm sorry," I quietly replied. The words sounded hollow to my ears, but I meant them. I loved my cousin and was devastated that Barron secretly felt this way about me.

I also remembered another sharply worded assassination of my character not too long ago, ringing in my ears.

Eden peeked at me over Barron's shoulder. If I weren't so dejected, I would smile in amusement at my cousin's overprotective nature.

"Would you like to stay for lunch?" She sweetly asked, her tone genuine.

I quickly glanced at Barron only for him to look away. My stomach slumped slightly at the obvious statement. He didn't want me here.

"Thanks, Eden," I forced the words past my dry mouth. "But I'm gonna head back to Maria's."

Eden gave me a sad smile but nodded. "Okay. Barron will call you later." Her tone left no room for arguments.

I glanced at Barron one last time, feeling defeated when he still refused to meet my eyes. After nodding at Eden, I turned on my heel and left.

Instead of heading to Maria's, I went straight to Malley's. I needed a stiff drink, and I needed it now.

Chapter 7

Sofia

Igaveasmileof thanks to the couple exiting Malley's as they held the door open for me. The familiar smell of beer and greasy burgers immediately invaded my senses as I walked through the double doors.

I waved to a few people I recognized before searching the busy establishment for Brian. He usually arrived before I did, with my usual Vodka and soda, ready and waiting.

The place was filling up with people coming in out of the cold for a drink and a warm meal. Soft pop rock played in the background alongside darts hitting a board and billiard balls smacking against each other. I could see Theo, the owner, filling orders for the small crowd around the bar.

"Sof, over here." I turned, spotting Brian waving at me from his seat in one of the side booths at the back. He indicated the drink he already ordered, and I gave him a grateful smile before moving through the crowd towards him.

Bless that man because Lord knows I needed a drink right now after the day I'd had.

Simon really knew how to ruin...everything. I wished I had just left his bare ass out in the hallway, especially after overhearing Maria's angry vitriol regarding him sleeping with Lissa.

Yuck.

But no, I just had to fall for his charming smile and his pleas of helplessness. I did not doubt that if I hadn't helped him, he would've talked some other poor, unsuspecting soul into assisting him.

And what did I get for my troubles? Nothing but insults.

Admittedly, I did initially feel guilty for dumping him on the side of the road. Especially when I got out of my car to meet Ryan for coffee and realized how cold it actually was out. And I was wearing double layers.

I told myself I'd only dropped him off at the edge of Barron and Eden's street. Sure, they lived a few houses down, but it wasn't that bad for Simon to walk to.

But my bleeding heart got the better of me, and I ended up ringing Eden to make sure Simon had made it there without collapsing on the side of the road with hypothermia.

I was shocked when Eden told me about Simon and Barron's little blow-up. I knew they weren't tight like that anymore, but I never would have guessed that Barron had it in him to go off like that.

Eden was confident that they'd work through it eventually and that their argument was a good thing. "There's a lot of love between them," Eden told me through the phone, "they're family, after all. I'm hoping they have a sit-down and hash out their issues like grown adults. I know Barron already feels bad; he's been wandering around the apartment like a kicked puppy."

I did briefly wonder where Simon disappeared to after he left their place. Eden told me he was headed back to Maria's, but I seriously doubted that. Again, I thought of the thin layer of clothes he had on. At least he had shoes now.

Determined to put Simon to the back of my mind, I gave Brian an earnest smile as he stood to greet me. I hugged him before leaning back to accept the gentle kiss he usually gave. I kept my hand at the back of his blonde head as my mouth moved briefly under his, our tongues kissing once before pulling back with a smile.

I felt a pool of desire low in my belly as I sat down, anticipating the night of carnal pleasure ahead. It hadn't been that long since we had slept together – about three weeks. I loved sex but wasn't the type to sleep with a new man every week. I preferred being in a relationship, but if I couldn't have that, I settled for what Brian and I had - a casual bed buddy when the mood struck.

"How was your week?" Brian raised his hand at the passing waitress, which caused his shirt to ride up a little, giving me a peek at his flat stomach.