Chapter 1
Chapter One
brOOKS - FIVE YEARS LATER
A DECEMBER TO FORGET
“ W ho divorces someone in December?” I bemoan into my almost empty drink.
“Technically it was finalized in December,” Charlie oh-so-helpfully points out.
I cut my best friend a scathing glare.
“What? I said technically,” Charlie says.
“It doesn’t change the fact that I’m divorced and it’s December. Who does that before the holidays?” I point a finger at him. “And don’t hit me with your technicalities.”
Charlie throws his hands up. “I wasn’t going to.”
“I need another drink.”
“Got it.”
Charlie pops up from his spot across from me at the table to dash behind the bar. I guess this is one of the perks of being best friends with someone who owns a bar.
The Tinsel Tavern is quiet given it is an early weekday afternoon. Canned lights and twinkling string lights brighten the large room. A few patrons are sitting at tables drinking mixed cocktails. The usually crowded dance floor is empty. Old Pride posters hang on the wall, next to photos of the various drinks served and old pictures of what the Tinsel Tavern used to look like.
This place has become like a second home. With Charlie owning it, he spends most of his time here. If I want to hang out with him, this is where I come.
“Two shots of tequila.”
Charlie sets two small glasses of amber liquid in front of me. Not thinking, I down both in under ten seconds. It burns going down, but it helps calm the rage I’m currently feeling.
“Fuck.” I grab the glass of water Charlie brought over earlier when I told him I needed to get drunk and take a healthy swallow. “I’m going to need about ten more of those.”
Charlie smiles at me, sipping on his beer. “You’re going to need to drink about ten more glasses of water if you think I’m going to keep feeding you shots.”
“Please?” I whine, jutting out my bottom lip before dropping my arms onto the table and resting my head there. “I’m sad.”
“I thought you were angry?” Charlie rests his arm on the back of the corner booth we’re sitting in. This is Charlie’s booth. Whenever his friends come hang out, this is our spot.
“Again, with the technicalities. I’m sad too. I can be both.”
“Who’s sad about what?” a voice interrupts the conversation.
Glancing up, I find one of Charlie’s other good friends standing at the end of the table. Hunter is tall, with biceps that are thick under his jacket. Blond hair is hidden below a dark, knit cap, and his blue eyes don’t give away anything.
Hunter moved to Moose Falls a few years back and became fast friends with Charlie. For as much as I’ve hung out with him, it’s hard to get a read on him.
“My divorce,” I lament .
“Ouch.” Hunter drops down into the open seat next to Charlie. “Sorry, man.”
“I guess it was time.” I gulp more water before flagging down a passing waiter to order more shots.
“Still.” Hunter reaches across the table and claps me on the shoulder. “That has to hurt.”
“It’ll be okay,” Charlie tells me, putting a positive spin on it. Which is just like him. “Lick your wounds, heal from this, and then I’m sure you’ll meet someone new and fall madly in love and get married again.”
I scoff. “I will never get married again, even if the world is on fire and it would save humanity.”
Charlie chokes on his sip of beer. “That’s quite the stance to take.”
“Well, it’s true.”
A few minutes later, the waiter drops off the shots I ordered and I pass one to each of the guys. “Cheers to life being over.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that, but I’ll drink.” Hunter clinks his glass against mine before downing his shot. Charlie rolls his eyes at me but follows suit.
“You really should slow down,” Charlie tells me. “You’ll only feel more terrible in the morning if you keep going.”
Hunter laughs. “ Or you could take a page out of Charlie’s playbook and get drunk in Canada.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
Charlie shoots a glare in Hunter’s direction. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the tree farm?”
Hunter gives him a small smile. “I had to pick a few things up in town and thought I’d drop by for a few minutes.”
“It’s been a few minutes. You can go.”
Charlie tries to shove him out of the booth, but I throw out a hand to stop him.
“Hold on. When did you get drunk in Canada?” Charlie mumbles something to himself that I can’t hear. “What was that?”
“He didn’t just get drunk in Canada. He got arrested in Canada,” Hunter supplies.
“You got arrested in Canada? I didn’t know that could happen.” I laugh.
“Well, it can, and it does. And it’s not something I like telling people.” Charlie glares at Hunter. If looks could kill…
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drunk.”
“Probably because the one and only time I got drunk, I got arrested,” Charlie clarifies.
“But why? Why did you get drunk in Canada of all places?”
“It happened. It was an accident. One that I fully blame on Hunter allowing to happen.”
“Hey! It wasn’t my fault!” Hunter defends himself.
Charlie nods. “It was, because you kept feeding me shots.”
“Again, how did I not know you went to Canada?” I ask.
I know everything about Charlie. I’ve known him since third grade. How can I not know this fact?
“It was right after you got married and were on your honeymoon.”
I wince, not wanting the reminder of anything having to do with my marriage.
“Maybe next time don’t take Hunter with you to Canada. This is why you need me in your life. To keep you from doing stupid shit.”
“I’d say we should order shots to celebrate,” Hunter starts, “but I’d hate for Charlie to get drunk and get arrested here.”
“Hunter, as much as I love having you here, it’s time to go.” Charlie again tries to shove Hunter out of the booth, and this time he succeeds. “See if you drink for free the next time you’re here.”
“You love me.” Hunter blows him a kiss as he waves at me before disappearing out the front door .
“As for you.” Charlie pulls me up and I wobble. I’ve been here for hours, since right after I finished signing the papers, and I’ve drunk more than I have in a long time. “You’re going to go to my house and sleep this off.”
I shake my head, the bar spinning. “’S’okay. I’ll call a ride share and head to my parents’.”
“Brooks.”
“Charlie.”
I give him the best smile I can muster up today.
“You’re being stubborn,” he tells me.
“No, I’m not. I’m homeless, jobless, and single. I’m a fucking catch.”
“Brooks, you just got divorced. You are not going to be trying to catch another fish anytime soon. Give yourself a break.”
“I’ll be sure to tell people that next summer when I’m sleeping on a park bench.”
“You’re staying with me.” Charlie waves off my comment. “I won’t take no for an answer.”
“You realize I come with a seventy-five-pound dog, right?”
“You realize I love Comet, right?” he fires back at me. “Stop arguing with me. Go sleep off your hangover at your parents’ and then you can move your stuff in when you’re ready.”
I wrap Charlie in a warm hug. “This is why you’re my best friend.”
His breath ghosts my ear as he returns the hug. It’s just what I needed right about now. With everything in my life spiraling out of control, it’s nice to know I can depend on one person.
My best friend.
My Charlie.
As long as I have him in my life, I’ll have everything I need.