Chapter 5 – Dylan
Chapter Five
DYLAN
I try not to grimace as I peel Julie off me.
“Luna told me it was a bad idea to go and see you the other night, but I didn’t listen. I’m sorry I didn’t listen.” She pats Luna on the shoulder.
The glossy blonde shrugs. “If it works for you, it’s all good.”
“Luna was right,” I say. “We’re broken up, so you should not be crashing at my place after a night of drinking. Listen to your friend.”
I try to emphasize the broken-up bit for Natalie, who has gone from looking at me with wet lips and hot eyes to a pinched, unhappy expression. Kaden’s eyes bounce from one person to another until he arrives at the probably correct conclusion that I’m screwed.
“We out of here?” The only move he makes is the arch of his eyebrow.
Given how close he’s positioned himself to the brown-haired girl, Frankie, he does not want to leave. Like any good friend would do, I sit my ass back down. “Nah. We just ordered, and since you haven’t signed your new contract yet, this is probably the only drink we can afford.”
“If you took in more clients, you wouldn’t have these cash flow issues.” Julie shakes her head mournfully.
“True.” I’m done explaining myself to her.
“I’ll cover your shot.” Kaden grins. He’s enjoying this and is recording every word to repeat at our next poker meet.
“It’s not this one drink that matters, though, is it?” Julie will not let up. “It’s every time we go out. Will Kaden always be there to pay your way?”
“Yes.” If he’s going to get so much pleasure out of my pain, then he damned well better be paying.
“I’m good for at least five more happy hours. After that, we’ll have to renegotiate.” Kaden’s almost laughing now.
“That will just make you both uncomfortable until you get to the point that you don’t even want to go out anymore. Your friendship will wither and your self-esteem will plummet, and soon you’ll just be holed up in your living room with your lights off, eating ice cream straight out of the tub,” Julie cries.
A pall descends on the table. Natalie stares at her hands. Kaden’s shit-eating grin has slid off. I take a big gulp of my drink. Julie has issues that stem far beyond my current career choices.
The girl with the big rock on her left hand pats Julie on the back. “Oh, honey, it’s okay. Let’s talk about this later.”
“Actually, isn’t this the best time? We’re all professionals here.” Julie’s getting worked up and, not to be mean, but if we were dating, I would have sent myself to a professional because no amount of sex would be worth this. “We can give him all our collective advice. We know that to build a book of business. You have to be consistent, and to throw it all away for no reason doesn’t make sense.”
“No reason?” Kaden interjects, but I give him a rough shake of my head. I never shared my mother‘s circumstances with Julie because despite her thinking we were a couple, I never thought we were close. Not share my mom’s medical diagnosis close, at least.
Natalie catches my silent signal to Kaden and tilts her head. I give her a tight, regretful smile. I know I’m not making a good impression.
“Happy hour’s a blast, isn’t it?” I joke.
Natalie gives a light laugh. “We should call it ‘grievance hour’ because I have to confess that our Wednesday nights are really a time when we complain about everything bad in our lives, and when I say bad, I mean even the minor inconveniences like not having the right change for the toll.”
”That’s completely understandable. Not being able to whip the coins into the feeder and speed through can put me off the entire day.”
“You get it.”
I tip my glass toward her. “I’m all in for grievance hour.”
“But—“ Julie starts to say, but Luna has had enough. She jumps to her feet and pulls Julie with her.
“Bathroom break. We’ll be right back.” A flash of the enormous diamond and the two are gone.
Everyone seems to let out a sigh of relief.
“I think what you’re doing is cool,” Natalie says quietly. “I’m not brave enough to leave my law practice, so it’s awesome that you’re pursuing whatever it is you’re pursuing.”
”We all know that Julie’s issue isn’t with you but something else,” Frankie adds.
“It’s all good. How about you buy the table another round, Kaden?” I suggest. “I’ve got to save up for my electricity bill.”
Kaden starts to chuckle. “All right, boss, I’ll buy tonight.” He pulls out his black card. “You owe me, though.”
“I’ll pay you back when I take on my next case.”
“So never.”
I shrug. “Times are tough, and you can afford it.”
“I don’t mind paying.” Natalie reaches for her purse.
I realize my joke has gone too far. I lay a hand over her wrist. “No. It’s all good. I can manage a few rounds. I’ve even got enough for a few dinners. We’re just playing.”
“It’s the twenty-first century. Women pay for themselves. That’s why we have jobs.” She tugs at my grip, but I won’t let go.
“Don’t make me get on my knees and beg you. There’s only so much my poor man-ego can take.”
She hesitates, which is very sweet but also humiliating. It was one thing for Julie to think that I could not scrape two pennies together, but I don’t want this beautiful girl to think I couldn’t provide for her.
“I’m really doing okay,” I say quietly. “I never corrected Julie because it didn’t matter. We weren’t dating.”
“You went out to eat with her?” Natalie asks.
“Yeah.”
“That’s dating, Dylan.” She wrinkles her nose and leans around me so she can capture her friend’s eyes. “I’m ready to go home, Frankie.”
And after that, it’s not but two minutes, and it’s just Kaden and me at the table.
“That went well,” I say.
“About as good as my last play of the season. You suck as a wingman, Dylan.”
“Does this mean that you aren’t buying this round?”
I duck to avoid the napkin Kaden throws at my head, but it’s not for nothing he’s a pro quarterback.