Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
Rainey
“Rainey, wait!” Brody yells from behind me.
I keep walking, needing to put as much distance as possible between myself and Adam. I pry off my engagement ring off my finger and throw it down the sidewalk, as it’s now a useless piece of shit, and I can’t stand having it on me any longer.
Brody finally catches up with me. “Hey, are you okay?”
I give him a what do you think look. “Fucking peachy.”
I pick up my pace even more, swiping angrily at my tears. “God, how could I have been so fucking stupid?”
Brody pulls on my elbow, halting my steps. “Hey, don’t do that. Don’t blame yourself for this.”
“Go ahead, get the I told you so out of the way.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders and crouches down so we’re eye-to-eye. “Princess, listen to me. You did nothing wrong. This isn’t your fault. How could you have known?”
I throw my hands up and release a sardonic laugh. “ That’s the best part! It all makes sense now! I’ve felt something was wrong for a long time , but I couldn’t put my finger on it. But now…now that I know the truth, all the signs were right in front of my face . He’s married, Brody! And he’s having another kid! How could I have not known that? We’ve been together for years !”
Thank God my place is only a few blocks away because I need a drink. Or ten. I’d much rather wallow in misery in the comfort of my own home.
I stop when we reach the entrance to my building. “I’m just going to go upstairs and have a lengthy conversation with Jack and Jim.”
Brody frowns. “Rainey, I’m not comfortable leaving you alone right now.”
I don’t have the energy to bicker with him. “Whatever. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The elevator is taking too long so I take the stairs up all three flights with Brody hot on my heels. I head for the kitchen as soon as I’m inside my apartment and begin filling two shot glasses. I manage to down one before Brody can even close the door behind me.
He puts his hand over mine when I reach for another. “You should probably slow down there.”
I glare at him. “Brody, you’re either drinking with me or leaving. Your choice.”
“Honey, trust me, I’m all about having a good time, but I don’t think drowning yourself in whiskey is the answer.”
I grab another glass out of the cabinet and pour two fingers of Jack Daniels. “Look. When I wake up tomorrow, my entire life is going to be different. The future I thought I had, is gone. I just want to forget about all of that shit for one night, and I don’t need your unsolicited advice on the matter. Now, what’s it going to be? Are you joining me, or are you leaving?”
He stares at me in silence for a bit. I don’t know what he’s trying to puzzle out in that genius brain of his, but he seems to figure it out soon enough. Brody nods resolutely, picks up a glass, and swallows the whiskey in one gulp.
I pick up the bottle to pour him another. “Good answer.”