“Don’t get her involved in this.”
“I think she’d like to know you’re totally shit-faced.”
“I’m not her problem.” After I walked away from Sabrina, Kent and I met up for a drink. He flirted with a few women, but he stuck to my side and didn’t leave with a buddy for the night.
“She’s pissed at you. Doesn’t mean she stopped caring about you.”
“She should stop caring about me…” Now that Kent noted my stupor, I did feel drunk. My eyes weighed as much as bowling balls, and I had to think about my words before they emerged from my mouth.
“Sabrina just threw herself at you, and you said no. You’re a good guy, Maverick.”
I scoffed. “If I were a good guy, I wouldn’t have fucked things up to begin with.”
“I understand why she’s angry, but don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve done a lot for that woman, and now that you’re ready to be in a real relationship, you’re the most loyal guy in the world. She needs to let this go.”
“You think so?” I reached for my glass again.
He pushed it farther away. “Nice try, asshole. And yes, I think she does. This relationship didn’t start on good terms. It’s taken a while to find your stride.” He grabbed my phone off the counter.
“What are you doing?”
He scrolled through my phone book and found her number. “Getting your wife to pick you up.”
“Why don’t you just take me home?”
“I’m not driving all the way out there. Forget that shit.” He held the phone against his ear.
“She’s probably asleep—”
Her voice was audible when she answered. “Maverick, everything okay?” Like always, her voice sounded like music.
“This is Kent. We met a while ago. Your husband is totally trashed and needs a ride home.”
“Is he alright?” she asked.
“He’s fine,” Kent said. “Won’t throw up. But he definitely can’t drive.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” she said. “I’ll come get him.”
Kent hung up and set the phone on the counter.
“You asshole. I’m trying to fix this relationship, and you tattle on me? She’s gonna see me at my worst.”
“That’s what marriage is, asshole. You’re there for each other through the good and the bad.”
“I’m supposed to be there for her…not the other way around.”
He took a drink of his scotch, even though it was torture for me. “That’s your problem, Maverick. You think everyone deserves everything…but you don’t deserve anything. That’s exactly how you got yourself into this mess. You’d think you’d learn…”
When she got there thirty minutes later, the alcohol had soaked into my blood and hit me a little harder. I sat at the counter and did my best to seem normal, but the room was starting to spin.
“She’s here, man.”
I didn’t embarrass easily, but I was humiliated that she had to see me like this.
She came to my side, her hand moving to my back. “Got carried away, huh?”
I stared at the counter.
“He’s a bit shy right now.” Kent helped me to my feet and placed my arm over his shoulder so she could suspend my weight.
I almost pushed him off because of my pride, but once I realized how unbalanced I was, I used him as a crutch.
Kent guided me outside and to the black BMW at the curb. “He got shit-faced pretty hard tonight.”
“I’ve never seen him look like this before.” She followed behind us.
Kent opened the passenger door and helped me into the seat. He even buckled my safety belt before he shut the door.
I rested my head against the leather and closed my eyes, my thoughts in hyperactive mode. My chest felt tight from all the alcohol. My blood was boiling from the heat. My blood alcohol level must be astronomical.
“Why did he take it so far tonight?” Her muffled voice came from outside the car.
“I think he’s just stressed.”
“About what?”
“Well, Sabrina threw herself at him again. Invited him back to her apartment. Obviously, he said no.”
Fuck you, Kent.
“Oh…” Her beautiful voice was weak.
“I know it’s none of my business, but Maverick is a good guy, and he feels like shit for what he did. He’s in this relationship now… Cut him some slack. He’s done a lot for you. He’s trying to be what you deserve. Trust me, this guy gets ass handed to him like change, and he hasn’t taken any offers. Just let it go.”
If I weren’t so drunk right now, I’d punch him in the face.
Arwen didn’t respond to his comment. “I should get him home. Thanks for calling me.” She got into the car a second later and started the engine.
I looked out the window and noticed it had just started to rain. I didn’t have the courage to look her in the eye and thank her for coming to get me. I didn’t want to face her at all, not after what Kent said to her. Like a coward, I closed my eyes and pretended I didn’t hear anything at all.