I climb the ladder and am greeted by a beer being tossed at my head. Liam snickers as I fumble the catch, almost losing a full one. The other guys with him laugh and make small talk. A few I’ve met, others are new. I sit next to Liam. My legs dangle over the edge. I look down and question my sanity and the stability of this walkway. If this tower is still used, how often are they doing repairs? I pop the cap on my bottle and down my beer. The thought of drinking enough so I don’t feel any pain is a pleasing thought, but tomorrow will suck and that’s not fair to Quinn.
I let my bottle sail into the back of a truck at the same time I see Katelyn walking across the field toward Josie. She’s dressed in those stupid daisy duke shorts that my sister likes, and even though she’s about a foot shorter than I am, her legs go for a mile long until her strappy sandals come into view. What the fuck is wrong with me? I shake my head to clear my vision, but that does nothing for me as my eyes watch some dude come up to her and give her a hug. His hand lingers on her back longer than it should. She doesn’t move his hand or step away from him. They stand there talking to Josie like they’re some couple.
Is this who she wants to be with, some slack wearing, tweed sport coat type of guy? How boring is that? I reach for another beer, popping the cap and downing this one just as fast. I throw it hard, hoping to catch her attention. I don’t and it pisses me off. I should’ve known she was coming here tonight. If this is their tradition why would she stay home? These are her friends, not mine.
I reach for my third, catching Liam’s eye in the process. His eyebrow is raised and he’s smirking. I hate when he smirks. It usually means something’s on his mind and I’m about to hear some insightful bullshit from the great Liam Page.
“What?”
“Nothing man. Just haven’t seen you drink that fast in a long time. Josie’s my DD tonight you can crash at the house if you want.”
I pop the top and set my beer down between my legs. Tonight is supposed to be fun, the last hurrah before summer is over and the adults have to focus on their kids, yet all I want to do is get drunk and create havoc. I haven’t felt this wound up in a long time. I lean against the rail and look out over the crowd. I try not to seek out Katelyn, but my eyes gravitate toward her, no matter how hard I try to stare at the other scantily clad women that are here. I could go back to the way I was before I moved here – keeping a woman on standby for a few months at time – no connection, no emotions.
But that’s not what I want.
I want her.
Everything in me is saying give up; that I don’t need her, but I do.
I need her like I need to breathe.
“So,” Liam says breaking my reverie. I take a long pull off my beer and look at him. “I’m thinking the four of us hit L.A. for a combined bachelor/bachelorette party.”
“You’re having a party?” Why on earth would he want to do this? He’s got the perfect woman on his arms and he wants to fuck it up with a night in L.A. where all the groupies are.
“Why wouldn’t we?”
“I don’t know, because you’re not single.”
“Nah, it’s not like that. Josie wants to go to L.A. and we have an awards show coming up. Let’s take the girls.”
I shake my head and start peeling the label off the bottle. “You act like Katelyn and I are together and were not. Hell, we aren’t even speaking right now.”
“No, but she’s Josie’s… whatever you call it and you’re my best man. This is like wedding law or some shit. I don’t know. I’m just trying to make her happy.”
“Whatever, man. L.A. and awards shows are a mistake, especially with Sam being there.” I down the rest of my beer and throw it to the bed of the truck. “But if that’s what you want, fine.”
The only exciting idea about going back is that I’ll be able to sleep in my own bed. Yvie moved into my apartment when I left and she’ll be on Broadway with her show.
“I’m going to take off,” I say as I get up, patting him on the shoulder.
“I’ll come down with you.”
Liam and I descend the rickety ladder one at a time. I’m going to suggest an alternative place to hang out. I’m not sure the ladder is going to hold many more of us. I’m sure it was fine when they were teens, but some of them have put on a few pounds since.
We walk… well I walk, Liam struts to where Josie and Katelyn are. The douche that was touching her is still near her, but with his back turned. How can any man turn his back on her, I’ll never understand.
“So baby,” Liam says as he wraps Josie in his arms. She giggles, and while that used to make me cringe I’d give everything to hear Katelyn do that as a result of my arms. “We’re going to go to L.A. for our dual parties.”