“You ever narrate a book about Gladiators?” he asked.
With no other choice, she did the only thing she could.
Chugged the remainder of her wine before announcing she saw someone she absolutely needed to talk to before quickly making her escape.
Drew watched Chelsea walk away and felt mildly relieved.
He was running out of things to talk about.
Although he would have loved to hear her theory on the whole Egyptians and alien thing.
“You’re good,” Bianca said with a less than sincere smile.
“Excuse me?”
“Jimmy said you were the go-to guy to keep Chelsea distracted and I didn’t really give it much thought. But for the last several weeks, I always see the two of you together so…bravo.” She mock-clapped and Drew had to force himself to smile.
“I thought she was your best friend.”
“Oh, she is!” she gushed. “But…she really has no idea how to just relax and…you know…not bore everyone to tears with her work stories. Ugh…if I wanted to talk about history, I would…” She paused. “What am I saying? Why would I want to talk about history? It’s over, right?”
He was about to bring up his theory about how history could be from just minutes ago but immediately decided against it.
That would mean talking to Bianca more than he wanted to.
She was nice enough, but…not much going on upstairs. How Jimmy could be so head over heels in love with this woman, he had no idea. All he did know was it was time to move on and find someone else to talk to.
So he pulled a Chelsea because…yeah, he knew her signature move to get rid of him. He chugged the rest of his beer and excused himself.
Clearly Bianca didn’t get the similarities because she just smiled and walked away.
Thank God.
Slowly, Drew made his way over to the bar and ordered another beer – in no rush to turn and join the group of friends he was here with or to find anyone new to talk with.
Elbows on the bar, he hung his head and let out a long breath. He was in a serious rut. It was like being stuck in the movie Groundhog’s Day with Bill Murray – doing the same thing every day and every weekend and it was getting beyond monotonous. They went to the same places, drank the same drinks, had the same conversations, and went home.
Only to repeat it all again.
His beer appeared in front of him and Drew thanked the bartender. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out some cash and threw it on the bar before turning around. So many familiar faces and he didn’t have the least bit of interest in what any of them had to say.
Liar.
Yeah, okay, Chelsea was definitely interesting to talk to.
Mainly because she argued everything with him.
Every. Single. Thing.
If he said black, she said white. If he said he enjoyed something, she pointed out why it was pointless. Most of the time it was thoroughly entertaining, but tonight he could tell she was just irritated with him. Most weekends he could have dragged out that kind of conversation for at least an hour. Maybe she was as bored as he was with these gatherings and felt like he did about their little social group.
How ironic would that be? The two people with the least in common, feeling the same way?
With a mirthless laugh, Drew lifted his beer to his lips and took a long pull of it.
“There’s the man!” His best friend Jimmy walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. “You must be losing your touch. You and Chelsea barely lasted fifteen minutes tonight.” Then he laughed. “Are you quick in the sack too?” More laughter and another back clap.
“Conversation and sex aren’t the same, dumbass.”
“That’s exactly what a guy who’s a little too quick in bed would say.”
Ugh…someday he’ll grow up, right?
“Anyway,” Drew said, his teeth practically grinding. “Any chance of us doing something remotely fun tonight?”
“What’s the matter, quickdraw? Not enjoying yourself?”
Drew mentally counted to ten while he took another drink. Lowering the bottle, he glared at Jimmy. “Seriously, this bar is just…we’re always here! Why can’t we find someplace else to go? We used to do some fun shit before you started dating Bianca.”
“Hey!” Jimmy snapped. “You got a problem with my girl?”
“Did I say I did?” he replied wearily. “I’m just saying there are other places to go on a Friday night other than here. Remember when we used to go to the batting range? Indoor skydiving? To concerts? Any of this ringing any bells?”
Beside him, Jimmy leaned against the bar. “Yeah, yeah, yeah…we did all that and it was great, now we’re doing something new.”
“New? Dude, we’ve been doing this for months now. Months! That’s hardly new.”
“Oh, so you got any better ideas?”
“Yeah, dozens of them!”
Jimmy huffed but didn’t comment.
“There are other bars, and we could do one of those crawls where we hit a bunch of them downtown, or maybe try the new cigar bar that opened up last month.”
“Bianca’s not going to smoke cigars.”
“Maybe for one Friday night you don’t go out with her.”
“I knew you had a problem with her!”
Groaning, Drew twisted and placed his beer on the bar before facing his friend. “Look, I get you’re all in love and all that crap, but you’re not joined at the hip. Once in a while, it’s okay to go out without each other.” He paused. “For all you know, she might enjoy a girl's night out!”
“She does!” Jimmy argued. “Once a month the girls go out – just them.”
“Seriously? Then why aren’t we going out – just the guys?”
Shrugging, Jimmy looked away.
It didn’t take a genius to know what that meant.
Bianca didn’t want him going out with the guys.
Snorting with disgust, he muttered, “You are pathetic and completely whipped.”
“Jealous?”
If he had been drinking, he would have choked on it. “Jealous? Of what? Letting some woman lead me around by the balls and tell me when I can and can’t go out? Um…no. Trust me.” Placing a hand over his crotch, he grinned. “These are all mine and I go where I want and when.”
“Do you? Because I know where you are almost all the damn time, buddy. And it’s pretty much wherever I am.” Then he laughed. “Looks like I’m the one leading you around by the balls.”
Drew snorted again. “Dude, that doesn’t make either of us look or sound good.” When he went to reach for his beer, he reconsidered and pushed away from the bar. “I’m outta here.”
“Why?”
“I’m just not feeling it tonight. If I’m going to be this bored, I’d rather be in my own damn house.”
“Drew, come on. We’re just joking around!”
But he wasn’t listening. “I’ll talk to you later.” And with a short wave, he turned and made his way to the door and out onto the sidewalk.
Knowing damn well he’d be back here again next week.
* * *
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF
WRONG TURN
Coming May 2020
https://geni.us/RoadTrip-WrongTurn
Also by Samantha Chase
The Enchanted Bridal Series:
The Wedding Season
Friday Night Brides
The Bridal Squad
Glam Squad & Groomsmen
* * *
The Magnolia Sound Series
Sunkissed Days
Remind Me
A Girl Like You
In Case You Didn’t Know
All the Befores
And Then One Day
The RoadTripping Series:
Drive Me Crazy
Wrong Turn
Test Drive
Head Over Wheels
* * *
The Montgomery Brothers Series:
Wait for Me
Stay with Me
More of Me
Return to You
Meant for You
I’ll Be There
Until There Was Us
Suddenly Mine
A Dash of Christmas
* * *
The Shaughnessy Brothers Series:
Made for Us
Love Walks In
Always My Girl
This is Our Song
Sky Full of Stars
Holiday Spice
Tangled Up in You
Band on the Run Series:
One More Kiss
One More Promise
One More Moment
* * *
The Christmas Cottage Series:
The Christmas Cottage
Ever After
* * *
Silver Bell Falls Series:
Christmas in Silver Bell Falls
Christmas On Pointe
A Very Married Christmas
A Christmas Rescue
Christmas Inn Love
* * *
Life, Love & Babies Series:
The Baby Arrangement
Baby, Be Mine
Baby, I’m Yours
* * *
Preston’s Mill Series:
Roommating
Speed Dating
Complicating
* * *
The Protectors Series:
Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister
Protecting the Enemy
Protecting the Girl Next Door
Protecting the Movie Star
* * *
7 Brides for 7 Soldiers
Ford
* * *
7 Brides for 7 Blackthornes
Logan
* * *
Standalone Novels
Jordan’s Return
Catering to the CEO
In the Eye of the Storm
A Touch of Heaven
Moonlight in Winter Park
Waiting for Midnight
Mistletoe Between Friends
Snowflake Inn
Wildest Dreams (currently unavailable)
Going My Way (currently unavailable)
Going to Be Yours (currently unavailable)
Seeking Forever (currently unavailable)
Drive Me Crazy Page 21