“Don’t try it, Kieren. I’m not your type.”
Confusion floods my brain as I feel strong arms wrap around me from behind.
“I’ll let you get away with that because you’re drunk, but you come onto my woman again, I will kill you.”
Seth’s familiar voice hums in my ear, although he’s usually not so tough talking.
Then I remember why I recognize the woman. It’s Kayla, Seth’s new girlfriend. I giggle because the last thing I would ever do is come onto a buddy’s woman.
“You two here for a drink?”
“Time to go.”
Seth loosens his grip on me but keeps a firm hold of my shoulder. He pulls me toward the door, and I stumble over my feet.
“But we haven’t done tequila shots.”
Seth’s grip is firm and unrelenting. He can be a tough bastard when he wants to be. “No shots tonight, Kieren. We’re taking you home.”
His tone is no nonsense, and I look to Kayla for help, hoping to find an ally. But she just shakes her head at me.
“I’ll drive your car back to our place,” she says. “You can crash in the spare room. I’ll make you a grilled cheese when we get in.”
Kayla’s expression is kind, and I can see why Seth is crazy about her. Compared to his stern demeanor, she’s a sight for sore eyes.
“You’re sweet.”
Seth growls, and I giggle again.
“In a platonic way, dude. I’m not hitting on your girl.”
Seth manages to wrangle me out of the bar and into his car. The ride home makes me feel nauseous, and it takes a few minutes of sitting in the cool night air before I can make it into the house.
As promised, Kayla makes me a grilled cheese sandwich, then takes herself off to bed. Seth’s made coffee, and by the way he’s waiting for me at the dining table, I can tell he wants to talk.
I feel like a wayward teenager getting growled at by his dad. On top of everything that’s happened today, the last thing I need is a fucking lecture from my best friend. I know my behavior was appalling. I don’t need anyone else to tell me that.
“I’m not in the mood for a lecture, Seth. I just found out she’s got a fucking boyfriend and a baby.”
Seth holds his hand up, and his expression softens.
“I’m not going to give you a lecture, Kieren. If you want to fuck your liver up, that’s up to you.”
He indicates a chair and I sink into it. Seth takes a sip of coffee while I nibble on the grilled cheese.
“Hmm. She’s a good cook. Kayla.”
That gets a smile out of Seth. “Yeah, a real gourmet.”
I take sip of coffee, and the hot liquid almost scalds my tongue.
“She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” Seth says.
I pause with the sandwich halfway to my mouth. “What are you talking about?”
“I know you don’t want to spy on her or anything, but I did some digging anyway. There are some things you should know.”
The alcohol faze leaves my head as I try to piece together what Seth is saying. It’s wrong to dig up info on Jodie the way that Seth’s doing it. He did some dodgy stuff to win Kayla over. I love the guy like a brother, but I’m not going to be that man.