The keys and cell phone were exactly where he’d said they’d be, and my door was locked, but that wasn’t helping quash the mortification growing inside me. I’d completely blacked out and judging by the drag marks on the thick carpet, a complete stranger had half dragged, half carried me through my house and put me in bed. Completely out of control, I’d left myself at the mercy of strangers, and I was lucky it had gone so well. Had Jeremy been a man with less integrity, I could’ve found myself robbed or worse.
My cell phone chirped. Blinking away the last bit of grogginess, I unlocked the screen and checked the message, half expecting it to be the mysterious Jeremy. A man bold enough to take me home and tuck me in might be just the type of man to put his number in my phone.
But it was Neil, reminding me that we had a brunch date. I started to respond with a cancelation, then changed my mind. I couldn’t hide from the world for the rest of my life, and now that I was up and moving around, the house was far too quiet. Give me about an hour, I responded. Neil answered immediately, letting me know he was in no hurry. That drew a smile from me. Neil was one of the few friends I had who never failed to do exactly what I needed, even when I wasn’t sure what I wanted at the time. He was intuitive and considerate to a fault. It was one of his most charming qualities.
I finished getting dressed and as I was walking by the note Jeremy had left, I thought about calling but nixed the idea. I didn’t know this man from Adam, and the truth was, I didn’t want to talk to him. He was a stranger who had seen me at my lowest. Maybe he’s one of those people that thrives on being needed, I thought as I crumpled the paper up and tossed it in the trash. I didn’t need more of that in my life. After burning everything that reminded me of the ex, it was time to cut all ties to that painful past so I could move on. That included some faceless stranger who’d been there at my most vulnerable. I didn’t need another relationship. Not now. Not ever.
Neil stood up to greet me when I finally made my way to the table almost two hours later, his expression concerned. There was no comment about how late I was. The early brunch crowd had already cleared out, and we were one of the last tables still being served.
Neil smiled warmly at me, but his eyes still held worry. “You look like hell, Brian,” he said when we embraced.
“You sure now how to make a guy feel good,” I teased.
He still had one arm around me, his gaze unwavering. I shifted from one foot to another. How was it that Neil always saw right through my façade? He squeezed my hand. “I heard you’re skipping the dinner. I don’t blame you for not wanting to celebrate someone else’s love on a day that was supposed to be your wedding.”
I blinked and rocked back on my heels. “I’m surprised anyone remembered.”
“I’m not just anyone.” He rolled his eyes dramatically and smiled. “You know I don’t forget important dates like that.” He held my chair out for me, then he took a seat. “So, tell me. How rowdy did you get last night? I didn’t hear anything through the grapevine, so I thought you’d spent a quiet night in and just overslept.”
“Hardly. I went to an out-of-the-way place.” I searched my memory, came up blank and shrugged. “I don’t remember the name of it.”
“Probably for the best. If you still look this hungover at this point, I can only imagine how wild things got. However did you manage to get yourself home?” He gasped and his hand went up to his mouth, then he leaned forward and whispered. “Brian, you didn’t drive, did you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t remember much, but I took a car service there, and that’s how I got home.” I almost told him about the mystery man but decided against it. “It was a night to get all the negative energy out of my mind. Now that I’ve burned the last of our mementos and drank myself silly, I feel like I’m ready to lead a quiet, normal life. No more men, and especially no more gold diggers. If someone wants something from me, they’re going to have to get it somewhere else.”
“Listen to you, Mr. Dramatic. Burning mementos. Swearing off men. Next you’re going to tell me you’re running away to join a monastery.”
I grimaced. “I wouldn’t go that far. That’s too extreme, even for me.”
“And how are you planning to lead this elusive quiet life you speak of? The Brian I know only operates at a ten. Are you seriously thinking of dialing it back?”
“I have to do something. I’ll be forty next year. My party boy days are over, or at least, they should be. Maybe I’ll pick up a new hobby or join a club.”
“You’re already in The Club,” Neil said, stirring milk into his tea and taking a sip. “What about music? It’s not tennis, but I seem to remember you were pretty good with a guitar years ago.”
“Not well enough to make a career of it.”
“Who says you have to be professional? You have enough money to never work another day in your life. Why not play guitar and do something fun with it?”
“You know me; I go all in or not at all.”
Neil raised his tea cup and saucer in a mock toast. “No truer words.”
“I think I’ll talk to an old college friend of mine. Last I heard she’s running an indie record company or maybe it’s a YouTube channel.” I smirked. “Now that I’m thinking about calling her up, I wish I’d listened a little closer.”
“If you’re talking about that Crowder woman, it’s a record label with silly name.” He waved his hand in the air while he tried to conjure up the name. “It’s ‘Harmi-not’ or ‘Dis-grunge-”
“Dis-chord Records,” I said, a little too exuberant. I looked around, but the crowd was nearly gone and of the people left, no one had noticed me nearly shouting. “I knew it was something clever like that.”
“You would think that woman is clever.”
I laughed. “I don’t know what you have against Laura. She’s a powerhouse in stilettos.”
“Precisely,” Neil sniffed. “She’s not one of us. Comfortable is not the same as wealthy, and regardless, she’s a woman.”
“Exactly.” I winked, and he recoiled, his feathers clearly ruffled. “That’s why she’s perfect. She wasn’t even invited to my wedding, so I won’t have to hear about the ex and all this other nonsense.”
“As long as you’re happy, I guess,” he muttered, but there was a twinkle in his eye. He was enjoying this, and I realized I was downright giddy.
“I am happy. For the first time since he left me, I feel like I’ve found direction. Or a potential calling of sorts. I’m not sure where I’ll fit in, but if I can bring something to the table, Laura will figure it out.”
“Wonderful. Now, how about we eat and talk about my week for a change.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had news.”
“I don’t.” His smile was sheepish. “But there is an event at The Club this week and you know I hate going alone.”
“Not this week,” I said as I opened the menu to distract myself from all talk of The Club. “I’m swearing off men, remember?”