Page 2 of Unbearable

“Dude.” My voice is high-pitched and bordering obnoxious already. “You, my friend, are a lifesaver. This drink is amazing!”

Zack laughs as he makes me another and then half turns to help another customer on the other side of the bar. He knocks his fist to the bar lightly. “Hold tight, honey. I’ll be right back.”

I nod to him, winking. “Take your time. I’ve got all night. But seriously—” I grab his fist—“make me another one soon because this isdelicious.”

The crowd starts clapping and whistling, which tells me that Rawley’s band is taking the stage. I twist around on my stool so I’m facing the stage and do a quick visual sweep of the bar looking to see what kind of crowd is here tonight. It’s then I see a familiar face coming toward the bar.

Tyler Hemming. My older brother’s best friend and my childhood crush.

Of all the nights to run into him it has to be tonight. Awesome. It’s only been a few weeks since I last saw him, but still, when you’re a mess, the last person you want to see is a hot guy. It’s like going to the grocery store with your hair tied up in a bun and last night’s pajamas and make-up only to run into someone you know from high school who looks better than you.

A minute later he’s standing next to me, our shoulders bumping, Tyler eyes the drink as he sits down next to me at the bar. “Look at you. Drinking someone away, are we?”

I didn’t think he’d come in here and not come over. We’ve been friends for years but his deep voice still sends my heart fluttering. Naturally. Any crush would do that. “Yep.”

Zack gives him a nod, waiting for his order. “Whiskey. Bring the bottle.”

Looks like I’m not the only one who wants to forget the day.

I give him a look. “Whoa. How about you, what are you doing here?”

His eyes drag over me without revealing anything. Hell, my body is damn near burned by that one look. His gaze narrows before he lifts his chin and nudges his head toward me. “Do I need a reason to get drunk?”

Tyler is a beautiful man. Even when he was younger and I should have been too young to notice, I knew he was pretty. Not like a girly way, just in a rugged man way. His dark hair is shaved close on the sides and long in the front. He sweeps it out of his face, cold blue eyes wandering to mine.

“Well no, but you said it first. And it seems I’m not the only one here to drink someone orsomethingaway.” I eye him carefully. The sharpness of his jaw covered by a slight beard is a roughness I want between my thighs. “Is it a girl? Did she break your heart?”

For a split second, the look he gives me is almost vulnerable and I can’t tell why, but our eyes are locked and I know Tyler well enough to know I might have guessed right. He shifts his gaze quickly and laughs a little at the question then turns his attention back to Zack when he returns with his order.

“You gonna join me or am I going to have to finish this bottle by myself tonight?”

“Fuck yeah!” I shout, louder than necessary. “Someone to get drunk with. I hate drinking alone.”

He grins, light laughter following and my stomach flips a little because there’s the Tyler I have known for twelve years.

The thing about Tyler, he’s always been a flirt with me. Really since I turned sixteen and got boobs, he’s flirted with me. It didn’t matter who we were with at the time, Tyler always had a sexy comment or a wink to send my way. Hell, he even flirted with me during the time he was with Berkley, his ex-girlfriend.

I distinctly remember my teenage years spent dreaming about him going down on me, too. I know, crazy dreams but he was twenty-two when I was sixteen and the coolest guy ever as far as I was concerned. Also the hottest.

You know, those older brother best-friend types, they’ll get you every single time. Probably because they’re technically supposed to be off-limits. Well you know what, I’m a motherfucking rule breaker tonight, so I shift in my seat to face him.

Tyler seems entertained by my enthusiasm and turns so he’s facing me as well, our knees knocking. “Well I’m assuming the person you’re here to forget is Holden, so are you gonna tell mewhyor are ya gonna keep me wondering all night?”

Jesus Christ, the way he watches me.I just want to lay myself on the bar right now and beg him to stick his head between my legs.

“Why yes, I will tell you who I’m drinking away, or rather why.” I stare at my delicious heaven in a cup that Zack slides my way, my lips scrambling to reach the straw. After a sip, the straw falls away and I remove the pineapple from the edge and take a dramatic bite for no particular reason at all. “The reason for my drinking is that he “whose name shall not be mentioned” is a stupid motherfucker. And for the rest of tonight and all eternity, he shall be referred to by his proper moniker of fucking asshole.”

Tyler lifts an eyebrow again, waiting for more of an explanation, one I don’t give him. I simply shrug. A hearty laugh leaves his lips, and he raises his drink filled halfway with liquor. He reaches out and grabs the edge of my barstool and in one swift movement, he has me sitting right next to him, our arms touching. “Well, shit…. To me, then.”

Giggling at nearly falling off the stool in the process, I watch as he downs the drink in one shot, grimacing at the burn.

“Why you?”

Setting the glass on the bar, he stares at me for a moment, making me slightly uncomfortable. Running his hands through his dark hair, he leans forward slightly, his head turned to me. “Because I’m the lucky son of a bitch who gets to help you forget the asshole.”

Sigh. No really, I sigh. Outwardly, like I’m dreaming.

By “forget,” I know exactly what Tyler has in mind. As I said, he’s never been shy about his attraction to me. He’s still technically off-limits but like I also said, all bets are off tonight.

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