Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Breck fought a grin. “Don’t make me beat it out of you, ’cause you know I will.”
Ned’s lips quirked. He gave a shrug. “Fine. I drink water.”
Breck rolled his eyes. “What, you mean like before you go to bed?”
“Naw, man. While I’m still imbibing. Between every beer.”
Breck’s brows popped. “That really works?”
Ned beamed proudly and gestured to himself. “You tell me.”
Breck grunted and got back into position.
Ned served the ball and, just like that, they were back to rallying. In truth, as annoyed as Breck was that Ned had never shared his tried-and-true secret before, he knew his current state was his own damn fault. He never should’ve drunk as much as he had last night at the frat house.
Thing was, after his visit to his parents’ that afternoon, he’d come home eager to not just self-medicate, but sedate his ass. The entire time, his dad had done nothing but rattle on about obligations. Commitments and events Breck had to attend the second he got back from Hawaii.
It’d wrung his nerves so tight, and then damn it, Mom made him stay for dinner. Whereby his dad shifted gears to educate Breck ad nauseum on how to present himself at public events. What to say, how to act. Hell, how to dress. By the time Breck made it back to his frat house, he’d been ready to pound a twelve pack of beer. Which he suspected he probably did—in conjunction with some shots.
Of course, it didn’t help that he’d drank just as hard the night before down in Georgetown. The streets had been packed, teeming with triumphant energy. Intoxicated grads—some still wearing their gowns—on every corner, in every bar. And since he hadn’t been driving, well, that meant he’d been drinking. And rather heavily—but not just in celebration of their graduating class.
He’d also been using the alcohol to keep Kai out of his brain.
Or more specifically, what had transpired between them. Not that it had worked. It’d merely made him want more. Then later, when Scott had dropped him off at his frat house? A whole new battle ensued. The battle not to march his ass straight over to Kai’s for another round. His lights had been on when they’d driven past, so he’d known Kai wasn’t sleeping… and might actually let him in.
Somehow, he’d resisted. Although, how exactly, he wasn’t sure. He suspected it had more to do with his body passing out than having any kind of commendable self-control.
The same body that was currently treating him like enemy number one. No love. Pure animosity. Like it was sick of him treating it like crap. Like it was hellbent on delivering some payback for his lack of consideration. His head throbbed and his muscles ached as he lurched back and forth, whacking that damn ball across the court. Even his stomach had jumped on the bandwagon and was starting to feel queasy.
He dove, missing another ball.
He really needed to stop drinking so much.
Ned snickered and took a break.
Thank God.
Panting, Breck sagged to a stop. Pulled up his shirt and wiped the sweat from his face. Surely this hour of hell he’d promised his friend was nearly over. He glanced up at the wall clock and cursed.
Fuck my life.
Fifteen more agonizing and torturous minutes.
“So, Friday night.” Ned’s blue eyes danced. “What an awesome time. I’ve never had so many hot babes buy me drinks in my whole life. And God, so many bars…” His gaze drifted dreamily. “How many you think we hit?”
“Fuck if I know.” Breck gripped his hips, still catching his breath. “After the first five blocks, they all looked the same.”
Ned grinned. “We did do some serious walking.” Abruptly, he laughed. “Remember those dudes we passed on the way to The Tombs? All making out on the Exorcist stairs? Jesus. They were practically having sex.”
Breck chuckled, remembering them vividly. “Yeah. Crazy shit.”
Ned snorted. “I’ll tell you what’s crazy. My wasted ass found that romp fest hot.”
Breck stilled, his brows hiking high.
“Right?” Ned laughed. “Talk about major malfunction. I was either seriously drunk, or I’m spending too much time around Tad and Scott.”
Breck tamped another chuckle and shook his head. “Blame it on whatever you want, G, but that jacked-up brain of yours has always been different.”
Ned puffed out his chest, as if proud of that statement. Knowing him, he’d totally taken Breck’s snarky quip as a compliment. And honestly, maybe it was. Ned had always had an open mind. Which was probably one of the reasons Breck gravitated to him. The guy was quality, through and through. Completely nonjudgmental. Loved to razz a brother, sure. And was totally shameless. But that just equated to ‘colorful friend.’
When Tad came out about his feelings for Scott, Ned had straight-up wanted to throw him a fucking party. Like, literally. An actual party. Of course, Tad had balked at the idea. Then proceeded to rid Ned of any other bright ideas. Specifically, by way of a headlock. Then a rough-and-tumble body pin. Ned might’ve been on his wrestling team in high school, but Tad still used his ass to mop the floor.