Page 62 of For One Night

I scan the room for the third consecutive night, looking for, I don’t know what. The last few weeks have been damn hard, I want to get lost in someone and stay until I have to face the world.

I spot a seat at the bar, so I make my way over to it, sitting so I can watch the room. There’s a plethora of beautiful women, none hold my attention, but that doesn’t stop me. I continue to peruse the choices given to me.

“You’re back,” the bartender quips.

I hold my glass up. “So I am.”

“You look … bored.”

I spin my drink on the bar. “So it seems.”

“Something on your mind, would you like to talk?”

I spin in my seat, staring. “A few weeks ago, my sister-in-law held me captive and tasered me until I told her the truth about my plans with another board member of my twin brother’s company and how we were going to take it from him.”

The bartender’s eyes narrow. “And you lived to tell about it?”

“Did I?” I grumble.

“You’re here. I’m not sure I would’ve let you walk away.”

I throw back my third shot and motion for another. “Turns out, not only did I survive it, but my brother relinquished our family company to me.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“It is.” I nod, swallowing the amber liquid. “I don’t deserve it, and soon, they’ll be back from their honeymoon to Paris. I’m fucked.”

“I’m not following,” she says as she pours me another shot.

“There’s a reason it was taken to begin with, and now that I have it again, I know I can’t do it. So here I sit getting shit faced until I can come up with an excuse to refuse it.”

“Don’t you need to work?”

“No, I do not.” I finish off my current glass. “This building, my brother owns it. He owns quite a few things. I hate him. I also love him.”

“You ever been told you’re a bad twin?”

“All the time.” I slide the glass to her, scanning the room for my next conquest. “Now, I’m almost drunk enough to get laid and ditch her before the night’s over.”

“I suppose you know you’re an asshole,” she says as she refills my drink.

“Yeah, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.” I toss it back. “I’ll take a whiskey sour with O’Daly’s.”

“O’Daly’s is great on its own.”

“That’s what I hear.” I smirk, laying down a fifty. “Keep the change.”

“Thank you, Mister…”

“Daly.” I incline my head to the bottle sitting on the bar. “Lennox Daly.” I wink at her, taking my glass with me as I scope out the room.

I work my way around the crowded place, searching for someone or something to help me forget who I am. Women are beautiful, all women. I’ve never been one to be picky: yes, most people assume I’m a man whore.

I’ve never understood how it makes me a bad man because I love women. I don’t care what color your hair is or what size shoe you wear, I have my own issues I’d prefer you not point out.

“Hey, handsome.” The blonde from the first night is back, and she cozies up next to me. “Are you free tonight?”

I take her hand to keep it from working on my buttons. “Actually…”