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“You’re gonna have a wicked headache in the morning.”

“Trust me, I’ve suffered worse than a hangover every fucking day since that night.”

Bryce twisted the empty tumbler around on the wood, staring into the distorted glass. As much as it felt good confiding in his friend, he felt a hollow emptiness he couldn’t explain. Nothing he did helped. No volume of liquor, no amount of work. Nothing.

Except for falling into the repetitive dream every night.

Seeingher.

She filled the void, cured him of the emptiness, made him whole.

“And I can’t fucking find her,” he hissed to the glass.

“Bro, I don’t envy your predicament at all, but you need to figure out what you’re gonna do. I suppose Kate doesn’t know?”

Bryce snorted and looked up at Jesse. “Kate would just as soon cut off my balls if she finds out I’m pining after another woman. That after my mother beat me into a sniveling pulp and Mrs. Felton doused me in gasoline. Anyone who thinks my life is perfect is delusional. Our two families have colluded for so long that anythingbuta wedding between me and Kate is simply unacceptable.”

Jesse stirred his drink, his mouth pinched in thought. After a moment of silence, he laid the stirrer on the napkin and sipped his beverage.

“You haven’t seen this woman since the night of the club, right?” Jesse asked. Bryce nodded once, the subtle motion leaving his head swimming. Damn, the alcohol was taking effect. “Honestly, man, I think your best bet is to forget about the woman, marry Kate, and move on. You can’t spend the rest of your life pining after a stranger you crossed paths with for a few minutes at a club. That’s a fool’s dream.”

“You’re right. It’s a fool’s dream, but I can’t dismiss it.” Bryce fumbled to get his wallet out of his pocket and pulled out enough to cover his tab and a tip. “Listen. I’ve never breathed a word of this to anyone, including my parents. I don’t want to imagine my mother’s reaction if she finds out.”

He dug his cell phone out of his coat, ignored the missed calls and texts from Kate and his mother, and requested an Uber. The screen waivered in front of him as he succumbed to the alcohol.

“You know if you call off the engagement, the local news will eat it up.”

Bryce laughed humorlessly and slid off his stool. Heat poured down his legs and his muscles relaxed a bit too much. “Kate’s content with having a shell of a man as a husband. It’s pitiful. I can’t give her what she wants, and she can’t give me what I need. Honestly, Jesse, is it fair for either one of us to continue this charade?”

Jesse followed Bryce with his gaze as Bryce tucked his keys into his coat pocket. “How are you going to handle your parents and the Feltons?”

He shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out, won’t we.”

He was sick of being a pawn, pushed around the chessboard at the whim of four overbearing parents. He was sick of foregoing his own happiness to placate everyone around him. He was sick of being molded into a person he couldnotbe.

“Thanks for coming out. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Hey, cancel your Uber. I’ll give you a lift.” Jesse pushed aside the rest of his unfinished drink and climbed off his stool. He dropped cash on the bar top, slung his arm around Bryce’s shoulders, and led him toward the entrance. “We won’t discuss it anymore. I want to make sure you get home safe.”

“Thanks.”

“’Course, man.”

Jesse dropped his arm and took the lead to the door. Bryce rubbed the back of his neck where a strange tingle started. He was about to shrug it off as an effect of the alcohol until he happened to glance toward the corner of the bar floor where tables were set up separate from the dining area. In the dim light, he caught the unusual flash of eyes that reminded him of a cat’s.

His steps slowed. He stared at the man sitting alone at onetable, the shadows of the room obscuring his features beneath a hood. Bryce squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, the man was still there, glinting eyes steady on him.

“Bryce?”

Bryce dropped his hand from his neck and started toward the man. The stranger lifted his head enough for the yellow glow of the wall lamp to cast a streak across his face.

“No,” he whispered.

Jesse’s hand clapped down on his arm. Bryce glanced at his friend. “Hey, you good? Come on. Let’s get you home.”

“Yeah, wait. Just a minute.”

But when Bryce turned back to the hooded man, he was gone.