Page 85 of Mr. Infuriating (Mister #1)

Gabe

I’d dropped the kids off at Becky’s and headed back to Flannigan’s. I’d been in a bad mood since Gretchen and Jake moved out of my house, but knowing her ex was trying to get her back had put me in a downright rotten one.

I think I was pissed at myself, too.

Gretchen and Jake had helped heal a part of me that had been broken for a long time. But I was still too big of a chicken shit to put my fear aside and be the man she needed.

Now she was probably going to get back together with her loser ex and it was killing me.

Kinda like what this headache was doing to me now.

That’s what I got for trying to numb my pain with alcohol.

I rolled out of bed and went in search of water and pain reliever when the smell of bacon hit me, followed by a sense of panic.

Had I brought someone home last night?

I distinctly remembered the brunette lighting up when I returned. But just like before, I’d had no interest.

At least I thought I hadn’t.

I glanced down, relieved to find I had my boxer briefs on.

With quiet steps, I made my way into the kitchen to find Beau in the clothes he’d worn to the bar last night, turning bacon strips in the pan on the stove.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I grumbled as I opened the cupboard that housed the bottle of pain reliever.

“Well, good morning to you, too. I’m making breakfast; what’s it look like? ”

“Why are you doing it in my kitchen?”

“I figured you were going to need a ride to pick up your truck this morning, since I brought your drunk ass home last night. It just seemed easier to sleep here.”

Okay, that made sense.

Still, I replied, “Hmph,” while I poured myself a cup of coffee.

Which didn’t bother Beau one bit.

“Why don’t you make us some toast while I fry up some eggs?”

I didn’t do as he asked, just washed the medicine down with coffee.

Bits and pieces of the previous night started to come back to me as I leaned against the counter and took another long sip of caffeine.

“Did I…?”

“Threaten to kick my ass because I took your keys and phone away from you? Yeah.” He pointed to where my cell sat charging on the counter. “I even plugged your phone in for you. You’re welcome.”

“Why did you take my phone?”

“Because you were trying to call Gretchen. You kept going on about how you couldn’t believe she was going to get back together with her ex.

And how you were going to go over to the dude’s house and run over his Jag with your truck.

I guess in your drunken state, you thought Freddie had somehow transformed into a monster truck. ”

I recalled having that thought as I’d sat at the bar.

“I didn’t call her, though, did I? ”

“Not for lack of trying. You even tried to get the cute brunette who was hitting on you to lend you her phone when I took yours. Fortunately, you didn’t have Gretchen’s number memorized.”

I winced at the picture my brother painted.

“Not my finest moment.”

He slid a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me.

“Can I ask you something?” He didn’t wait for me to affirmatively reply before continuing. “Why are you doing this to yourself? You two belong together. Everyone knows it. Hell, you know it, or you wouldn’t be this torn up about her.”

“She wants—”

“I swear to God, if you come at me with this baby bullshit, I’m pouring ketchup on your eggs. Give her a goddamn kid, for fuck’s sake.”

I glared at him as I bit off a hunk of bacon and chewed aggressively.

He continued. “Or don’t and become a miserable drunk.”

I washed down the bacon with another swig of coffee.

“Have a kid with her or become an alcoholic. Those are my choices?”

Beau put two pieces of bread in the toaster and pushed the lever.

“At the rate you’re going? Yeah. Those seem to be your only choices.”

I think I was most pissed that I couldn’t even argue with him.