Read Why Now? for Free Online

the occasional sport term as Heath catches Jake up on the last six months of games he’s missed.
    When the door swings open, we all turn to watch as Reilly storms in.
    She looks majorly tweaked; her movements are flustered and jerky as she drops her purse and keys by the door after closing it.
    Her eyes scan the three of us over and over.
    “You okay Reils?” Jake asks, standing.
    She nods. “I need a drink.”
    I follow her into the kitchen with both Heath and Jake on my heels. She doesn’t say a word as she pulls a bottle of vodka from our freezer and pours herself a shot. After throwing it back, she pours herself another.
    “Reilly, what happened?” I ask, moving to stand next to her and stopping her from pouring another shot.
    Pressing her lips together, she shakes her head.
    Jake moves in front of her. “Reilly.”
    Gulping, she pushes at him. “I need to talk to Kacey.”
    He lifts his hands to rest them on her shoulders. “I’m not okay with leaving you like this.”
    She pushes at him again. “I’ll be fine if you just go.”
    “Reilly,” he argues.
    “Go,” she snaps.
    Tipping his head to the ceiling, he inhales before stepping away. Heath moves out of the doorway as Jake approaches.
    Jake pauses there. “I’m here if you need to talk.”
    She nods and they leave. Once I hear the door to our place close behind them I turn back to her.
    “What’s wrong?”
    She sets both of her hands on the counter and then leans over to rest her forehead on them. “I liked him.”
    I blink. “Who?”
    “Tad,” she moans.
    “The news anchor?” I ask in disbelief.
    He’s a good fifteen years older than us, uses way too much hair product, and does that creepy wink while shooting a pretend finger pistol thing.
    “Really?” I can’t help it.
    She lifts her head and pouts. “Yes, and I thought he liked me too.”
    “What happened?”
    “Last week he kissed me.”
    “Um, wow,” I mumble.
    She rolls her eyes. “l didn’t tell you because I knew you didn’t like him and I was waiting for him to ask me on a date.”
    “So, he didn’t ask you out?”
    Her pout returns. “No, and I just walked in on him having sex with a producer.”
    My lip curls. “At the station?”
    She nods. “I lied earlier about needing to work. I’m sorry about that.”
    I rub her arm. “It’s okay.”
    “I thought he liked me. Why was he having sex with someone else?”
    Shaking my head, I murmur, “He’s clearly an idiot.”
    Reilly laugh sniffles and nods. “It was awful. I’ll never be able to look at him the same way again.”
    Scrunching my nose I ask, “Did he have a hairy butt?”
    She pulls me into a hug as she laughs before pulling back and answering, “No, it wasn’t a bad looking ass. It’s the realization that the man attached to it is a complete dick that’s the problem.”
    “Seriously,” I agree. “How could he kiss you last week and be having sex with someone else now.”
    Her eyes go squinty. “He even flirted with me yesterday.”
    “Ugh, I’m glad I thought he was creepy. What a jerk.”
    She pours herself another shot and raises it. “Here’s to saving myself months of drama over a total asshole that isn’t worth it. I deserve a man who won’t flirt with me one minute and fuck someone else the next.”
    “Here, here,” I encourage as she throws her shot back.
    Setting her shot glass down with a bang, she levels her gaze at me. “Now, what do you deserve?”
     

 
     
    “What do you think that was about with Reilly?” Heath asks.
    Glancing back to their apartment, I shrug. “Probably something to do with some guy.”
    “I didn’t know she was seeing anyone.”
    “Every time I talk to her she’s dating someone new.”
    Dating is fine, still not sure about her getting Facebook chummy with Erik. He might be my brother on the rig but if he ever made Reilly upset, I’d have to kill him. It’s safer for him to stay platonic with her. He’s one of the four people I’d take a