Nate Made... Friends?

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I hated to admit it, but as I sobered up, I had grown an increasingly guilty conscience for the way that I'd acted the previous night

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I hated to admit it, but as I sobered up, I had grown an increasingly guilty conscience for the way that I'd acted the previous night. It wasn't that I regretted what I said, because I meant every word, but the look on June's face had haunted my nightmares and daydreams alike.

A wealthy adulterer like her, cloaked in privilege and living a frivolous pleasure-seeking lifestyle, not even tactful enough to not remove the rock of an engagement ring that I'd already seen, did not deserve my pity.

But it was there.

I'd watched June's face carefully through hooded eyes as her friend, Pearl, escorted the devastated beauty from the restroom to the car, her eyes glued to her own clumsy footsteps. Her pale cherubic face was accompanied by downcast clouded eyes and a dense blush had crept onto her nose, chin, and forehead. If my words hadn't had an effect on modern day Helen of Troy, then she was a fantastic actress. Regardless, none of it was sitting right with me.

I gingerly placed a record, Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours', onto the varnished vintage record player on my nightstand, trying to push the pervasive thoughts to the back of my mind. The lyrical genius of Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, and Stevie Nicks seemed to exacerbate my existing problems, my chest loosening and tightening in accordance with the overarching themes of each song. It was all deeply inconveniencing.

Most of my Saturday was spent in bed, nuzzled in the great big folds of my off-white comforter, as I overthought every moment of my brief encounters with the seductress who had consumed my thoughts, awake and dreaming. 

Snowman wanted me to know how much he missed me last night. He was sprawled out on my chest, giving me a hug of sorts as his front paws encircled the front and sides of my stubbly neck. With a soft touch, I was stroking my sausage fingers through the silky white coat of his back when my phone started to ring.

To my surprise, it wasn't Louise calling, but Sam, who had never called me before. I guess drunken nights bring a certain level of familiarity between peers, something I hadn't thought of and was trying to figure out if I regretted. After several rings, I answered.

"Did I forget something in the car?" I asked flatly, in lieu of a greeting.

Sam's warm laugh rattled through the speaker and I held the phone slightly further from my face, unamused.

"Nah, you're good. Actually, I was wondering if you'd be interested in Round Two Electric Boogaloo, a repeat of last night?" She asked, like that wasn't a completely ridiculous question. She was pushing her luck hard and frankly, I had no interest in facing June so soon after making her cry, even if I'd had a relatively good time hanging out with the rest of the group.

"What?"

"Alright I'll spell it out for ya," Sam replied, laughing at me again. "Benji, Johnny, and I are going to The Captain's Hook and I want you to come."

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