Another Alternative

Just Not My Day

"H?" I heard Mamrie call from outside. "You home?" I glanced out the window in my kitchen and saw her and Troye standing on my porch in very casual dress.

I walked over to the door and opened it to see Tyler waiting behind the wheel of Mamrie's car, hair lying to the side limp.

"Is Grace here?" Troye grinned excitedly as he ran a hand through his dark brown hair.

"Keep it in your pants, buddy." Mamrie hit him lightly on the arm, reminding him that Grace was in a relationship and so was he. "We figured we'd all hang out today. There's some new restaurant or whatever downtown. And you owe me 15 years of stories. What do you say?"

"Great plan, Mames." Grace chimed in from behind me. Her dark brown hair fell over one shoulder, one hand on her hip and the other on the door frame. Clad in one of my work shirts and trousers, she placed a small kiss on the back of my head before walking over to put her shoes on. When we were both ready, I grabbed her hand, kissed her lightly on the cheek and we walked out to Mamrie's car.

"So, boys." I looked at Tyler but didn't greet him. "Where'd you disappear to last night? We didn't see you much after we left the bar."

Troye looked at Tyler squeamishly. Tyler kept his eyes on the road but bit down hard on his bottom lip. Running a hand through his short dark hair, Troye opened his mouth to speak.

"We, uh. Well I, um. We were, uh." He scrambled over his words, trying to find the right ones.

"We were fucking, let's be real." Tyler cut him off. Troye looked at his boyfriend with the most shock I've ever seen on someone's face. His eyes widened as big as golf balls as he froze in his seat. "C'mon, Troye. As if they didn't know."

"I just never knew you could be like this." Troye paused for a moment before he spoke, shaking his head in astonishment. He laughed it off before speaking again. "So what did you fine ladies do last night?"

"Troye! You're doing it again!" Tyler took his hand off the wheel a moment to slap Troye's arm.

"Shit. Right." He narrowed his eyes a bit, considering his words. "I do apologize, I have a rather flirtatious personality. It's not intentional, I promise. But how'd you spend the rest of your night?"

"We went to my bar." I spoke up, just now realizing Grace's arm has been around me this whole time. I lifted up my hand to hold hers before she pulled away inexplicably. "Spent the rest of the night there. At least that's all I remember." I looked at Grace quizzically, silently questioning why she'd pull away in a completely safe space. She paid me no mind, her eyes fixed on something, someone, outside the car. I followed her gaze to see a complete stranger. Dressed formally, as if attending a job, the strange man stopped in front of the car, placing his hands on the hood.

"Sir," The man began. My eyes darted from him to Grace. Her eyes were wide and her slack-jawed expression horrified me. Who was this man? Why was she so terrified of him? There was next to nothing I knew about the situation, and what I did know, I didn't like. "Could I speak to the woman in the back of your vehicle?"

"Grace?" I grabbed her hand gently just out of the man's vision, looking her in the eye with the utmost concern. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mamrie panic internally. I was all too familiar with this look. It was reserved solely for people she dreaded wholly. I kept my gaze fixed on Grace as I spoke. "Are you okay? Do you want me to go with you?"

"No. I'm fine." Grace lied, swallowing tears. She exited the car, staring at the man as she strolled over to him. They were just out of my hearing, but I saw how distressed she was speaking to him.

I diverted my attention to Mamrie, still seething. She was slouched back in her seat, jaw clenched and hands shaking with fury. Tyler and Troye were conversing apart from everyone else, not noticing how distraught the other girls were. "Who is that?"

Mamrie looked at me and her expression softened, almost sad. She leaned towards me and took my hand. Her eyes looked so sorry for me, and for Grace. "Hannah, I'm sorry you have to hear this from me." Tears welled up in her eyes and she shut them, shaking her head ever so slightly. "That's Chester. Grace's fiancé."

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I KNOW I KNOW IM SORRY I HAVE NO EXCUSES OOPTH I DONE FUCKED UP BUT I PROMISE I HAVE EXCITING THINGS TO COME JUST YOU WAIT I SWEAR ITS GONNA BE COOL OKAY? OKAY