Under the Lights

Chapter 26: I'm Not Drunk... Sort Of

Chapter 26

I rubbed my sore neck as I walked into the kitchen.

"Morning! How was your night?" Jess asked cheerfully.

I didn't reply, immediately reaching for a beer from the fridge.

"A beer at 11:30?" Jess laughed, raising her eyebrows.

I still didn't reply, taking a big gulp.

"How was the couch?" Brian teased, his arm around Jess.

I flipped him off, taking another sip of my beer as I walked back to the living room.

"Is he okay?" Jess laughed.

"He's just being moody because Carly's not here." Brian shrugged.

I sat down on the couch with a sigh, turning on the TV.

"Well then why doesn't she come over?" I heard Jess say.

I turned up the sound of Seinfeld, not hearing what Brian replied to that.

It was an off week for the Longhorns, and there was no game to watch.

I ended up drifting off a few times while watching random sitcoms on TBS.

"Come on lazy, get up." Jess said, appearing in front of me.

"Nah." I groaned, taking a sip of the most recent beer I'd had.

"Why are you being so lazy?" Jess sighed, sitting down on the couch next to me.

"I'm tired." I replied, raising my eyebrows at her.

"Where's Carly?"

"It's her sister's birthday." I shrugged.

"And, why are you moping on the couch?" Jess raised her eyebrows.

"Because the Longhorns aren't playing." I replied, glancing at the TV as it resumed to King of Queens from a commercial break.

"And why haven't you and Carly told anyone that you're engaged?" Jess laughed, still questioning me.

"Because it never came up." I shrugged.

"Not even to your brother? He still doesn't know." Jess frowned.

"Yea." I mumbled, not pulling my eyes away from the TV.

"Care to explain why this is such a secret?" Jess raised her eyebrows.

"Hey Brian!" I called into the kitchen.

"Yea?" He called back.

"I gave Carly mom's ring!" I called back.

"You proposed?" Brian laughed, shocked.

"Yea."

"Good job!"

"Thanks!" I replied, giving Jess a look. "Because that's what would've happened if I told him. He doesn't care."

Jess rolled her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell your dad?" Jess asked curiously.

"Haven't talked to him in a few weeks." I shrugged.

"Well why didn't you-"

"Hey Jess?"

"Yea?" She frowned.

"Can you leave me alone?" I said quietly, taking a sip of my beer. "You're boring me."

Jess sighed and stood up from the couch.