Emancipating Andie

“Alright man, see you in a few,” he heard Matt say, and he turned his head in his friend’s direction just in time to see him end the call and put his phone back in his pocket.

“Who was that?” he asked, handing Matt one of the beers.

“Colin. He’s on his way here.”

Chase froze. At the mention of his name, he felt something welling in the pit of his stomach. Something he hadn’t felt in years, because he made no apologies for himself anymore.

He dropped his head, exhaling softly.

He hadn’t seen Colin since Florida, and tonight was not the night he wanted to see him again. He was trying to get his mind off of everything, and the last thing he needed was a flesh and blood reminder of why he couldn’t have what he wanted.

A reminder of what a shitty friend he had become.

“Break,” Chase said to Tyler as he picked up his cue, trying to rid himself of the irritating feeling in his stomach.

Grow up, he thought, taking a swig of his beer. This won’t be awkward unless you make it awkward.

A few minutes later, he heard the door swing open, and he glanced up, catching sight of Colin walking through the door. And at that moment, he knew it wouldn’t be nearly as bad as he thought it would be.

It was going to be a hundred times worse.

Because right behind him, her hair loose and wild, her cheeks flushed with cold and her hand clasped in his, was Andie.

He longed for the uneasiness he felt before; it would have been much preferred to the nausea that now rolled through him. He stood quickly, turning away from the door and bringing the bottle to his lips, taking down the rest of his beer.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Colin! What’s up,” he heard Tyler say behind him, and he knew there was nowhere for him to go. He grit his teeth together and squeezed his eyes shut before he righted his expression and turned, an easy smile on his face.

“What’s up, Chase,” Colin said.

“Good to see you, man,” Chase responded, clapping him on the shoulder with his smile still intact. “How are things?”

“Great,” Colin said with a shrug, slipping one of his hands around the small of Andie’s back, and Chase fought hard to keep the smile on his face, to keep his eyes on his friend.

Colin turned to Andie. “You want a drink, babe?”

“Your shot, man,” he heard Tyler say, and he turned from them, thankful for the distraction. Chase blinked quickly, trying to focus on the table.

What reason could he give for leaving? Chase thought as he attempted to line up a shot. He could fake an important phone call. He could say he didn’t feel well. He could say he was tired.

“T-t-t-today, Junior!” Tyler yelled.

Chase forced a smile, thrusting the cue forward, having no idea where he even sent the cue ball or what it would hit. He heard the clatter of a few balls, followed by Tyler’s jeering.

And when he stood and turned, he nearly bumped right into her.

“Shit, sorry,” he said, backing up quickly.

“No, it’s okay, I shouldn’t have walked behind you like that,” she said softly.

He nodded, looking at her, and she alternated between making eye contact with him and looking somewhere over his shoulder.

“Hi,” Chase finally said, and she smiled tentatively.

“Hi.”

A tension filled the space between them, so thick that Chase felt as if he couldn’t breathe. It was not the uncomfortable awkwardness that comes when there’s nothing to say, but rather when there are a million things, but they’re left unsaid.

“Here you go,” Colin said, his presence offering a sort of ironic relief, and Andie turned, taking the glass of wine out of his hands.

“Thank you,” she said, glancing at Chase one more time before she crossed to the other side of the table.

“Alright, we’re playing doubles,” Tyler said. “Colin, you’re with me. McGuire’s losing his hot streak anyway,” he added, and Chase flipped him off just as Matt came over to him.

“Yo, dude, you okay?”

Chase straightened up as he cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’m good, why?”

“That last shot sucked, bro,” he laughed. “Pull it together if you want to stay on my team.” He slapped him on the back as he crossed to the other side of the table.

He watched Matt line up his shot, and out of his peripheral vision, he could see Colin sweep Andie’s hair over her shoulder and plant a soft kiss on the side of her neck.

He had to get the fuck out of there.

He would finish this game, and then he’d say something, anything, that would explain his sudden departure. He just needed to get through this game. That was it. He’d throw it if he had to. And actually, at that moment, that seemed like his best plan of attack.

Ten excruciating minutes later, as he circled the table and attempted to look like he was strategizing, he heard Andie say, “No, it’s okay, really. You stay.”

“Babe, if you don’t feel well, I’ll drive you home.”

Chase bent over the table, his entire focus on the conversation happening a few feet away.

“No, it’s okay. It’s just a headache. I’ll be fine. Stay. You hardly ever get to see these guys.”

There was a pause. “Are you sure?”

“Definitely,” she said.

“Do you want me to come by and check on you later?”

“No, I think I’m just go

Chase took his shot and missed, spurring a chorus of insults from Matt, none of which registered. He was straining to hear her voice again.

“Bye, guys,” she said, and Chase finally turned toward her.

“Andie, you’re leaving?” Tyler asked.

“Yeah, I have a headache, and I have to be at the restaurant early tomorrow anyway.”

“Aw, well, feel better hon,” Matt said, leaning over to kiss her cheek, and Chase longed for that indifference, for the ability to be so cavalier about touching her.

She blew a kiss to Tyler before she turned to Chase. “Bye, Chase,” she said with a forced nonchalance that was blatantly transparent to him.

He held up his hand. “Good night. Feel better.”

She turned, giving Colin a kiss and bringing her purse up to her shoulder, and he watched her walk out the door, his eyes not moving until it swung closed and concealed her from his sight.

“Alright, boys’ night out!” Tyler called, and Matt laughed.

“Dude, are you really go

Chase laughed, because he knew he was supposed to, but his mind was a million miles away from moronic movie quotes. Why did she leave? Was she really not feeling well? Or had she been looking for an escape as desperately as he had?

“Alright, rack ‘em again,” Matt called over his shoulder as he walked toward the bar to buy another round. “McGuire, get your head out of your ass, or you’ll be deemed chalk boy.”

Chase played another game, his motions listless and his thoughts scattered. He didn’t want to be out anymore. This wasn’t working. Nothing was going to work. He just needed time to get over this shit, and no amount of forced apathy was going to get him there any faster.

He managed to keep his head in the game long enough to win it for him and Matt, and as they started to rack them again, Chase placed his cue back on the wall.

“Alright, I’m go

“Are you serious? It’s only ten-thirty.”

“I know, but I got up early this morning. I’m fucking beat.”

“Come on, don’t be a pussy,” Tyler said.

“Shut up and let him go. I don’t want to buy this asshole any more drinks,” Matt chimed in, and Chase smiled and shook his head.

“Alright man,” Colin said. “Well, it was good to see you. Give me a call. We’ll catch a game together next week.”

Chase nodded, taking down the last of his beer, and as he turned and walked toward the door, he saw movement in his peripheral vision. He glanced over his shoulder to see the redhead from the bar approaching him.