'No, you didn't,' Simon laughs. 'You requested her? Oh, man. Do you have a death wish or something?'

'Don't be ridiculous. She's talented.'

'Dude. You left her. And then left town. Didn't speak to her for three years. I'm surprised she even spoke to you.'

The small bar is packed with people. It's a Friday night, there's an air of celebration in the throng of the crowd.  Beers are passed around, people are laughing, forgetting their worries of the week. Simon takes the last gulp of his beer and sighs, shaking his head at his friend.

Josh sighs. 'Don't read into it. She made it clear that things are just professional.'

'Once again, unsurprising.' Simon chuckles, signaling the bartender for another two beers. 'Drink up, it's Friday.'

'Only one more,' Josh says, slurping down the rest of his beer.

'I have to ask. What is this about?' he asks.

'What do you mean?'

'You're not trying to win her back, are you?' Simon asks.

Josh hiccups. His mouth opens, but before he an answer, Simon chimes, 'because honestly that's cruel, man. I'm your friend so I have to say it.'

'I know I screwed up, okay? I know. I feel really bad about it.'

The beers appear at the bar, and Simon hands a note to the bartender, sliding his beer into his hand.

'So this is a forgiveness thing, right?' Simon asks.

'Yeah, sure,' Josh sips his beer. He glances around the packed bar, wondering if he will recognise anyone else. Simon looks around too, and then says, 'Oh, gees.'

'What?'

'Don't be weird. Promise?' Simon says.

'Okay, what is it? Is you ex here or something?'

Simon snorts. 'No, but Fleur's boyfriend is.'

Josh turns his gaze to where Simon's had landed. A group of guys stands around a bar table, laughing loudly. Josh's eyes narrow as he looks at all of their faces. He recognises them from school, dimly. A guy from a year above, one from below, and then his eyes land on the man he was looking for.

Alistair was the prom king of his year. Always had a new lady under his arm. The head cheerleader, then her best friend, then the swimming team captain. His sweeping charm captivated almost everyone is touched. And over time, every girl who didn't manage to keep him, forgave him. Most made another visit to his bedroom at one point or another.

His large hand grips a beer glass, his eyes alight at a joke. Dark, piercing eyes, lidded by dark lashes and dark eyebrows. Tall, dark-toned, some call him handsome.

'You're staring. Don't be weird,' Simon says.

Josh turns back. 'I don't care,' Josh says, taking a gulp of beer.

'Mmm hmmm,' Simon rolls his eyes, taking the last few sips of his beer. 'Another?' He asks.

'Nah dude, that's enough.' Josh's beer is only half empty.

'Just one more?' Simon says, raising his hand to the bartender again.

'No, we're not doing this.' Josh gulps a few more sips and stands. 'Come on, let's go.'

'Don't be such a bore,' Simon says, turning to call the bartender.

'No, man, seriously.' Josh takes his friend arm and guides him from the chair.

'Ugh,' Simon rolls his eyes but allows Josh to pull him from the chair.

Josh leads his friend towards the door. His eyes can't help it, they veer back to Alistair and his friends. A shooter girl is at the table, with a bottle of tequila out. She's smiling, she's trying to sell them drinks, and it looks like it's working. Alistair is smiling at her, telling her how many drinks to pour, and his arm lands around her shoulders, his face falling too close to hers as she replies to what he had said. Josh's heartbeat rages.

He wants to turn back into the bar, his anger draws him in, but the Simon in his grip is leaning that way and he cannot allow him back into the bar. So he swings the door open into the night air and calls for a cab.