Consequences of Their New York Night
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Tina Beckett
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13
PROLOGUE
KALEB SABAT THUMPED a glass of whiskey in front of his friend without saying a word. The bar was packed with the normal weekend crowd. Singles trolling for some easy company for the night. People celebrating the wins and losses they’d experienced during the day. Kaleb was there for none of those things.
He’d been the best man at his buddy’s wedding five years ago, just as they were both finishing up medical school. And now he was here drinking to the finalizing of Snowden’s divorce. It wasn’t exactly a celebration, but close enough. Kaleb could only be glad he and his fiancée had called it quits before it got to the point of selling a home and dividing up assets.
“Hell,” Snow said, then tipped back his glass and drained it in two swallows. “Why did we have to be so young and stupid, anyway? First your relationship crashes. And then mine.”
“I have no idea.” He took a drink of his own whiskey and gave a slight grimace as the brew bit the back of his throat and traced a path of fire down his esophagus. A good kind of fire.
Friends since the time they were kids, Snow had spent more time at Kaleb’s house than he had at his own as they were growing up. Only later did Kaleb find out why. His friend’s home hadn’t been a very good example of marital harmony. Or any other kind of harmony.
Then again, nothing could really prepare you for finding out your spouse was cheating on you with a colleague. He tipped his glass again and said the only thing he could think of. “At least they’re moving out of state.”
Evidently Theresa was letting no grass grow under her feet. Snow’s ex was busy scheduling another wedding.
“Let’s agree neither of us is getting involved with women ever again.”
Kaleb laughed. “Define involved.” He’d pretty much gotten his relationship skills honed to a very rigid set of requirements. No women who had a significant other. No lasting ties. No sleeping over. Actually he didn’t have women over at his house anymore period. He went to their place or found other more inventive ways of getting physically close.
“That’s easy. No rings. No strings. No walking the aisle. No sleeping—”
Kaleb held up a hand. “We’re not allowed to sleep?”
“Funny. You know what I mean.”
Unfortunately he did. Relationships were hard. He had no idea how his mom and dad had navigated thirty-five years of marital bliss, but they had. And they were still very much in love. So was his sister, who was expecting her second child. But as much as Kaleb might wish otherwise, he was not like them. His relationship track record was a royal failure with two broken engagements. He was not looking to add a third to that list.
“You were the one who actually got married, Snow, not me.”
“Way to rub it in, pal. But whatever you do, don’t find out the hard way what marriage is really about, like I did.”
Kaleb already had, and it hadn’t taken marriage to do that. Just two different women. One who’d insisted they have a baby right away, when he was just starting medical school. He’d said no, even though he wanted a family. Eventually. When things settled down. But no matter how much he tried to explain that fact, she’d kept pushing. When an ovulation tracking chart had fallen out of her purse, he knew the relationship was doomed. And maybe even his shot at fatherhood, since he was now swearing off women.
His second engagement was just as much of a flop. Candice thought a doctor that specialized in facial reconstruction meant having a plastic surgeon at her beck and call. After all, she’d landed a few parts on Broadway and had her sights set on Hollywood. Unfortunately for her, Kaleb had chosen his profession to help people with disfiguring injuries or conditions. She’d found that out when he’d gone on his first medical mission.
Why go there when you could make more money staying home?
That particular relationship had ended on an even uglier note than his first one. He’d broken off the engagement before he left on his trip and had thankfully come home to an empty apartment. Candice had cleaned out her stuff and most of his furniture, as well. It was a small price to pay to get her out of his life. So Snow wasn’t the only one who’d learned the hard way.
“I have no intention of ever getting married. Two engagements were enough for me.”
“Best decision you’ll ever make.” He raised a hand to get a second drink. “You want another?”
Kaleb had only taken a sip of his so far. “No. And I think you’re going to need a designated driver, at this rate.”
“You sure? We could always call a cab. After all, it’s a celebration.”
Except Snow’s face had a hardness to it that belied his words.
“Let’s not call it a celebration. How about calling it a resolution.” When the bartender set a new drink in front of his friend, Kaleb lifted his glass. “To confirmed bachelorhood.”
Snow raised his own. “To being smarter.”
“I’ll drink to that.” And while Kaleb merely tasted his whiskey, his friend drained his second glass.
He had a feeling it was going to be a very long night. And he might just have to revise his no-sleeping-over policy, because his friend was probably going to be sacking out on his new sofa.
But Snow was right about one thing—Kaleb was going to learn from his friend’s mistake. And his own. No more asking someone to move in with him. No more engagement rings. No kids. That one made him take a hard swallow.
And the biggest taboo of all? Walking down a very long aisle. One lined with dying flowers and broken promises, and where the only exit was a very expensive piece of paper—just like the one Snow had just signed.
No, it wasn’t worth it.
To bachelorhood. The two words rolled silently through his head. If he got nothing else out of tonight, he was going to carry that thought with him and make it his own personal creed.
