Emily knew she was missing something. A lot of somethings if her foggy brain was any indication. She couldn’t remember how she got to Eddie’s place, how she ended up naked except for his t-shirt, or anything that happened after Nick told her he’d met someone else.

Emily had been stupid enough to think Nick was going to propose to her. They’d been together a year, but off and on for longer than she could count. She figured he was finally ready to settle down. Especially after the text he sent her earlier in the day saying he wanted to meet her at the party and had something important to tell her.

He’d said he loved her, so she knew that wasn’t it. She was such a fool, believing he’d been telling the truth.

Annoyed with herself, Emily angrily got dressed. She pulled on the panties she’d painstakingly picked out at the store just for Nick, the matching bra that cost more than she’d ever spent on a single garment. She’d been so sure of their future this time, but Nick disappointed her again.

She should be sad, heartbroken, but she wasn’t. She was hurt, yeah, but mostly her pride. At that moment, all Emily really wanted was to move on. To stop feeling like shit for being with Nick. To feel like herself again.

Once dressed, Emily went out to Eddie’s kitchen. She’d been to his place enough that she was comfortable there, but she’d never been in his room. Leaving the bedroom she felt her world tilt back to normal, like being in his room had shifted her to a brand new world, but being in the kitchen she was back in the real world.

“Thanks for taking care of me,” Emily muttered, feeling ashamed that Eddie had to deal with her antics.

He was silent and when Emily finally looked up his eyes were serious and intent on her, staring at her as though he were upset. Shit, Emily thought, she’d ruined his night. Eddie probably wanted to take someone else home, someone who wasn’t drunk as a skunk and puking her guts out. Someone he could get naked and ring in the New Year right with.

“I’ll always take care of you, Em,” he said, his jaw ticking with his words.

The huskiness of his voice, still rough from the morning, along with the words he spoke sent a chill up her spine. If she believed him, she would wonder if there was more behind those green eyes than she’d ever seen before. But Emily knew better. Eddie was Nick’s best friend. He probably just got her out of there so Nick didn’t have to deal with her. Eddie was always doing whatever Nick asked, especially when it came to Emily.

She wished someone wanted to take care of her for her, not because they were obligated.