"So no smoochies for you last night?" Charlie asked, pouring Eddy another cup of coffee.

"Make that one Irish, Chuck," Eddy replied, keeping her wayfarers on.

"Didn't you drink enough last night?" Charlie asked, pouring a healthy shot of whiskey in the coffee. "You still have confetti in your hair."

"Hair of the dog," Eddy said, sipping it.

"Well, hurry up and finish. I gotta go do that... thing."

"And happy new year to you too, bitch," Eddy said. "Wait... you didn't do that thing yet?"

"He was already out of town for the holiday. And you can't do this over the phone; it has to be face to face."

"But he's back now?"

"Yeah."

Eddy swiped the bottle of whiskey and refilled her mug. "And you're sure about this? Like... really sure?"

"I thought you wanted me to move on."

"I did. I do. It's just... I know how you get when you're around him."

"Yeah... "

"And he's already broken your heart three times. What if today... it's the fourth?"

Charlie grabbed the bottle back from his sister and took a long swig.

*

As Charlie approached the building, he felt like an idiot for not recognizing it before. Charlie had helped him move in for god sake. When he opened the door and smiled at Charlie, Charlie almost lost himself in the bluest eyes he'd ever seen.

"Happy new year," Charlie said.

"Happy new year. Come in," Tom said.

"What about Josh? Isn't he... ?"

"No, no. He hasn't come back in yet. We've got the place all to ourselves."

Charlie took a breath and went into Tom's condo.

###

Can't think of a better way to start off the New Year than launching Volume 5! Just joining us? Catch up here:

Volume 1 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 2 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 3 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 4 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five


###