E R I C

"Watch me, boys!" I recoiled in my seat when Shawn took the massive pizza box and proceeded to open it. In horror, I watch as my best friend shoves slice after slice of the hot pizza down his throat, looking like a beast who has been starved his entire life. He had being dared to eat a complete pizza and in return, he'll receive one thousand dollars. Without hesitation, he dipped in.

I brought the beer bottle close to my lips about to sip when something dawned in me. I'm the one to drive myself home. Promising myself to be sober for the next couple of weeks would be difficult on me I realised. I would miss the familiar taste of beer as it burns down my throat and create a whole new different aura for me. Patience was the key point but having the beer in my hand is tempting.

The beer was suddenly taken away from me and I glanced at the intruder to see my best friend, Zack smirking at me. He knows about my plan and has being trying to get on my nerves. Zack wanted to provoke me to get me to break my oath.

"EAT A BAG FULL OF DICKS BECAUSE I WON, NOW GIVE ME MY MOTHERFUCKING ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS!" Shawn slurred with a fist up in the air and a hand holding his small, bulging stomach obviously from what he ate.

I massaged my temples and hid my face when a few heads turn our way and stare at Shawn weirdly. Some even have the audacity to laugh. To stop him from further embarrassing me, I took out four hundred dollars from my wallet and handed it to him. Zack was half drunk as he slowly brought out a six hundred dollar notes to which Shawn grabbed immediately.

Shawn stood up, his chair screeching back in the process and drawing attention again which he never seemed to notice. He took the bottle from Zack and sipped. "I might not be able to take any woman to bed but at least, I got free one thousand dollars. I'm out." He almost stumbled his way out of the open air restaurant.

Zack and I watch our best friend's retreating figure as he strolled drunkenly towards the main road where his Uber was waiting for him. Spending our nights at this open air restaurant was pretty often, we got used to Shawn's noisy drunk form. He usually gets drunk and called an Uber when he's ready to leave. On rare occasions, he left with women though. Women that last no longer than a week or two.

"Glad we got rid of the pizza." Zack said grinning and sipping at his drink. Apparently, we're more than satiated after eating a lot of junk food. Shawn was our only choice when we didn't know what to do with the last pizza.

My phone pinged from my jeans pocket. I brought it out and tapped on the new text message.

'Come pick your drunk ass girl.'

I shuddered at Leslie's words. I could already imagine her holding Amy and trying to cope with whatever she was trying to do. Whether planning to run naked on the street or wearing a blindfold and attempting to drive herself home. Anyways, if I don't get there on time, Amy might do more than that.

"I'm out of here, dude. Maybe it's time you take your lonely ass back home." I retorted to Zack who was still drinking his beer casually, his eyes now closed with no intention to move.

My upper lip curled as I let out a sigh. I gaze around the restaurant, my eyes falling upon the round tables with five chairs each surrounding them. The scent of mouth watering dishes saturated the air and the soft music in the background made me want to sit back and relax. There was the beautiful chandelier in the middle above the dance floor and a few couples were dancing. The murmuring, laughter and chattering of the people and clacking of plates was like the humming of bees in my ears.

"Don't worry about me, you should go." Zack reassured me without looking at me. It wasn't such a big deal though. We've done this a lot of time and each one of us went his separate ways at the end of the day.

I shrugged, turned on my heels and trekked outside to where I parked my car. Opening the car door, I hopped inside and revived the engine back to life. Switching on the night lights, I pressed on the gear and hit the road.

***

"You should be thanking me for babysitting Amy. Maybe you should pay me a few hundred dollars." Leslie pulled on a serious expression, folding her arms across her chest and leaning against the door watching me struggle to carry Amy in a bridal style.

Most weekends, I spend the nights out with my best male buddies and leave my girlfriend with my other female best friends especially when they are throwing a party. I wanted Amy, Leslie and Maya to get to know each other. After all, Amy is going to be with me for the rest of my life and getting along with my best friends is essential for me. They're a part of me and have being with me since my childhood.

I've being friends with Zack and Maya since our diapers days. My parents met theirs during the birth of my older sister, Catherine and their older sister, Kassy. They bonded because they gave birth on the same day and are both blessed with girls. Since then, they've being the best of friends.

I met Shawn at kindergarten. At that time, Shawn was the new kid and was an introvert. Zack and I were one of the oldest kids then. I don't know why but I was an asshole since when I was I didn't know what that word is. I picked up on Shawn, ate his food and made fun of him in front of the other kids. Shawn would cry and I named him a baby which was a pretty offensive word to five year olds. But after the teacher noticed and made me apologise to him, my perspective changed. Shawn won my heart when he brought my favourite vanilla cupcakes his mother baked for him.

Naturally, Leslie was Maya's best friend but over time, she joined our clique and became a very close friend. A friend I rely on a lot.

"I thought it was supposed to be a nice party." I said when the loud rock music filled my ears. For a twenty-five year old degree holder, I never expected her to act this wild.

Leslie stared at me with a bored expression. "I haven't done it when I was in high school. I have time to do it now. Goodnight." She smiled before getting inside. Shutting the door, the music reduced externally.

"Baby, I don't want to go back to my parent's home. I want to go to your place!" Amy whined in my arms as I picked her up in a bridal style.

I barely open the passenger door before dropping her on her seat. Her long, straight strawberry blond hair covered her face, a lock between her full, pink lips. Her eyes were closed, the long eyelashes resting on her cheekbones and her lips were pushed in a sexy pout that makes me want to do nothing but kiss the fuck out of it. My face was a few inches away from her because she refused to let go of my neck, her arms tightening around me each second.

Gently, I tucked back her hair from her face with my hand. Her face expression was so cute I couldn't resist pecking her on the forehead. An unconscious smile appeared on her lips. She was my beautiful fiancée after all and would become completely mine in a few weeks.

"I love you." She whispered in a small voice I wouldn't have heard if I wasn't this close to her. I don't know why but it snapped something in me and I quickly ducked my head. Closing the passenger door, I rounded the car, got inside and started driving.

Anger boiled inside me, my jaw ticking at my reaction previously. I tightened my hold on the steering wheel and glanced at my half conscious fiancée. She doesn't deserve a broken man like me to be with her. Amy is a sweet little thing. She lit up my dark world and led me to the light at the end of the tunnel. She loves me despite my imperfections and bandaged heart. I don't know how I got so damn lucky to have this beautiful angel in my life.

Our mothers are very good friends and had already planned to set us up. Amy is almost four years younger than me. Her parents were business associates to my parents. We started dating a year ago after we both succumbed in to our parents persuasions. Our wedding not only benefitted us but also stimulate the success of our family business.

Amy is currently struggling to become a professional fashion model and I'm the new appointed CEO of my family's manufacturing business. I popped the question two months ago and Amy said yes instantly. We bought a new home but for the meantime, it's being renovated. I couldn't live with my parents because of their constant nagging to give them grandchildren immediately after our wedding so I currently reside in one of the apartments owned by my best friend. Amy lives with her parents but she usually spends her time at my place.

Parking the car in the parking lot, I picked up my sleeping fiancée and went towards the entrance. I entered the elevator and it began to take me to the eleventh floor. Everything was nice inside the with each room has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, living room and a walk in closet. I enjoy staying here although there aren't many people because it's new.

The elevator pinged open and I walked to my door. I brought out the key and opened it. In the darkness, I found my way to the bedroom. Slowly opening the door, the warmth hit me and invited me in. I dropped Amy on it and began to remove her boots. The room was dark so I turned on the lights.

"Make love to me, Eric. I want you inside me now." Amy muttered. I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart picking up a pace. Before I could respond, Amy drifted to sleep, her soft snoring filling the room.

All because of one stupid girl, I couldn't be romantic to my girlfriend. This girl stole my heart and disappeared with it, taking my second chances at love. Why does my heart wince when Amy mentions love to me? I should be able to tell her sweet nothings and make love to her. But every time we spend the nights together, it felt like fucking. The only times I made love to Amy was when. . . I imagine her.

The heart thief.

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