Hadley’s POV:
I was driving through town after driving into Charlotte to finish my Christmas shopping when I saw a familiar truck parked outside of the local bar. If I’d had a dollar forever beer I’ve drank in that place with Chase since we turned 21, everyone would be having a very Merry Christmas. 

Part of me wanted to go into that bar, drink a few shots and act like the past week had never happened. But the hurt side of me wasn't ready to face him after his confession at his mama’s earlier. Not going to lie, his admission that what he had shared had been just sex had stung more than I had thought that it would. But even as much as it stung, it had been a teaching moment for me because it solidified what I had known all along; that Chase and I were meant to be friends and nothing more. Deciding that it was time to just move on and try to salvage what I could of our friendship, I pulled my jeep to the curb behind Chase’s truck and climbed out, locking it up before heading for the door. Best way to get over the hurt is to face it head on right?

Walking into the bar, it wasn't hard to spot Chase. Then again, I was able to spot him in any crowd. The normally happy feeling I felt when I saw him disappeared immediately when I watched a leggy brunette saddle up to his barstool and trail her finger down his chest seductively. Knowing I had no right to be jealous, I pasted a smile on my face and took the barstool on the opposite side of him. 

“Hads!’ yelled Larry, the old man who had run the bar practically forever, as he walked over to get my order. Not that he needed to ask. I always took tequila shots when I came in here. Tonight wasn't going to be any different. I felt Chase’s eyes on me but chose to ignore him. 

“The usual Larry. And keep ‘em coming.”

“You got it doll.” said Lary with a smile. I watched as he reached for a couple shot glasses and poured me two shots of Jose. Lifting them, I slammed them back, feeling Chase’s eyes boring into me as I did. 

“Chasey, you act like you’ve never seen me shoot tequila before.” I said, sliding my glasses back to Larry before sticking my hand out to the brunette on his left. “I’m Hadley, this lugnuts' best friend for the better part of 30 years.” Tipsy brunette gave me the skank eye as she laced her fingers with Chase’s that were sitting on the bar top, to which I just smiled. 

“It's just that I know what it does to your head,” said Chase. I knew what he was talking about. That song by Joe Nichols about clothes falling off, yeah, that may or may not be my theme song. Good thing it was winter and I had on lots of layers.

“Besides give me a hangover? Chasey, I think you know that pretty much alcohol has that effect on me and everyone else who drinks it.”

“Not what I meant and you know it.” he said, his words slurring together, his tone growly. How long has he been sitting here drinking? Chancing a glance at his eyes, the glassiness of them told me that he had been her awhile. And based on the glass with amber colored liquor sitting in front of him, he had been drinking his drink of choice, Jack Daniels. 

After almost 30 years of friendship, it was hard for me not to look at him and know what he was feeling. Since he was byond buzzed and leaning more to towards hammered, he wasn’t able to keep his emotions on lock down like he normally would. I could tell something was bothering him. Then my subconscious spoke up, her snarky little voice saying that I was what was bothering him. Surely not.

“How are you getting home Chasey?” I asked, unable to keep the concern for him out of my voice. 

“Freida here is gonna make sure I get home.” he said, pulling the tipsy brunette into his side. Based on the glassiness in her eyes, she was in no shape to drive either. Hell, I wasn't even sure if he really even knew her name. Tipsy brunette didn't seem to mind though. 

“Over my dead body Chase Daniel.” I said, anger at him, her, and this whole mess getting the best of me. Over the years, we had lost too many people we had been close with in car accidents because they had either been drinking or were in a car with someone who was driving when they shouldn't have been. I might be pissed at him but there was no way I would be able to live with myself if I let him leave with someone who had been drinking and something was to happen. Plus there was the fact that Connie was murder me for not stopping so there was that.

“Last time I checked,” said Chase, standing from his bar stool and swaying on his feet “I was a grown ass man capable of making my own decisions. If I want to leave here with Franny, I will. And there ain't a damn thing you or anybody else can do about it.”

That was it. I was really going to murder him. In a move that I had seen executed countless times by his mama, I reached up, tugging his ear with expert skill, dragging his head down to my level and making him howl in pain. Tugging a little harder, I began walking towards the door of the bar, dragging his 6’4”, 200 pound frame behind my 5’2”, 110 pound one. 

“Goddamnit Hads, that shit hurts.” whined Chase from behind me. All it did was make me tug harder. 

“Who the hell do you think you are?” slurred Tipsy brunette. Whirling around, I saw her tugging on Chase’s arm, trying to hold him in place. Sneering at her, I gave her my best fuck with me and find out what happens look. I was in no mood to end up having to beat her drunk ass. 

“As I said when I introduced myself. I’m Hadley, this fucking drunk ass’s best friend and I’m the one who is going to make sure he ends up at home and not dead in a ditch somewhere.” I said, tugging Chase’s ear once more, dragging him behind me. 

Once outside the bar, I let go of his ear but stood in front of him, my hands fisted on my hips. Chase swayed slightly on his feet.

“I don't know what brought on this drunk-a-palooza that you're currently on, but fuck Chase. What the hell were you thinking?” I said, glaring up at him. 

“I was trying to clear my mind. Got a lot going on in here.” said Chase, slapping his hands against his head. 

“Join the fucking crowd.” I mumbled before wrapping an arm around his waist and walking him to my Jeep. Chad or Casey could bring him to pick up his truck in the morning. “Come on, let's get you back to Ma’s.”  

“You smell good.” said Chase, his nose burying in my hair and inhaling deeply. “Like honeysuckles and vanilla. Two of my favorite scents.”

“Thanks.” I said as I reached the passenger door of my jeep. Hitting the fob to unlock the door, I opened it and helped him inside before buckling him in. As I had leaned across him, my breast brushed against his chest, sending tingles down my spine. I totally did not have time to be having these feelings. Focusing on the task of buckling instead of how fast my nipples had hardened at that slight touch, I buckled him in and moved to close the door. 

“I love you, Hads. So fucking much.” said Chase just as I was about to close the door. 

“I love your drunk ass too Chasey. Now, arms inside the vehicle.” I said smiling as he crossed his arms over his chest as if he was about to go down a waterslide or something. Shutting the door, I walked around to the drivers side and climbed in.

We both rode in silence, all but the radio playing softly to fill the cabin of my Jeep. There was a ton I wanted to say but knew that him being drunk isn't the best time to profess my love for him. Plus there was the little fact that I had made a promise that we would move on from all of that and get back to being just Chase and Hads; best friends. 

Since it was a short drive from the bar to his mama’s, I pulled into the drive before the first song had ever even ended. Parking in my usual spot, I switched off the engine and climbed out. Walking around the jeep, I opened the passenger door and helped Chase out. Draping one of his arms over my shoulder so that he was leaning on me, I walked him to the house and up the front steps. 

Walking into the house as quietly as possible, I led him up the stairs and into his room before letting him fall onto the bed. I tugged his boots off and Sat him up long enough to get his flannel off, leaving him in his jeans and tee. I moved to go fix him a glass of water when his hand wrapped around my wrist, tugging me on top of him. The electricity that was flowing through me was so strong that I felt like I was holding on to a power line. But before I could move to get away, Chase’s mouth was on mine, his tongue tangling with my own. I moaned at the feel of his tongue as I remembered just what he was capable of doing to my body with it. 

Lost in the moment, I I kissed him back with everything I had in me. I felt his hands pushing at my jeans, trying to push them down my hips. Incapable of resisting him, I broke the kiss long enough to stand and kick off my boots and shuck my jeans, all the while watching as he did the same.

Once I was naked from the waist down, I crawled onto his lap, aligning my pussy with his cock and slipping him inside of me in one hard movement. My head fell back on my shoulders at the delicious feeling of him filling me so completely. His fingers digging into my hips spurred me on, making me circle my hips faster and faster. All too soon, I felt the heat building inside of me, telling me that my release wasn't far off. Desperate for the feeling of my release, I picked up the pace, taking what I needed. When the first tremor rocked me, I fell forwards, sinking my teeth into his peck to stifle the moan that was threatening to escape. I could feel him emptying himself inside of me, filling me with his seed. 

Wanting nothing more than to cuddle and profess my love for him, I resisted the urge and climbed off of him, grabbing a t-shirt he had tossed on the floor at some point to clean myself up. Grabbing my jeans, I slipped them back on before doing the whole one-legged-hop thing to get my boots back on. Turning back to the bed, I saw Chase watching me. 

“Had an itch that needed scratching. Thanks for taking one for the team bestie.” I said, turning for the door. 

“Hads, wait.” said Chase, his speech even more slurred than before.

“Gotta go. Call you later.” I said, practically running out the door. 

I managed to make it out of the house without being stopped and to my jeep before I let myself let out the breath I had been holding. Chase had left me last time. Well, it was time he got a dose of his own medicine. Time to see how much he liked being the girl in this whole love-em-and-leave-em show.