I almost cry with joy when I wake up to loud music and a sea of green. Who cares if I'm stuck in a time loop, I get the chance to undo my spectacular failure at friendship. I still can't believe I objected at Nessa's wedding. The minister didn't even ask. She must have hated me.

I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. Everything is okay now.

"Hey, you okay?"

I look up to find Amy in front of me, her hair back to that unobtrusive shade of midnight blue.

I exhale. "Yeah. Everything's perfect."

"Perfect." She smiles. "What can I get you?"

I consider. I haven't thought this far ahead. If I keep Connor occupied tonight and well into the morning, he can't make it to work on time. And there's a small window of time where he'd still be late for work, but too early to run into Nessa.

I nod, steeling myself. "Something strong," I request. I'm going to have to be really drunk for this.

Actually, if I get him drunk enough as well, maybe I won't have to do anything distasteful.

"Make it two," I add.

The drinks land in front of me, and I take a moment to set the alarm on my phone before grabbing one of them. I glance over my shoulder, to where I know Connor is standing awkwardly beside the door, and accidentally catch his eye.

I whirl back around. "Crap," I whisper to my glass.

How long does it take for a slightly drunk guy to cross a crowded bar? Not long enough. I have to keep telling myself it's necessary.

"Excuse me, is anyone sitting there?"

Fortifying myself with the image of Nessa's smile, I shake my head. When he sits down, I slide the second drink toward him.

He studies it for a second, then looks up with a goofy grin. "You're either psychic or you know what you want."

I shrug. "Maybe both."

All I have to do is get him drunk and then get him to come with me. I don't have to go further than that.

"Cheers," he says, and we clink glasses. "So, what are you doing here all alone?"

"Oh, right, judge me. Remind me who you're here with? The door?"

He laughs. "Actually, my brother dragged me along on a double blind date, but mine never showed up."

"Dodged a bullet," I comment as we both take a drink.

"I guess I did."

That's cute. He thinks I meant him.

"The next round's on me," he offers, signaling the bartender for more.

I laugh softly. I'm already stretching toward that place where everything is hilarious and nothing matters.

"Perfect," I agree, gulping down the remainder of my current drink.

I can feel Amy's silent judgment as she pours two more. Half of me wishes I could explain it to her, and the other half imagines the look on her face if I tried. I cackle at the thought, imagining she'd probably do the same.

"Are you okay?" Connor asks.

"Never better," I say, starting on my second drink. He does the same.

Just get him home, I tell myself. Oh god, I'm the creepy dude in a trenchcoat skulking in the shadows. I might as well go out and buy a white van to offer candy from.

"So your brother set you up?" I change the subject.

He rolls his eyes. "He does it all the time."

I just laugh. I consider it karma—ever since he and Nessa became "official," he's been trying to pawn me off on guys every time we see each other.

So maybe I enjoy his frustration just a little bit too much.

"Yeah," I say. "I have a friend who does the same. It's annoying, right?"

"You've no idea! Or I guess you do...."

"See, that's the advantage of being an only child," I say.

"Or maybe just not following your siblings to college," Connor adds. I note the slight slur starting to infect his words and try to hide my satisfaction.

My eyes momentarily cross, but I refocus them long enough to find Amy again. I hold up two fingers, and she heaves a sigh before obliging.

The second drink made Connor bearable. The third one makes him a downright riot.

"...and there was a loose buffalo...in Buffalo!" he finishes, collapsing into giggles on the countertop.

"In Buffalo!" I wheeze.

He nods, tears streaming down his face. "In Buffalo!"

My laughter reminds me of a machine gun, firing in loud, staccato bursts. Luckily no one comments on the fact that I sound like Janice from Friends. "You made that up!"

He shakes his head. "I swear."

I throw my head back and laugh again. When I right myself, Connor is watching me.

"Thanks for making me not regret coming out tonight," he says.

That's actually kind of sweet, so I offer a small smile. "Anytime."

"How on earth did you end up here alone?" he asks.

"I got lonely at home. My roommate's out of town."

That catches his attention. His mirth fades into a small grin as his eyebrow twitches upward. "Is she?"

I nod, steeling myself. Time to go in for the kill.

I look up at his rippling features, trying to make them stay still long enough to meet his eye. "Do you want to get out of here?"