Marry Me for Money by Mia Kayla

beyond my lips to the corners of my mouth and up toward my nose.
    “Uh…okay, if we’re friends, you have to always tell me the truth. Why didn’t you tell me I look like death right now?”
    “I always tell you the truth, Beth.” He walked behind me, so I could see both of our reflections in the mirror. “You look like death right now.” He framed my shoulders with his hands. “And smell like vomit.”
    At that, we both laughed.
    Looking at his reflection again, I thought to myself, It’s not fair that he looks like a model in the morning, even while hungover.

    The next week was restaurant week with Kent. There were over three hundred restaurants participating with prix fixe menus. It took forever and a half to decide together on where we wanted to go. We compromised by trying both of our top five picks. On multiple days, we went to lunch and dinner. I’m certain I gained over five pounds getting my eat on.
    Before I knew it, the workweek was over, Friday night had come, and I was out at the bar with my coworkers. It was a different environment, seeing everyone out of the corporate element. Jim was by the bar, laughing like I’d never seen him laugh before. He was wearing jeans and a Northwestern alumni T-shirt, looking younger and more relaxed.
    Sitting on a bar stool next to Caroline, I watched as she wrapped her arms around her tall, lanky boyfriend, Jeff. They couldn’t keep their hands off of each other, and I wondered if they remembered that I was right beside them.
    I jumped when I felt a hand on the small of my back. When I turned, Brian was behind me with a beer in his other hand.
    “Hey,” he said, leaning into me.
    I moved from his touch, hoping Caroline hadn’t seen it.
    “Brian, finally, you’re here. Beth over here has been waiting for you.” Caroline giggled before tilting her beer bottle all the way back.
    I gave her my evil eye before taking a sip of my drink.
    “Beth, I’m so kidding.” She hiccupped. “What number is this one?” she asked, turning to her boyfriend and lifting her bottle.
    “Caroline, don’t you know? Beth doesn’t date coworkers, so there is no way she could have been waiting for me.” Brian gave me a wink, breaking the awkwardness.
    I silently thanked him and awarded him with a small smile.
    “I’m going to order the next round. What are you guys drinking?” he asked.
    After we gave him our requests, Brian headed toward the bar, and I watched his broad shoulders move under his fitted T-shirt.
    “Beth, look at all that hotness! If you only gave in a little…” She hiccupped. “Quit being so uptight, and live the life. Plus, you two would make the cutest couple.”
    Before I had a chance to snap at her for teasing me one too many times, Jeff grabbed her beer bottle.
    “You’re cut off,” he said before giving her a kiss on the lips.
    “Aw, why?” she whined, trying to reach for the bottle. She slumped against his arms when he tipped her drink all the way back.
    “Because you had too much to drink, that’s why, and when you have too much to drink, you have no filter.”
    I lifted my beer bottle to tap against Jeff’s in thanks. “Yeah, you’re a mean drunk, Caroline.”
    She looked me deep in the eyes with her sad Caroline pout, jutting out her lip. “I’m sorry, Beth. I was just telling you how it is.” Her arms draped around my neck, and the next minute, she started crying, confirming that she was officially drunk.
    I wrapped my arms around her lower back. “It’s okay, Caroline. I forgive you. Plus, you’re my one and only girlfriend in Chicago, so I’m not left with much of a choice.” I said, patting her back and giving Jeff a small smirk.
    When her sobs accelerated, Jeff gathered her from my arms. “Okay, babe, this is our cue to go home.”
    I gave him a hug as he held her by the waist, and I watched them move toward Brian, who was surrounded by a bunch of bankers. Leaning against the bar, he was in conversation with the others,