Montana took off her ankle boots and jacket. Baron had already retreated back to the living room where she could hear the voices of her friends. Drew's voice stood out. She took a look in the small mirror hanging in the hall and quickly combed her fingers through her long, light brown hair. It would have to do. No need to dress up for a man like Drew. He knew her. He would call her bluff right away if she tried to be something she wasn't.

She walked into the living room and took a look at the people around the round table. Her green eyes caught Drew's blue eyes. He smiled warmly at her and patted the empty seat next to him. Her heart skipped a beat as she walked over and sat down next to him. He hugged her like he always did. Drew was a hugger. It didn't mean anything. She knew that.

"You look really pretty today," he said softly in her ear.
"Thank you," she blushed. "You too."

He broke the hug and smiled at her. She could always get lost in that sweet smile of his.

"Yo, Baron! We need drinks!" Dolph yelled.
"Ssh!" Baron shushed Dolph. "My daughter's sleeping. My ex wife couldn't have her tonight like planned. We gotta keep our voices down tonight."

Drew looked at Montana again and rolled his eyes. She grinned at him. It was like they shared a secret in that moment. Neither of them had any interest in having children themselves.

"Okay, drinks," Baron said.

Baron walked around the table with a big basket full of sodas. Everyone picked their favorite. He sat down and started dealing cards. It was game night. A monthly event between the friends. Baron was hosting this time around. The host picked games, and apparently Baron wanted to start with Uno.

"No cheating," Braun chuckled.

Braun was looking over at Drew and Montana.

"Us?" Drew asked innocently.
"How does one even cheat in Uno?" Montana asked.
"I'm on to the two of you. You always gang up on the rest of us somehow," Braun said.
"I'm with big man here," Dolph said. "You always take each other's side."
"What can I say?" Drew smirked. "She's prettier than any of you."
"Pick four cards," Baron threw down a card. "And I switch to yellow."

Drew picked four cards and smirked at Montana that took her turn.

"He's just angry because I always make sure to sit next to you," Drew winked at Montana.
"Angry?" Baron frowned.
"Sorry, wrong word. He's just jealous," Drew said.
"There's nothing to be jealous about. It's not like you're the one sleeping with her," Baron said.

Montana's eyes turned hard as she looked over at Baron. It had been one time months ago, and somehow he wasn't letting go of that one night. In her book it had been a huge mistake. She never wanted to sleep with Baron. Something he couldn't understand. He kept having delusional thoughts about them becoming a couple despite her turning him down hard right after, and several times since then.

"Wait, who are you sleeping with?" Dolph smirked. "Spill the beans, Montana."
"No one," Montana said.
"It sounds like Baron knows something the rest of us don't. You can't tell him without telling us," Dolph continued.
"Dolph, I haven't had sex in a long time, and I'm not planning on having sex in a near future. There's no man or woman in my life. Keep it in your pants because you will never get a chance with me, darling," Montana said.
"So this is how a broken heart feels," Dolph chuckled.

Montana chuckled too. Without knowing anything about her and Baron, Dolph had jumped right on her joke and joked along. He was about to say something else when Baron's daughter started crying. Baron played another card. Everyone looked at him for a few seconds.

"It's your turn," Baron said to Drew.
"Aren't you gonna check on her?" Drew asked.
"Montana can do that," Baron said.
"Me? Why me?" Montana asked.
"You're a woman," Baron answered.
"She's your kid," Montana said.
"What kind of sexist bullshit is that?" Drew asked.

Baron's eyes turned hard. Clearly he had expected Montana to jump up and run to the crying child. He hadn't expected her to say no, or anyone - not even Drew - to defend her. Even the others gave him weird looks. Clearly they were all on Montana's side.

"But you're a woman," Baron tried again. "You're supposed to take care of children and stuff like that."
"There's a reason why I chose not to have children," Montana said.

Baron's eyes turned even harder. His daughter was still crying, and he was starting to get really upset with the words coming out of Montana's mouth.

"What do you expect to happen when we get serious?" Baron raised his voice.
"We're not in a fucking relationship!" Montana raised her voice too.
"But we slept together," Baron said.
"Oh, he's the one," Dolph said.
"Months ago!" Montana yelled. "You manipulated me into giving you a pity fuck because your wife left you. I've never regretted anything more in my entire life. I never wanted to sleep with you, Baron."

Montana stood up and grabbed her phone on the table. She was done. She wanted out of his house. She didn't care if she was about to lose all her friends. She couldn't stay in the same room with Baron anymore. Baron stood up too. He was frightening to look at with his massive height and angry face.

"I've given you all the time in the world!" Baron yelled. "I've been here all this time waiting for you to finally get your head out of your ass! It's not fair!"
"Fair?" Montana yelled too. "I tell you what's not fucking fair! Having to keep my mouth shut about this stupid mistake because I never wanted anyone to know. Having to deal with your behavior again and again because you refuse to take no for an answer. And having to see Drew constantly when he's the fucking man of my dreams, and not dare to tell him because I don't wanna fuck up the friendship between you or any of us. Guess I just did that anyway. So fuck you, Baron, and goodnight to the rest of you."

Everyone stayed quiet in their confusion while Montana left the living room. She quickly got back in her ankle boots, grabbed her jacket and hurried out of the house. It was cold outside, and she put on her jacket as she started walking home. She turned off her phone. She was scared of the texts and calls she might end up getting if everyone back in Baron's house was mad at her.

Tears started running from her eyes. They were running in a mix of emotions. Anger at Baron for not respecting her boundaries. Pain over having thrown her feelings for Drew out in the open and then having to walk away from him right after. On top of it all she felt stupid, guilty and embarrassed.

She never should have slept with Baron in the first place. She never wanted to. He just kept pressuring her while guilt tripping her. She felt bad for him, and he wore her down. No didn't mean no in his world. In the end it had been easier to just give in and get it over with. Something she had regretted ever since. Because of that one bad decision months ago, she was now walking away from all her friends and the man of her dreams. She had to sacrifice them in order to finally be free of Baron completely.