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My brother leans against the bar. “You look like shit. What’s this about the girl?”
“Nothing. You lot can work that bet out amongst yourselves, too.”
My phone starts to ring and I pull it out and frown, but ignore the call. What I need is to get the fuck away from prying family. What I need is to make myself feel better. And the call…
“What happened, Ry? I’ve never seen you worked up over a woman before. Well, maybe that time on school vacation.”
“I was twelve.”
He smiles. “So?”
“I’m a fuck up, okay? And Elliot knows who and what I am and that means it would never work.”
Suddenly, King holds up a hand and sets down his glass. “Woah, back up there. You like to screw around, but you don’t hurt people. And what do you mean it would never work? Did Manhattan’s last great lover fall?”
“No.”
“That was a little quick, Ry.” Kingston comes up to me and gives my arm a hard squeeze. And by hard, it hurts. “You need to wake up, Ryder. And fast. If you have feelings for her, don’t hide behind what you do, or have done. Unless you’re still fucking about.”
“I haven’t since…since before all this started.”
“But,” he says, “you fucked her.”
“If this is your way of winning the secondary bet, asswipe, you—”
“I really don’t give a shit about what amounts to a few pennies. I actually care about you. Strange, I know. But you’re my little brother, and I’m stuck with you. Listen, if you like her, go see what happens. You never know until you try.”
My chest tightens and my throat is clogged. “Would you?”
“I’ve had actual relationships, Ry. I’m not in the market for one, but I’ve had them. And this isn’t about me. It’s about you.”
Yeah, it’s about me being a fucking fool over a damn woman. I swear that’s pity in his eyes.
“It’s done. And I’m good.”
“If you say so.” He checks his watch. “I have an appointment. But think about what I said.” King strides to the door and then stops. “Oh, be ready for the others. They’re really into this bet.”
That’s why I end up in Murray Hill. I really don’t need a repeat whatever the fuck that was from Hud and Mag. So I get the fuck out of dodge.
The place is nice, I guess. Bland. Tasteful. Something that will suit anyone because it doesn’t offend. And I almost go to text something about it to Elliot when I remember.
Remember she’s done with me.
Couldn’t even give me a chance to explain. Couldn’t even take into account I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Couldn’t forgive me for a mistake, something she saw clean through.
I suck in a breath and poke about and make a drink. I’m in the mood for tequila but there’s whiskey so I pour that straight up and swallow it down, relishing its sweet burn.
Elliot saw clean through it and came up with the wrong conclusion. And I…I didn’t push to get it right.
What was the point?
I am a fuck up. I’m going to fuck up.
My phone starts again and this time I send a text with this address.
Lacey Fox is hot as all get out and she’s been calling and texting me for days.
When she arrives, there are tear marks on her face, but even so, she’s perfect. Right down to the tight clothes that show me everything I’ve been missing. All that sweet, ripe flesh.
