Page 136 of Knot So Social

Should’ve known it was possible to run into a familiar face, since we’ve all met here to eat a few times.

Beau sniffs. “Looks like this place has gone to the dogs.”

“No need to cast shade on Jock,” I snap back, patting my dog’s head.

Beau stiffens; I don’t think he realized Jock was under my legs.

“Shit. Is he the one you stole?” he asks, upper lip lifting.

I hold his gaze. “So that’s the story she’s spinning?”

Beau draws himself up straight and pokes one glittering nail in my direction. “Story? You think there’s any way you come out of this looking like the good guy? So shameless.”

I shrug. His words needle me, but if nothing else, I’m thankful to know these fellows aren’t my real friends. “Well, paint me as the villain if you want, but Tracey’s the one who cheated on me. And she had no objections when I took Jock.”

I lean back in my seat, not wilting even a fraction.

Beau flinches enough to rock the chair he’s gripping. He glances at Rowan, his hard gaze suddenly uncertain. Guess my ex didn’t tell them either of those parts.

“I don’t know what she’s labelling me,” I push on, rising to the opportunity to defend myself, “but the cold hard facts are I came home and found another man’s used underwear under my pillow. Apparently, Tracey believed she could add to her pack without discussing it with me. If you’d all be cool with one of you fucking around behind the others’ backs, then by all means, cast your shade.” I open my arms in invitation. “Let’s see what years of friendship is worth, shall we?”

Beau’s jaw works. “That’s no excuse for being an asshole about it and cutting her off without a word.” He points to Jock, eyes lighting up. “And stealing her dog!”

I stare at him for a moment. Beau’s young, excitable, and lives for drama. He’s worked himself up into such a fury that nothing I say will ever reach him. “I hope it never happens to you.”

I switch from their omega-wannabe and lock gazes with Pete.

“There’s a free table in the back,” he says quietly, gently pushing on Beau’s shoulders.

I wave my hand toward the back of the garden. “Good idea. Don’t sully yourself by hanging around the bastard.” A small smile tugs on my lips. “Just hope you don’t ever get on her bad side, ’cause you’ll be the next bastard if that happens.”

Beau grabs Rowan’s hand. “Of all the nerve!”

Pete lingers, bouncing one leg. He barely meets my gaze. “Sorry, man. I knew there had to be something else going on.”

Pete’s always been more levelheaded, slower to speak and quieter.

I slump a little, deflating now that his antagonistic partner’s out of earshot. “I don’t think this was the only time.”

He winces and looks away. My heart speeds up a little. Maybe he knew something all along.

“You shouldn’t keep Beau waiting,” I tell him, a bubble of sadness welling up within.

I’ll miss Pete the most out of all our friends.

Still he hesitates. “Um.” He dives one hand into his mahogany hair. “I tried calming him down. Just didn’t expect to run into you here.” He glances over his shoulder. “It’s kinda hard to take sides in this situation, if you know what I mean. Like, it’s a rock and a hard place.”

I fiddle with a hot chip pinned under my sandwich, freeing it from the crush as I gather my thoughts.

“I get it, Pete. You were Tracey’s friends long before I came along. And you have your family to live with.” I nod in the direction the other two men disappeared.

His jaw ticks. “Yeah, family first. Again, I’m sorry, Joel.”

I half rise out of the chair and offer him my palm. “At least I know you won’t be thinking the worst of me.”

He shakes my hand, a regretful look in his eye as we part ways.

I watch him wind through the compact space, his words echoing in my head. Family first. Somewhere along the way I became others’ opinions first. A teenage boy laughing at me made me embarrass my girlfriend. After that, I spent years not trying to rock the boat. I bent over backward to impress the so-called friends who just shut me out of their lives. I even pushed aside my own twin.