Page 57 of Lose You Twice

Asher stares at me. Grayson sighs.

Weston winces. “Oh, buddy.”

“Do not call me buddy.”

“You need the soft voice right now.” His voice is full of pity, and I am getting close to losing my shit.

I turn back to my stall, trying like hell to wish him away. “I need you to stop talking.”

I yank one skate loose and let it hit the ground harder than I should. The sound cracks through the room, sharp enough that a couple of the guys look over.

No one jokes after that.

I stare at the floor between my feet and see Wren’s face when she said I ignored her text.

Not angry. Hurt.

She recovered quickly, but I know that cover. I watched her build it in high school, piece by piece, every time I took too long to call. Every time I was too busy. Every time I told myself she understood because she said she did.

Back then, I thought space would make things easier.

It didn’t.

It just taught her not to ask for what she actually needed from me.

Grayson’s voice is quieter when he speaks again. “Kai.”

I look up.

“She deserves better than you pretending not to see her.”

There’s no defense for that, because he’s right.

I nod once.

Weston stands and grabs his shower stuff, quieter than usual. “I’m headed in.”

“Take your manners with you,” Asher says.

Weston lifts one hand over his shoulder. “Always do.”

He makes it three steps before he stops and looks back. “Also, just so we’re clear, I’m not emotionally equipped for whatever is happening with you two. I have, like, two coping mechanisms, and one of them is making things worse.”

“You noticed?” Asher asks.

Weston points at him. “I’m growing.”

“Into what?”

“A better man. Maybe.”

Grayson rubs a hand over his mouth, fighting a smile.

Weston’s grin flickers, there and gone. “Well, at least someone’s invested. My parents weren’t.”

The locker room goes still.

Weston looks around the group, and for the first time since I’ve known him, he seems to realize he let something out he didn’t mean to.