Page 112 of Twisted Beauty

Since when was it a crime to take a couple of days off? Besides, he couldn’t exactly show up there shitfaced and expect that conversation to go well. Tito wasn’t any more tolerant of drunks than he was of cursing. “Thanks for your support, asshole. I was on my way over there today.”

“Clearly. Otherwise we’d have found you drinking yourself into oblivion at some dark, seedy bar. Oh wait, here you are.” Zach slid the water glass closer to Matt. “Have some more before we head to Tito’s.”

“I’ll pass.” Matt shoved the water away, sloshing it onto the bar. “I already told you I’m not drunk. Your fault, by the way. If you’d found someone else to harass, I’d be well on my way.”

“Right, and then I’d be the one who gets to drag your drunk ass out of here again,” Zach said. “Just a wild guess, but considering how shitty you look, I assume you haven’t heard from Liv since she left.”

“Or had a shower,” Nate added.

Fuckers. Matt ran a hand through his hair. He probably did look like shit. He sure felt like it. “Why would I hear from her? She got what she wanted and left.”

“What she wanted?” Nate asked. “And what was that?”

Matt shook his head. “Who the fuck knows with women? A good lay, I guess.”

“Ah. Shame you couldn’t satisfy her.” Nick smirked, and Matt had an almost irresistible urge to wipe that look off his face.

He balled his fists in his lap. He hadn’t been this close to decking someone since—since Nate’s party. That guy really knew how to get under his skin.

Zach cleared his throat and looked like he was biting back a smile. “Too soon, man,” he muttered, shaking his head at Nate. “He’s still in love with her.”

“Fuck you. No one said anything about love.” Matt hung his head until his forehead struck the surface of the bar. And then he hit it again. Harder. In an alternate reality, he’d be on his second or third shot of raicilla and feeling no pain right about now. Instead, he had Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Jackass sitting on either side of him, screwing with his head.

“Don’t shoot the messenger here,” Zach began, and Matt kept his forehead resting on the bar top, convinced he didn’t want to hear this. “But Kat made me promise to tell you you’re a moron. She says Liv’s the best person you’ll ever meet, and you’ll regret sending her away.”

Matt pushed himself back up into an upright position. He had to keep reminding himself Zach was trying to be a good friend here, or he might be tempted to shove him off his chair and laugh as his ass hit the floor. “She played me. You remember that part, right? If that’s the best I can do, then I’m completely fucked.”

Zach raised an eyebrow. “She apologized, didn’t she? And it sounds like she only met with her ex to give back the ring. Of course this is all secondhand from Kat. I haven’t heard your side of the story, since you haven’t stopped drinking long enough to string a sentence together and fill me in. But come on, dude. I haven’t seen you that happy since before Sadie left.”

“The sex was good.” Mindblowing, more like. But Matt shrugged, as if there had never been more to his relationship with Liv than that. He almost wished that were true.

Because for a while there, he really did think he was a lucky bastard to have her in his life. And now, all the memories he couldn’t seem to block out were haunting him. The way she felt in his arms, the gorgeous pink in her cheeks when he teased her, the conversations that seemed so effortless. For one fucked-up moment, he was delusional enough to think she was the perfect woman.

He slammed a hand down on the counter. “If she’s so goddamned perfect, why didn’t she just tell me the truth? Why sneak around?”

“No one said anything about perfect.” Zach narrowed his eyes like he was trying to figure Matt out. “Are you sure you’re not drunk? All I’m saying is I’m not so sure Kat’s wrong.”

“Then tell Kat to sleep with her.”

“Now we’re on to something,” Nate said with an idiotic grin on his face. “A blonde and a redhead. I’d certainly pay to see that.” He waved the bartender over and pointed at a bottle behind the counter. “We’ll have two shots of that and a refill on the water.” He gestured to Matt’s glass.

“Fuck no.” Matt picked up his water glass and held it out to Camila. “Take this away and make it three shots. I’m not drinking water while these two clowns throw back shots.”

Camila took his glass and set it behind the bar. About time. She poured two shots of tequila, setting them in front of Zach and Nate, and then refilled Matt’s water. She placed it in front of him and winked.

Matt leaned forward onto his elbows. “I thought we were friends. I hope you don’t expect a tip now.”

Camila flashed him a sweet smile and walked away.

“You need to be sober to speak with Tito,” Nate said. “And I need to be pissed to listen to you whine about the slinky redhead. Now we’re good. So enlighten me, does the carpet match the drapes?”

“Jesus Christ.” Matt shoved his barstool back and stood up. He was not in the mood to deal with Nate’s bullshit right now. “As much fun as this has been, I’m heading to the shop.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out enough pesos for a tip. He didn’t get to have a single drink, but that wasn’t Camila’s fault. She’d been good to him over the years, even if she did side with the enemy today.

Matt had no idea how Tito would take the news, but it was bound to be a less painful conversation than this. He tossed his money onto the counter and walked out.

Outside the darkened bar, the sunlight was blinding. He’d almost forgotten how early in the day it was. Barely after noon, and the blue sky seemed so cheerful it was irritating. He squinted as he made his way across the street to head for the shop. He shut his eyes and came to a stop when he heard his name being called.

Damn it.