“Sure.” I took a long swig of beer, emptying half the bottle. “Wanna play some Madden?”
“Hells, yeah, it’s been a while.”
“Why are you here?” I asked him as we sat on the couch. “You’re trying the relationship thing, right?”
“Dude, I can’t do it. There’s too many options. It’s rough. Like, if you’re at a buffet, you wouldn’t settle for one food, right? Women are like that. I can’t just choose the orange chicken if there’s beef and broccoli, sweet and sour chicken and kung pow chicken. You know?”
“Holy shit.” I howled with laughter. “You’re such a dumbass.”
“Makes sense, though. Laugh if you want. But I’ve known you to eat an entire buffet in a week’s time. You better not judge me, Hilly.” He powered on the game and tossed me a controller. “You’re going down, fuck face.”
“Whatever.” But the idea of competition had my blood pumping. I welcomed it. And an hour later, I had one game on Jeff, but the pain in my chest hadn’t really lessened. “Suck it, I won.”
“God. I hate this shit.” He paused and flipped me off. “Fuck you.”
I laughed. “Sucks to suck.”
“Why are we even here? Let’s go get laid.” He tossed the controller, but I didn’t join him when he stood. “Are you coming or what?”
“Fuck, I don’t know. I’m not up for it.”
“Don’t be lame. You’re single. Lonely… We’re playing videogames on a Saturday night. You’ve been celibate for, what, months?”
Someone cleared their throat and Callie appeared in the room.Shit. Shit. Shit.“That’s right. You’ve beencelibate.”
“That was part of the deal, right?” Jeff asked, confusion dripping in his tone. “Did you sleep around on Greta?”
“No—I didn’t,” I said between clenched teeth. I glared at Callie, but she didn’t back down. Nope. Not her.
She persisted. She moved to stand directly in front of me. “Why aren’t you up for getting some ass? Youalwaysget the best-looking gals. Why the hold-up, Hilly?”
“Let it go, Callie,” I warned.
But she stood her ground and jutted her chin out. Jeff had no fucking idea what was happening, but I didn’t give a shit. This didn’t involve him. “You make a better window than a wall, Callie.”
“Good one, but we aren’t nine years old. Man up, Aaron.” She crossed her arms. Her pursed red lips matched her dress and my thoughts went straight to the charity event. God.Greta.
“I’m man enough. When you’re tired of Zade, come find me,” I snapped.
“Asshole,” Zade replied behind me. “That’s a neck.” And he slapped the back of my head. “I’ll punch your pretty face if you say that to my girl again. I’ll forgive you because I know you’re a miserable sack of shit right now.”
“I’m not miserable.”Liar. Idiot.
“Wait—why are you miserable?” Jeff decided to join in.The more the fucking merrier.
“Hilly, I need to tell you something and you’re going to listen.”
Her tone alarmed me. “Okay. Is Greta okay?”
A brief smile appeared before she shook her head. “Yeah, physically she’s fine. But I’ve sat by idly long enough. It’s not my business but neither of you are happy. She lied about Tony.”
“Wait—what?”
“Greta came over here a couple weeks ago and happened to overhear a conversation between you and Tanner.” Her brow furrowed as she waited for me to comprehend her words. I couldn’t think past the fact Greta had lied. If there was no Tony…
“Why did she lie?”
“Dude, piece it together. What did you and Tanner talk about that day?” Zade cut in and joined Callie in front of the damn TV. They reminded me of parents looking after their kid. And I was the kid. “Hilly!”
