“Fucking Ridgeway.”
“It’s not his fault. I overheard and basically demanded he tell me.” Lovelace lifts his shoulders, clearly not sorry.
“All of you are a bunch of gossips!” I scrub a hand over my face.
“Whatever, like you aren’t the father of gossip over here, Daddy.”
I gasp, at least a little offended, and even if I can’t fully deny what he’s saying, I will try. “Unfounded claims!”
Lovelace rolls his eyes. “That’s why I don’t tell any of you bitches nothing.”
I think over the statement and outside of the team, I know so little about Lovelace. He really does keep his private life zipped the fuck up. I don’t even think I’ve ever seen him leave a bar with someone. Now I’m just fucking curious, and I’m adding him to my list of get the fucking tea.
“Now I’m on to you.” Not really sure why I’m warning him, but he’ll forget. It’s fine.
“This isn’t about me, bitch. Why did you call?”
“Right.” I tap my temple. “Back on track. I’m calling about my relationship drama, since you’re like the only guy who won’t spread it around.”
Lovelace has always been good about keeping shit to himself. He’s the only other guy I can get deep with on the team, aside from Archangel.
“You gonna tell me what’s really going on?”
I flop over on my side, sprawling out in bed. “We aren’t really dating.”
“No shit.”
“You know?” I’m shocked. “How?”
“Are we being for real?”
“Yes?!” I don’t get it.
“You sure you want the truth, man? Because I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
“Just lay it on me.” I brace for some harsh reality, but I need it.
“Why wouldn’t the whole team know if it were a real thing? Archangel is out as fuck, and you’re not going to beat around the bush. I told Ridgeway it was probably horseshit when he told me.” He has a real god damn point, and it hurts.
“Fuck.”
“So what’s really going on?” Lovelace asks, not unkindly. I know he cares about me and Archangel.
“Promise you’re not going to say anything to Ridgeway or the rest of the team.”
“You know I’m the only damn person on the team who can keep a secret. The rest of you are worse than middle schoolers.” He shakes his head like he’s scolding a bunch of petulant children.
“True.” I explain the whole thing to him about Mark and everything. He knows Steph cheated on me, so none of it should be surprising. Then I get into how shit with my dad went over Thanksgiving.
“Why do you still see that motherfucker?”
“He’s not as bad as my mom.”
“That doesn’t make him a good parent. They’re both shit. Why not cut them both off?”
I look away from the phone, fighting tears. “He’s the only family I have left.”
“You’re fucking wrong about that.”
