Before I can change my mind and head to my hotel room once we arrive, Troy steers me toward a small bar across the street.
“I hate you.”
“Noted and ignored.”
He waves down the bartender and orders a round before heading to a private area. Knowing him, he called ahead for us to have a quiet area to wallow.
“Alright, drink up, Willy. You’re making me sad,” Troy tells me, handing me a shot and a beer.
“I am sad.” Knocking back the shot, the tequila burns.
One shot won’t kill me. Maybe it’ll dull the pain enough to make this next stretch of road games bearable.
“Are you going to be like this the rest of the season?” Nick asks, leaning back in his chair with a glass of water. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the kid drink.
“What’s it to you?”
Nick rolls his eyes, tipping forward. “If you’re this upset, talk to her.”
“I’ve tried calling her. She keeps ignoring me.”
“What’d you do?” Noah asks. “I saw you two at Christmas. It was disgusting.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“I’m serious. What happened?”
I grab another shot from the table and swallow it downfollowed by a sip of beer. “I don’t know. I was ready to take things to the next level with her after the All-Star Game and then the next thing I know, she’s dumping me.”
“Did you not pay enough attention to her?” Noah asks.
“That can’t be it,” Nick says.
“I agree.” This being Troy. “Angie told me how cute they are together.”
“I don’t think I asked for a breakdown on where my relationship went wrong with you losers tonight,” I interject.
“Aww,” Troy says, “he really does love us.”
I flip him the bird.
“I need some ass tonight,” Duncan’s voice carries over our small group. He’s hanging out with Rio behind us. No one else wants to go near him tonight after his shitty play.
“Ignore him,” Noah tells me.
“You really sent Ava packing?”
That perks me up.
“She thought I was still hung up on my ex. Tried to blackmail both of us so that I’d stay with her. I don’t need a chick that badly.”
“Did you hear that?” I ask Noah.
“What in the fuck is he talking about?” he whispers.
“Blackmail? Are you in a Bond movie?” Rio laughs.
“Nah. I told her that I don’t need that amount of crazy in my life. Besides, I have a new chick.”
