“I disagree.” Leif shoved his hands into the front pockets of his skintight jeans. The mutinous expression gone from his face. Now he looked contemplative. Remorseful maybe? “We haven’t even broached what I wanted to talk about tonight.”
Ryker huffed. “We get it. You’re going solo. Are you seriously going to make us sit here and listen to all your justifications? Mal’s right; you’ve become a seriously unbearable asshole.”
Beau choked, trying to keep his laughter inside. “Fuck.”
“I’m not going solo!” Leif shouted. “Don’t you fuckers listen? I said I was going solo.Was. But then Gio ODed, and I realized I didn’t want to lose you guys too.”
“Aww, that’s sweet.” Beau pursed his lips. “Weif woves us.”
Leif rolled his eyes. “Fuck off.”
“So why’d you call us here then?” Ryker raised his eyebrows. “Is it time for a group hug?”
Leif scoffed and shook his head. “Nah, clearly that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”
“Maybe you should try keeping my wife’s name out of your mouth.” I cocked my head. “And not blame me for Gio’s shit. I’m doing a fine enough job of that on my own. I don’t need your bullshit in my head too.”
“Damn, son.” Beau laughed, covering his mouth with his fist.
I shrugged then gave each of them a firm look. “Saylor is off limits. I don’t give a shit what you think about her or me marrying her. We’re together, so fuck off if you don’t like it.”
I’d be damned if any of the guys had anything to say about my wonderful woman. I’d put up with their current and ex-wives over the years. It was basic manners. Fuck.
“I got no problem with your woman.” Ryker lifted the shoulder I’d just cried all over. “Like I said, she seems pretty cool.”
Beau lifted his palms. “I would not now or ever talk shit about someone’s woman. That’s fucked up.”
The other guys turned to Leif, but I stared down at the toes of my boots. I think we all already knew what he thought. ‘Teen bride.’ ‘Only with me for my money.Or connections.’
Little did he know how laughable that was. I’d had to talk her into marrying me. Literally got down on my knees. She wouldn’t have wanted any part of this shitshow if she’d known what she was really getting into at the time.
Fuck, I really did have so much to make up for.
“Agreed,” Leif muttered.
I rolled my eyes. That sounded so weak. And given the shit he’d already spewed, I didn’t believe him anyhow.
“Yeah…” Beau drawled. “Something tells me that’s not gonna cut it with Mal here.”
“Like he gives a shit.” I scoffed.
“What the fuck do you want from me?” Leif sounded aggrieved, like I was the one being unreasonable.
“Seriously?” Ryker rumbled. “How about you try starting with ‘I’m sorry’? You talked so much shit about his girl, I’m surprised your lips aren’t brown.”
Leif made a gasping chortling sound like he found the whole thing hilarious. Like he was the one being wronged.
“Right.” I shook my head and started for the door. I had way better places to be.
“I am sorry,” Leif tossed out. “For what I said about your girl. And for what I said about Gio. I forgot what being around us when we’re partying does to you. It’s just…these last few years we’ve all kinda pulled away, and I hate it. I wish it could be how it used to be—back when we were first starting out. I miss all that comradery and fun we used to have.”
I stopped and I rolled what he’d said over in my mind. I think there was a sorry in there somewhere. He’d just also wrapped it in a lot of other shit too.
“I think that’s the best you’re gonna get from him,” Beau said out of the side of his mouth.
“It’s the best apology I’ve ever heard from the bastard.” Ryker collapsed on the sofa with a sigh. “Take it and run. But not literally, I think we’ve got more shit to talk about.”
“Fine.” I turned back around with a huff. “Apology—such as it was—accepted. Now what did you want to talk about?”
