I grin at her. “Thanks, I appreciate it. I’m just tired and it’s been a long day.”
“Anything you want to share with the class, August?” she teases me.
I laugh. “Nah, just a long day of looking over sponsorships for the next season. You know, the season where you come back to us,” I remind her.
She grins. “Yeah, that is the season.”
“You are, you know,” I tell her. “Dex has been keeping me up to date on your PT. I know it’s going well. We’re going to get you strong and get you back with us. I’m not filling your spot. I told you that. Please know that I am not backing down on that promise.”
She nods. “I know.”
It’s that moment when the rest of them come back to the table at the same time my sandwich and the beers arrive.
“Oh, look who got us some more drinks. How nice of you,” Ash bites out.
I rise and allow my friends to sit down on my side of the booth. I take my seat and pick my sandwich up to take a bite when I look up I realize that Amelia slides all the way down the table, and somehow Ash ends up across from me.
Fucking great.
I do my best to ignore him and focus on spending time with everyone and not causing Hendrix anymore hassle tonight. It’s a tough pill but I swallow it. And for a while we all manage to do it. We talk and joke. I even liven up a little bit and joke with everyone. I hope Dex notices that my sour mood brought on by the earlier exchange has been lifted. Ash does keep sending jabs across the table—nothing overt, just enough to needle. I just pretend that I don’t hear them.
Then Ash leans back and puts a protective arm around Hendrix’s shoulders. I see her tense and I roll my eyes. He scoffs.
“Something you want to share with the class, Ash?” I ask him, repeating what Amelia said to me earlier, finally having had enough of this shit.
“Nope, not really. I’ve been thinking, though, maybe you should spend less time fraternizing with your employees and give them all a break. For the group’s sake,” he says, watching me intently.
I start to say something, but Dex beats me to it. “He’s my friend. And I’ve known this man since college. So, while he might be his employees’ boss, he is my friend first.”
Ash nods. “Is that from Brown or UNC?”
My jaw clenches at the question.
Dex just shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. He’s my friend.”
“Ash,” Hendrix says, shooting him a warning look.
I smirk, eyes locked on Ash, like I’ve found the exact button to press. “You don’t have to glare at me every time I breathe. Hendrix doesn’t seem to mind me being around. Maybe it’s time you dropped that grudge.”
Hendrix groans, “August, seriously?—”
Ash stands quickly. “Say that again. Go ahead, sit there all fucking smug and tell me that it’s time for me to drop that grudge. When you find her inches from taking?—”
“Ash, you seriously need to shut the fuck up!” Hendrix says through clenched teeth.
“The things I wish I could say to you. I would destroy you.” Ash says, taunting me.
“Both of you, shut up!” Hendrix seethes.
I lift my hands in mock innocence. “What? I wasn’t doing anything. You just hate the fact that she doesn’t hate me or that you’re the only one with a stick up your?—”
Ash doesn’t let me finish that sentence.
One sharp, furious punch lands clean across my jaw. The table goes silent along with the rest of the bar. They are all stunned, in a way that crowds get when something real happens. My head turns on impact and pain radiates from my jaw to my head.
“Fuck!” I cry out.
Hendrix slides out of the booth and moves to stand in front of Ash. “’What the hell, Ash!”
