I look over at Dex, who clearly has not let it go. His arms are crossed and his mouth is drawn in a hard line. “Sure, I’m sure everything will be just fine.” He shakes his head. “It was how many years ago, dude? He gave your sister a job and cuts her a lot of slack. He deserves a bit more from you.” Ash gets ready to say something, but Dex holds up his hand. “I mean it, dude. That food you ate in his press box and the booze you drank was on the house. And I’m sure that you didn’t pay for your ticket either.August also has bought the last couple of rounds that we drank, so maybe, just maybe, he is owed a bit more gratitude from you.”
Amelia hobbles over and grabs him by the arm, “Dex, honey, I think it’s time that we went home. Come on, we can stay at your place and check on him if you want to.”
“Let’s give him space tonight, tomorrow we can make sure he’s alright.” Dex’s face softens when we looks at Amelia. “Let me go to the booth and get your bag.”
The rest of the group is just looking at the floor. I sigh, motioning for Ash to come with me, “Come on, Rocky, let’s get you out of here.”
“Does that mean you’re finding humor in what I did?” Ash asks me, hopefully.
“Don’t push it,” I say, shaking my head.
Ash nods. “Okay, I get it. I can apologize to the guy if you would like me to.”
“I think you better stay away from him,” I reply.
We all file out of the bar slowly. I hug the girls and say my goodbyes to Jase, Danny and Dex. Ash waves sheepishly, having the good sense to look embarrassed.
Ash unlocks his Audi and I slide into the passenger seat. As soon as he’s in and buckled, I punch his shoulder. Hard.
“What the fuck was that for?” he exclaims, grabbing his shoulder and rubbing the spot where I just hit him.
“What thefuckdo you think it is for? You fucking hit my boss! He’s going to kill me.” I shoot him a death glare, but he just laughs at me.
“He’s fucking lucky that’s all I did to him, Hen.” He chuckles and hits the button to start his car and begins to drive out of the parking lot. “I would have loved to knock his ass flat and pummel him a bit more. But I didn’t do that, now did I?”
I shake my head. “So, all that ‘I’m sorry’ to my friends? What was that for, a show?” I seethe.
“It wasn’t for a show,” he explains as he navigates the quick drive back to my apartment. “I did feel bad that I ruined their night. But I amnotsorry that I punched him, Hen.”
I shake my head and punch him in the leg.
“What the fuck! I’m driving here, and you are going to make us crash.” He rubs the spot on this leg. “Relax, apparently, you’re not always so kind when you talk to him. Which should have gotten you fired but it hasn’t. No harm, no foul.” There’s a hint of finality in his tone. I know what that means—he’s all done talking about it.
When Ash digs in, no amount of yelling at him or convincing him will do. He’s an arrogant asshole like that. I sit there and try to figure out how I can talk to August without anyone knowing. I want to know that he’s alright. I leave my phone in my purse because he would know exactly who I was texting if I started typing.
“I was only trying to protect you and defend your honor a bit for the way he took advantage of you in the locker room the other night,” he says while turning into the apartment complex. “It’ll be fine. But if it makes you feel any better, I’ll apologize to him the next time I see him.”
“You bet you will,” I say, hopping out of his car as soon as he puts it in park.
Thankfully, he parked next to mine, so I begin rummaging in my purse for the keys.
“Where are you going?” Ash asks, watching from the other side of the car.
“For a drive,” I say, hoping he doesn’t see right through it.
“You’re going to see him,” he calls my bluff.
“I am not going to see him, Ash. I am pissed at you right now, so I need some space from you before I say something I’m going to regret,” I fire back at him.
He nods. “Fine, do what you have to do. But riddle me this: are you pissed at me because I hit your boss? Or are you pissed at me because I hithim?”
“What difference does it make?”
“Uh-huh,” he says, shaking his head. “Evenyoucan’t be this stupid.”
“I don’t know what you are referring to, but I am not being stupid.”
“Sure, you aren’t. But go ahead and go. Do whatever it is you want to do right now. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—this is a bad idea,” he cautions.
