“Who dat?” Shane lifted his chin at my phone.
“No one. Just my sister.”
“She coming out?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I didn’t tell her where we are.”
Lex laughed. I was too busy taking another swig of my drink to realize why until I saw Shane on his phone. He tossed it on the table when he was done.
“You did not just text my sister.”
Shane smiled at me. “Didn’t I?”
“Jesus Christ, I hate you sometimes.”
Shane just slapped me on the back. He wasn’t interested in Shayla, I was pretty sure. But he wasn’t above fucking with me for his own amusement. No matter what shape I was in.
Friends. Who needed them, really.
“You need to surround yourself with family when you’re in crisis, brother,” he said magnanimously.
“Bullshit,” I muttered, “coming from the man who hates his family.”
“Hate is such a strong word.”
“Let’s get back on track again,” Lex suggested. “We’re unpacking Johnny’s career issues. I don’t have all night.”
“I thought we were unpacking his issues with women.”
“Let’s not get crazy,” Lex said. “I definitely don’t have all month.”
Shane cackled.
“Come to think of it,” I muttered at Lex, “kinda hate you, too.”
“Let’s just tally up all the strikes against him,” Shane suggested, like I wasn’t fucking here.
“Strikes?” I said doubtfully. “Like what?”
“Are we talking career strikes,” Lex asked, “or women?”
“Hmm,” Shane said. “I’m thinking they’re kinda one and the same right now.”
“How?” I demanded.
“Well, let’s see.” Shane pretended to consider that carefully, like there were so many examples to lead with. The motherfucker was enjoying this way too much. “You made out with Taylor at some party, now Cary doesn’t trust you.”
“I told you, that was years ago. They weren’t even together when that happened.”
“You sure about that?”
“I mean, she wasn’t wearing a ring. I didn’t ask her to disclose her full relationship status before I kissed her. She was into it.”
“You screwed your lead singer’s girlfriend…” he went on, undeterred.
