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Ouch His honesty hurts but I need to face up to the fact that I caused soht happened because ofall ste up towith my future

I hurry down the narrow hall that leads to the back door and push it open, coone

Glancing toward the parking lot, I see him with the rest of the jerks For whatever stupid reason I feel betrayed He doesn’t really like those guys Never felt as if he fit in, he adether

So what’s he doing? Why’s he with them? I watch in disbelief as he cli his truck in the parking lot He’s actually…going with theht I stalk back into the restaurant, seeking out Colin I find hio to hi him on the shoulder so he turns around to face me

"The problem’s been taken care of," I say withto Colin since I didn’t talk to Drew but I’ me

I won’t let him

"You talked to him" He raises a skeptical brow

I nod "Sure did Told hi back That we don’t want any trouble"

Colin is conte at me like I’m cooing to be mad At you and him"

"I know" I s hard

"I don’t like trouble ateach other, I don’t like jealous boyfriends and girlfriends lingering around, waiting to catch their significant others in a bad position I’ht and narrow, Fable, if you’re going to work here I know I can’t tell you what to do on your personal time but your business time? My tieant His words, his attitude surprises et it I’ain"

Colin nods and without another word leavesto happen again because I’ain

He left with those guys He’s off fking around and doing whatever crazy, stupid thing a bunch of oversexed, drunken jocks do on a Saturday night And he’s right there with the to drink and flirt andmy eyes and I blink theht only moments before Gave him a free pass to do whatever the hell he wants

So why as to s are hard – Fable Maguire

Drew

They brought me to a strip club that’s on the outskirts of town, the building nondescript and sht in the otherwise dark, cold night Gold Diggers is what the place is called I’ve heard of it before but have never been there

Usually I’d protest, bail on them, whatever But when Jace asked if I wanted to ride with hireed Didn’t help I was still bloay by what Fable’s fking boss said toaround with her boss I can’t believe it The devastation that still lingers within -me-to-my-knees powerful I don’t knohat to think I can’t think It hurts too da away fro is, I’ve surrounded myself with other people Guys I know and would like to consider my friends I wonder if my shrink would be proud of me for at least this part of my denial

I’m definitely a little drunker than I e first arrived, and I’ ht to her It’s inevitable that we see each other again How could I prepare for the shock, seeing her there? Beautiful Angry Believing she’s still hthe near physical e up the alcohol I hate letting my emotions controlEnduring what I’ve gone through in my past made it easy forwas fine--or h Or at least, she did

So I’yrate on a stage, their decent bodies on blatant display, their expressions bored, like they’ve done this sort of thing a million times and they hate it, which they probably do The club is packed, we’re probably the youngest guys there and the beer is flowing

Straight down an nudgessince he’s the one we’re celebrating May as well get shit faced like hi but sorrows to drown

Woe is me I’ve turned into the worst sort of broken record

I shrug "The beer’s good"

Logan laughs "The beer is shit The woreat racks" He tips his head toward a dark-skinned girl dancing not twenty feet away fro a lap dance forTy’s naroup the entire time, no interaction between us whatsoever Probably best, considering if he co him until he’s bloody and broken Only then would I feel an ounce of satisfaction Though why I keep wanting to defend her when she’s out fking around with another guy while I mourn the loss of her, I don’t know

Fuck

"I’an continues

"Hell, no I don’t want one" I shake my head and down the rest ofI’ control and for once, I don’t really care

"That you say you don’t want one only et you one eventhere, beer in hand, smirk in place I want to slap that shitty look off his face but I remain calm Nonchalant "Why would you want to waste your hs "I want to see you squirm, Callahan I know this isn’t your scene Hell, I’m surprised you’re here with us I’m even irl"

I say nothing I’ to let on that I a?" Ty shakes his head "I took her out once, a long tioes into detail about their supposedly forgettable date, I’ll bash his face in

"I don’t know her that well," I bite out, every word sharp because I’m a complete liar "But you don’t disrespect wo to do"