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Sitting in this dark club, strobe lights flashing, I feel completely detached from the world around me. My eyes bounce amongst Derek, Max, Becket, Devon, and Gianni as they stare back at me from around the table.
“I want to know how we’re just finding out about all of this,” Dev says.
Becket slaps Derek on the arm. “And we work with her.”
“I’ve never actually met her,” Derek says, rubbing his forearm.
“She’s hot.”
I flash Becket a menacing glare.
“Am I wrong?”
Ignoring his comments, I turn my gaze away from him only to land on Gianni. “I don’t buy it.”
“What?” I ask.
“That you pulled all of that off on your own.” Gianni rubs the dark hair along his jaw as his eyes fall upon Max.
One by one, each of the guys look in his direction.
“Fuck.”
“Really, Max? You aided and abetted this fool?” Dev asks. “And you couldn’t talk him out of this?”
“No. And I didn’t want to. He was in love with her.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
All five of my friends return their judgmental stares my way. “Not then, anyway.”
“Broadie? For real?” Becket chimes in. “What are you going to do?”
“Nothing I can do.”
“Bullshit,” G interjects. “You’re one of the most accomplished men I know. There’s got to be something.”
“No.” I can’t pretend around these guys. If I truly want help, I need to come clean. “I’m a fixer. It’s what I do. But I’m not sure I can fix this.” What a mess I’ve made of everything. “I’ve tried flowers. And begging. She won’t return my calls.” I look into my scotch glass. Looking for answers there will only make things worse. “I’m not going to risk pushing her away for good.”
“He’s right.” All heads turn to Derek. “From what I’ve heard about Poppy, she’s a smart woman. And now you tell us she devoted her life to a man who betrayed her.” Derek’s gaze locks on mine, and I can tell he’s feeling uncomfortable about what’s coming next. “I think it’s easy to try and make things happen when we have the kind of resources we do. But this woman won’t want flowers or gifts to let you back in. She wants integrity. You need to find a way to show her she’s a priority.”
“But how do I do that? I’ve wracked my brain trying to figure it out.”
“Start with you.”
“What does that mean?” I notice Becket, Max, Dev, and Gianni’s faces bounce from Derek to me, back and forth, as if they’re watching Nadal and Federer lob a ball back and forth.
“Can I be frank?”
“C’mon, Derek. Of course.”
“You said it yourself. Your ex-wife and kids are growing up in the house you used to live in, creating memories with another man. All while you work yourself into the ground and take vacations in their spare room.”
“Ouch,” Becket blurts.
“And then you move mountains to get a chance with Poppy, and what have you done to change things? Nothing.”
“You don’t know that.”
