Page 30 of Tough Guy and the Show Off

“Hey, Bozy,” one of her friends says to me, inserting herself between me and Trav. “You were awesome tonight.”

“Thanks.”

“How do you do that and not get hurt?” She grips my bicep and squeezes. “I mean, slamming into huge guys and just walking it off?” She laughs. “Skating it off, I guess.”

I focus on her for a second. She’s gorgeous—petite, with delicate features, long dark hair, and big brown eyes. She’s the type of woman I’d normally be very interested in, but right now the spark isn’t there. It should be. It’s been a long time since I’ve hooked up, but every time Trav laughs with the other woman, my mood drops a little more.

She’s all over him, clearly going in for the kill. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does anyway.

“Uh, excuse me,” I say to the woman talking to me. I lean over her and tap Trav’s shoulder to get his attention.

He turns to face me, his smile warming. “What’s up?”

“You good?”

“Yeah, I’m alright. You?”

No, I’m not, but I don’t know why or how to explain that.

“I’m gonna leave.”

His brow creases. “Why?” He glances at the woman who was talking to me as she walks away. “Not your thing?”

“She was fine. I’m just not in the mood.”

Trav nods, searching my eyes. “Okay.”

“Just do whatever with your girl. You should hook up. You probably want to, and she’s pretty.”

I shove away from the table and stomp towards the bathroom, completely confused by the emotions swirling inside me.

Seconds later, his hand lands on my arm, stopping me. “Beau. What’s going on?”

Facing him, I squeeze the bridge of my nose. “Nothing. I’m just in a weird mood. I’ll be out in a minute.”

He frowns but nods.

I slip inside the bathroom and take a piss I don’t really need, wash my hands, then straighten my shoulders. I’m going to go out there and act like a best friend, a wingman Trav doesn’t need, but at least I can be supportive.

That’s the plan until I approach the table and find Travis laughing with the woman again. She’s pressed against him and I see red. I have no fucking idea what’s gotten into me, but I don’t like her for him and I don’t want him to take her home.

No.

That’s not gonna happen.

So instead of leaving, I insert myself into the conversation. The woman looks up at me, clearly annoyed by my intrusion, and that knowledge settles something inside me.

“What are you two talking about?” I ask.

“Hockey,” Trav says. “Her brothers play in the minors. Oh, this is, um… Sorry, what was your name?”

I catch her tight smile. “Emily.”

“Right. This is Beau Bozeman, but you probably already know that.”

“Of course. Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” I say as flatly as possible. It’s not fair that I’m being rude to her but dammit, I can’t seem to get out of my head. “So, the minors, huh?”