Page 17
“Oh, come on.” Gears cuts in, slamming his locker shut so hard something in it falls. He’s the opposite of Maddox in every way. Blond hair that’s a little too long for regulation, more tattoos than we’re allowed to have for our positions, and a grin I often see on my toddler before he does something I already told him not to.
Gears isn’t his real name, he came onto our team as Gears and no one knows any different.
“You never come out anymore since you started banging that chick,” he adds, now standing in front of me with an exaggerated pout.
“Veronica,” I correct, shutting my own locker. “And I only get every other weekend with her. She likes to spend it together.”
“Bring her out with us,” Gears says immediately.
I let out a sharp scoff. “Yeah, I’m sure she’d love to spend her Friday night at some dive bar that only serves beer, watching you two idiots lose to me at pool.”
“I’m sure she’d love the invitation to meet your friends,” Maddox says, not even looking up.
Unhelpful.
Veronica would love that. She would immediately think that it was a step towards me making her a more permanent part of my life. Which is exactly what I’m not trying to convey to her.
“Come on,” Gears says, slinging an arm around my shoulders and digging his knuckles into my scalp. “You owe me for saving your ass in Istanbul.”
I shove him off with a chuckle. “This is what you’re cashing that in for?”
He nods eagerly.
I grit my teeth, then roll my eyes and pull my phone out of my bag. If this is what gets them off my back, fine. I’ll at least pretend to consider it.
My screen lights up with a string of texts from Blaire.
Blaire Thomas
Theo will be with my parents tonight.
They’re having all the grandkids over for a sleepover, you’ll have to call my dad to say goodnight to Theo.
I let him know you’ll be calling at 8, so he’ll be expecting a call.
I stare at the messages for a second. Her true meaning isn’t subtle, if I miss another call because of Veronica, it won’t just be Blaire and Theo disappointed in me.
I look up at Maddox and Gears’ expectant faces. “I can’t tonight—”
Gears groans and Maddox shakes his head in disappointment.
“—I have to call my son,” I finish. “At eight. And I’m already in trouble for skipping once to take Veronica out.”
“In trouble,” Gears mocks. “Tell Blaire to fuck off, she doesn’t own you. And honestly—”
“She’s the mother of my son,” I snap.
“So what?” he shoots back, straightening. “You can’t take one night off? It’s not even your weekend. She’s probably just—”
“Alright.” My tone sharpens. “Don’t talk about my kid’s mom like that.”
Gears holds my stare for a second, then throws his hands up. “Fine. Relax.”
Maddox steps in before it can turn into something else. “Come out after,” he says, steady. “It’s Friday. No one’s showing up before ten anyway.”
I chew the inside of my cheek, thinking it through.
That could work. Call at eight. Meet them later.
