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I scowl. “Say it louder. I don’t think the entire team heard you.”
Caleb grins, the fucker. “I could scream it if you really wanted me to.” He cups his hands around his mouth, like he’s actually going to do what he just said, but Diego smacks one of his arms down. “Ow. I was just fuckin’ with him.”
“I don’t think he’s in the mood to be fucked with,” Diego says, his expression serious. “Unless it’s with Ava.”
The devilish smirk that curves his lips reminds me of the Diego of old. When he was a real asshole and no one liked him. Not even his best friend, Jake.
“Don’t talk about her like that,” I snap at him.
Caleb sends Diego a look. “Yeah, bro. Show some respect.”
“Says the dick who can’t keep his mouth shut,” I mutter, my anger now focused on Caleb. “How about we don’t talk about her at all?”
“How about you figure out what your problem is, and why you’re playing so shitty?” Caleb throws back at me, Diego nodding in agreement. “That girl walks back into your life and throws you completely off balance.”
Caleb’s not wrong, as much as I hate to admit it. I’m really starting to think the problem is…
Ava.
Which is stupid, I know it is. I need to get my shit together and stop making excuses.
Tony approaches us, his expression thunderous. “Leave him alone. Seriously, you two assholes need to take a hike.” He jerks his thumb over his shoulder and like a pair of kids who just got busted, Caleb and Diego stomp off, sending matching, sullen glares in my direction as they glance over their shoulders.
“Please tell me you’re not going to rip into me,” I say, hating how whiny I sound, but shit. I don’t think I can take a lecture right now.
“I’m not.” Tony’s voice is firm, but there’s genuine concern in his gaze. Doesn’t seem like he’s here to give me a bunch of shit. “You seem to be struggling.”
“You don’t need to sugarcoat whatever you have to say. I’m sure Hayden filled you in on what happened between Ava and me Saturday night.” I throw it right out there so neither of us has to pretend.
Tony winces. “She mentioned a few things. Didn’t go into too many details.”
“You don’t know about that mole at the base of my dick then?” I squint at him, mentally daring him to keep a straight face.
Tony’s always been a tough nut to crack. He doesn’t so much as offer up a smile. “I don’t know those intimate details, no.”
“Whew.” I mock wipe sweat off my forehead. “Thank God.”
“Listen, you can act like this is a big joke to those other assholes, but I can see you’re hurting. You don’t have to pretend with me,” Tony says, taking a step closer. “I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye in the past, and we’ve never been that particularly close compared to the other guys, but I’m worried about you. And I care a lot about Ava. I’ve known her a long time.”
“I’m worried about her too,” I admit, my voice lowering. “I fucked it up royally with her Saturday night. That was the last thing I meant to do.”
“When you left the party with her, what was your plan?” Tony asks.
“I don’t know.” I shrug, defensive. “Get her back to my place and get her naked?”
Tony doesn’t say a word. Just crosses his arms and waits me out.
It’s unnerving.
“I had no plan,” I admit, throwing my hands in the air. “I didn’t know what I was going to say or do. I was just fucking thrilled she left with me.”
“She wanted an apology.”
“Still? I thought we were past that.” And why didn’t she say so?
“Are you?” Tony arches a brow.
“Yeah. Yeah, I am past it. Even though she didn’t choose me. No one ever chooses me,” I say, frustration making my voice raspy.
