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Chapter 12
Cash
“Howlonguntilyousnap out of this mood, Bossman?” Frank says as he walks into my apartment, grating on my last nerve with that stupid nickname.
“I can tell you that calling me that is definitely not going to help.” I stare at the liquid in my glass and hope it magically turns into alcohol. When that doesn’t happen, I walk to the bar and grab a bottle of scotch.
“Want one?” I hold up a glass to him and he nods. Shocked, I smile.
“Figure you can’t just keep drinking by yourself. Some would say you’re turning into an alcoholic.”
I grip the glass between my fists and glare at him. “I’m just trying to cope.”
He laughs. “Yeah, if you need alcohol to get through the day, we really do need to chat.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine. I just…” I exhale my entire mood. “I just need something good to happen. Fucking Cat is now openly dating Hanson, Chase is still fucking missing, and Carter barely leaves his apartment. My entire family is falling apart, and I don’t know how to wrap my head around any of it.”
Frank takes the glass that I hand to him, and as I take a sip of my drink, he levels me with a stare. “You sure it’s not because Grace has been linked to Hanson’s brother now?”
I roll my neck. It’s been over two weeks since the nightclub. Weeks since I last laid eyes on her in person. Since I touched her, kissed her, fucked her, and left her. Within days she was seen out and about on dates. To think, I almost reached out to her. I felt horrible for the way I acted. Sure glad I didn’t waste my breath on an apology. Apparently, all she needed was a good screw to move on. And move on she has. Right over to Hanson’s brother. Honestly, it’s disturbing how she hops from one to another. She really had me fooled.
“Why don’t we go to the club tonight? Maybe we can even get Carter to come,” I suggest.
Frank just looks at me over his drink. “Is that really what you want? To chase after girls?”
I shrug. “I don’t know what you expect from me. You have this crazy idea in your head that I’m unable to move on from Grace, but it’s just not true. I am not spiraling because of Grace. I’m spiraling because I can’t get my business under control. Because Hanson and Cat have taken control of everything. And because fucking Chase is still missing.”
Frank rolls his neck. “Fine. Then let’s go out. Maybe if you get laid, you’ll calm the fuck down.”
“How do you stay so calm?” I ask my best friend honestly. Frank had a rough upbringing that I’m pretty certain involved the Irish Mafia. He’s never confirmed this, but I’ve heard enough grumbling to know the truth. Yet, Frank is the calmest person I know.
Frank shrugs and takes another sip of his drink. “Never got myself mixed up with all these feelings. You can tell me ’til your blue in the face that this is about your family, but even when my family was at their worst, I didn’t get this bothered. It’s women that do this. One older woman in particular I’d say.”
I look away from his penetrating gaze. “Don’t fall in love, Frank. It will destroy your perfect ability to stay calm.”
He laughs and holds up his drink in cheers. “I don’t plan on it. Now let’s get out of here before you depress the hell out of both of us.”
Walking into the club with Frank by my side, both of us dressed in dark jeans, button-down shirts, and blazers, I feel like myself again.
“Eleven o’clock,” Frank mutters under his breath as we both sit down at the bar. For once I don’t want to be on display in the VIP area. It brings too much unwanted attention. At first, I thought it was a perk of ownership, but I’ve learned that the women there are only interested in the color of my American Express Card, not me.
In the corner, I spot Hanson and his brothers. Panic grips my throat. Grace wouldn’t come here on a date, would she? That seems low even for her.
Frank shakes his head. “She’s not here.”
I realize that my fingers were digging into my leg, and Frank is staring at them. I exhale. “How do you know?”
“I told the bouncer to keep me posted. They came in by themselves. You want me to find out if she’s coming?”
I shake my head. And then because I’m weaker than I’d like to admit, I nod. “Yes, please.”
He doesn’t even flinch. Within seconds he’s on his feet and speaking to Hanson and his brothers. They look in my direction and smile before making their way over. This entire scenario just backfired. I don’t want to spend the night with these guys. Hell,Idon’t even really want to be here. I feel like I’m crawling out of my skin every time I walk into this place. But it’s the constant state that I’ve been in for the last few months since everything went to shit.
“Cash, good to see you,” Hanson says, holding his hand out to me. I shake it. “You remember my brothers, Garreth and Hayden.”
I nod in their direction. They’re his half brothers and twins. Unlike Hanson, they were raised in London by their mom while Hanson grew up here in boarding schools like us. Which one of them is currently screwing my ex?
“Where’s Cat tonight?” I ask.
