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“I see. If I pop by, would you have time to grab a drink with me? I need to unwind. Just finished my final.”
“Sure thing.”
I dropped my bag into the backseat of the car. I was just about to back out of the parking spot when my phone pinged again. Pulling it from my pocket, I saw Hope’s name flash across the screen.
HOPE: HOW WAS YOUR EXAM? WONDERING IF YOU WANTED TO GRAB DINNER TONIGHT. I HAVE THE NIGHT OFF.
I was just about to answer, but I stopped. Maybe Hunter was right, maybe this wasn’t the smartest choice I had made. Instead of replying, I threw my phone down on the console and reversed out of the parking lot.
The apartment was empty and dark when I got there. “I guess she must have gotten tired of waiting for my reply,” I mumbled to myself. I grabbed a quick shower and then dressed into a pair of jeans and a black button-down shirt, threw on a splash of cologne, and made my way over to the pub.
The place seems more packed than usual, I thought, as I fought my way through the crowd to the only empty bar stool. Mike was behind the bar, so I grabbed the empty seat and ordered a beer.
“Hey, Carter, how was the exam?” he asked.
“Not too bad. You guys are busy.”
“Of course, and short staffed, as always.”
“So, care to tell me what’s going on between the two of you?”
I glanced around through the crowd, ignoring the question Mike had asked. If I myself had known what I was doing, it would be fine. I spotted my brother and then the rest of the guys. “Mike, I’m headed over to the guys. They’re here already.”
“You got it. I’ll bring the refills.”
As I approached the table,I watched Hunter punch Phil in the arm and give him a serious look.
“Well, if it isn’t the man of the hour. Have you fucked her yet?” Phil called while downing another shot. I rolled my eyes, ignoring him, and glared at my brother before I took a seat. He was the only one who knew Hope was staying with me; how dare he betray me and breathe a word of it to the guys.
“Hello to you too,” I responded back. “How much of that shit has he had?” I asked Hunter.
“Maybe a little bit too much. Want a beer?”
“Already ordered. Just started myself a tab. Mike’s bringing over another round, but I think Phil here needs to be cut off.”
I looked through the crowd again and then turned my direction back to the guys. They all sat there staring at me with shit-eating grins on their faces. “What?” I shrugged.
“Nothing, man, we were just hoping for some details.”
“Details?” I played stupid, pretending to not know what they were talking about and praying that they really didn’t know the situation.
“Yeah, you left with Felice last night, but then you came back in here for that new chick. We had just left the other bar across the road and saw you come back in here.” I gave Hunter the I’ll-kill-you look. He new better than to tell the guys anything.
“It was nothing. I forgot something here, and then I helped Mike with something in the back,” I lied.
“We’re sure you did,” Phil slurred. I glared at my brother, and Hunter quickly changed the subject. Soon they started with their usual banter back and forth, cutting one another up and looking for their next piece of ass, which took the heat off me for a bit.
A while later, Hunter made his way back from the washroom and sat back down at the table, smacking me on the back. While the other guys were locked into a deep conversation with a bunch of women at the next table, Hunter leaned over toward me. “Don’t look too hard, bro, but she’s here.”
“Who’s here?”
“Your woman. She’s in the back booth over there with a guy that very much resembles Trent King,” he answered, nodding in the direction of where they were sitting. I looked over Hunter’s shoulder, a surge of jealousy running through me as I kept my eyes on them. Their conversation seemed to be intense, and it looked like she was getting uncomfortable.
“Not my problem,” I answered and grabbed some nachos from the plate in front of me. I turned my attention to our group, but I couldn’t help my eyes wandering over to her and their table. I was fine until I witnessed him slamming his fist down on the table, causing her to jump, then he stood up and walked toward the washroom. Everything about her screamed she was on edge, and once he left, she placed her face in both her hands, her body starting to shake. Soon, he returned, sitting down across from her, and their argument continued. When she started to cry harder, I got up from my seat and went to walk over there, but Hunter grabbed my arm before I could get away.
I looked down to his hand resting on my forearm. “Don’t get involved, Carter.”
I glanced back over to them, watching. “She’s in trouble, Hunter.”
