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When I tear open the door from the staff hallway to the main room, I don’t see him at first. Then, my gaze passes the bar and I see him, sitting in the same spot but now he’s leaning over the surface, laughing with Geo, who is now leaning right back over in his space.
I’m storming toward the bar as I quickly remind myself to keep my cool. But honestly, whatthe fuckis he doing?
“Let’s go,” I say, my words coming out more like a growl than something a normal, civilized person would say. Geo stands upright and slowly backs away from Drake. Good call, kid.
Drake looks at me with alarm. “Everything okay?”
“Can I talk to you for a second?” I ask, feeling the anger boil.
“Sure,” he replies, getting up and following me to a discreet corner. “What’s wrong with you?” he asks.
“Me?” My eyes widen. “What’s wrong withyou? Geo thinks you’re trying to take him home and fuck him, and honestly, so do I.”
His shoulders shrug as he forces his eyes away. “So what if I am? All of a sudden you have a problem with me being with guys?”
“It has nothing to do with him being a guy,” I snap before quickly reeling it back in. “What about Isabel?”
I watch as Drake composes himself before answering. “I thought everything that happened on our trip was just fun. We’re back home now. Right?”
When his eyes meet mine again, I freeze. Is he asking me that? That was the deal, but if I really say that wasn’t all it was, then would he really change his mind and come home with me? Is that what I want?
Drake is never going to settle down, not for long at least. If I draw this out, then Isabel is just going to get hurt in the long run, and I can’t let that happen—to her. If this is how he’s going to act, then it’s best to just cut things off now.
“Right,” I reply coolly.
“Hunter, I can’t be the third wheel in your marriage forever. This trip was fun, but the sooner we get back to the way things were, the better.”
My heart feels like a lead balloon in my chest. “So what are you going to do, Drake? Just go back to fucking random strangers? Do you really want to do that forever? Like your mom.”
There’s fire in his eyes as he glares at me. That was too harsh and if I could take it back, I would. “And all this time I’ve avoided comparing you to your father…” he replies.
We’re not going back to the way things were at all. Right now, we’re careening toward the opposite, and I feel helpless to stop it.
“I’m sorry,” I say, as if that’s enough to fix the damage of a fucking tsunami of insults.
“It’s fine,” he replies with a sigh. “For your information…I don’t plan on just fucking random strangers. I was thinking…maybe it’s time for me to date for real. Actually get to know someone and try to make it a long-term thing.”
Why do I hate this idea more? “Then don’t fuck him,” I say, staring straight into those familiar blue irises.
“Okay,” he replies, but it’s not convincing.
“I’m serious, Drake. If you want to be in a real relationship, then don’t fuck him right away. See if you can even do that.”
He doesn’t respond as I storm away, feeling like an asshole after slinging insults at my best friend, as if that’s not half as bad as what he’s doing to me—lying to me. Because no matter what he says about not sleeping with Geo, I know him too well, and I don’t believe him for one fucking second.
Rule #28: If you love someone, let them go. (Easier said than done.)
Isabel
I knowsomething is up when my husband walks through the front door—alone. He’s wearing a scowl and barely says a word as he bounds up the stairs toward our master bedroom.
Coming home from that trip felt like the ultimate test—one that we failed. A little over twenty-four hours back in BP and we’re already falling apart. I have a good idea why too.
I follow Hunter up the stairs and find him taking off his suit in the walk-in closet, hanging his jacket on the hanger and angrily yanking off his tie.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he mutters.
