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“Well, if you want to be with someone, you make the time. But mark my words… when we come in for the charity event, I bet every one of the single guys hits on you and tries to get your number.”
“It’s good that I’m not afraid of the word no, then, right?”
Harlow rolls her eyes and swivels off the stool. “You’re hopeless, but I love you anyway.”
“Ditto,” I say as I hop off and we hug goodbye.
CHAPTER 2
Hendrix
I’m bored. When can we leave?
They don’t serve wine here. How lame is that?
The women here are all trashy. Have you seen what that bartender is wearing?
And the most recent, the one that causes me to lose my shit: “I don’t like the way the women put their arms around you when taking pictures.” Tracy pouts with her own arms crossed over her chest. “You need to tell them to stop, and you shouldn’t touch them. Hold your hands out the way Keanu Reeves does when he takes photos with fans.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I snarl, and I don’t lower my voice the way I often do when I’m arguing with Tracy. “You have done nothing but complain since we got here. Hell, you do nothing but complain whenever I’m with you. I’m fucking sick of it.”
I’m well aware that my buddies have gone still and are shamelessly listening. None of my teammates likes Tracy, not a single damn one of them, and that says something. They’re also vocal in their feelings that I should part ways with her, but I make my own decisions.
Their willingness to tell me how they see it only goes to show how close we are. I appreciate that they feel comfortable telling me their exact feelings because I know it’s coming from a place of care.
And I have listened to them.
Hell… I’ve agreed with most of what they’ve said. But I’m working at this relationship because I’ve always been taught it takes hard work. It’s what my parents have told me when imparting wisdom. It’s what my Aunt Rory has said as well.
I’m an athlete, which makes me a competitor and that means winning is my favorite thing. However, I also know that sometimes you can try your best and still not succeed. I’m reaching the realization that no amount of effort will fix what’s broken here.
I’m particularly perturbed that she’s ruining what is an important team event this evening. We’re at Jerry’s Lounge, collecting toys for needy children and raising money for homeless shelters. How in the world Tracy could be upset about me putting my attention to such a worthy cause is beyond me. Maybe I need to focus on that flaw.
It’s not specifically about her being bored, or that this bar doesn’t serve wine, or even that she’s upset when I take pictures with female fans. It’s that she refuses to understand that I’m doing something good tonight with my team, that it’s part of my job. Sure, I’m having fun—although not with her—but it’s still a team event and she can’t expect me to cater to her at those times. We’ve had dozens of conversations about this but she either doesn’t get it or she doesn’t want to.
I glance over to my left and find both Kace and Coen watching me. I don’t want to embarrass Tracy in front of them, so I take her by the arm and lead her over to a small, private corner.
“What are you doing?” she demands, pulling her arm free. “How dare you manhandle me like I’m some piece of property for you to push around?”
I suck in a deep breath, biting my tongue to keep from spilling what I’d really like to say. My voice is low and calm. “I’m merely bringing you to a private place so that we can discuss this.”
“Discuss what? You’re acting like a fool.”
I take another deep breath, closing my eyes, and I let it out on a measured count of four. When I open my eyes again, Tracy is glaring at me.
Trying to find something redeemable at this moment, I don’t reply right away. I search for anything about her that might remind me what I was attracted to in the first place.
When we first met, she was not like this. Granted, there wasn’t a lot of substance between us. Tracy was a hot hookup and I kept going back for more. But we were having fun and I thought I might be at the stage where I could settle down with the right person.
It seemed the minute I committed to her she became possessive, needy, and difficult to please.
As I study her, I can’t latch on to a single thing to give me the will to try anymore. There’s nothing there.
“This isn’t going to work,” I say with a heavy sigh.
