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I twisted in the seat to look at him. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
He raised both of his hands. “Because this was exactly what we thought it was. She used us to get back at Kyle.” He waved a hand backward. “Shay even helped her plan it. Even if you can overlook her using us just for sex—not even just sex, it was to fuck up the dynamic we had with her brother. And shecompletely succeeded. Can you really just shake off the rest of it?”
“We knew all this,” I said. “I mean, she was really obvious about it after she was with me the first time.” I shook my head as I spoke, “But it was also obvious that she changed her mind—”
“Did she? Then how did Kyle know when to show up?” Darius demanded. “Because the one time we’re all in one place, in a compromising position, he magically appears to make it obvious that she didn’t.”
“You didn’t see her,” I objected. “The day after. The week after. When I cornered her into talking to me, she was upset about everything that went down.” I waved a hand between Adam and me. “She apologized, it was genuine. It might have all started out as a lie, but she ended up feeling something.”
“Then explain how Kyle knew when to show up,” Darius demanded heatedly.
“Because of me,” Adam barked out. “It’s my fault it all went to shit.”
I didn’t know what to say. I just stared at Adam as he pulled into a parking lot. He didn’t meet my gaze. “What?” I asked, feeling at a loss.
“I left work early,” he explained quietly. “He called and checked on me. I told him I got sick because of something I ate.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Then I called in the next day.” He met my gaze briefly. “You know why. It was so we could all be together. And I don’t regret that.” He shook his head as he looked away. “I didn’t expect Kyle to come check on me because I called in.”
“She didn’t call him?” Darius asked. “Are you sure she didn’t?”
Adam relaxed back against the seat and numbly said, “It’s my fault.”
“That doesn’t make any of this okay,” Darius said after a length. “All of this started out in a messed-up fashion. There’s no way it can last.”
“No?” Adam turned and opened the driver’s side door. “I know what I want. She has shown no signs of wanting anything different. Why not ride it out?” He laughed. “She even tried to get me my job back at the dealership. This might’ve started out with malicious intent, but see for yourself if that’s still the case.”
Adam jumped out of the truck. He slammed the door closed, shaking the truck. He didn’t even wait for us as he went to the entrance of the bar. He didn’t get carded, and the bouncer didn’t even bother to get the cover charge from him.
“Did you know?” Darius asked. Uncertainty was clear in his voice.
“I knew it wasn’t Grace’s fault,” I told him without hesitation. “The day after, she showed up distraught. She looked notably upset.” I took a breath and released it slowly. “I confronted her after she went radio silent on us. I went to her apartment, but your sister was there. She was upset because she thought Grace was ready to just disappear on all of us.” I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Shay didn’t want that to happen. I don’t want that to happen. So, I made sure I let her know that.” I opened the door. “If it’s still an issue for you, then you know where you stand in the situation.”
I got out of the truck and didn’t wait for Darius. I went to the bouncer and gave him a friendly nod. That’s when I realized I couldn’t leave my friend out there. I pulled out my wallet and offered him a twenty to cover my entrance, Adam’s, and Darius’s. The boom of the music from inside echoed outside, giving a warning that conversation wouldn’t be happening tonight.
The bouncer took the money from me and offered me a ten in change. “A friend is still in the car, trying to hype himself up to hit on the bartender,” I explained as I waved away the money.
“She’s quitting.” The bouncer sniffed. “I have enough time to find a replacement.” He glanced at me. “I’m attributing that to you.”
I stared at the older man in confusion. “She didn’t say anything to me about that,” I admitted, then glanced back at the truck to see Darius getting out. “I wouldn’t even try to talk her out of working here. I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot.”
He nodded at Darius as he approached. “He’s got your cover.” He looked back at me. “Just because I can’t keep an eye on her after she leaves her doesn’t mean I won’t come kick your ass if she calls me.”
“If she wants to kick my ass, she can do it all on her own,” I assured him.
“What is he talking about?” Darius asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said as I motioned him in. “I promised you a beer.”
Darius looked doubtful, but he didn’t hesitate to follow me in. It was like walking into a wall of music, and any chances of private conversation were lost. The dance floor was full and there was only standing room at the bar.
Maybe we should’ve just gone to our usual place. It would’ve been easier to hear Adam out and figure out where we went from here. Darius wasn’t on the same page as me. He wasn’t so willing to forgive and forget.
It was apparent when we approached the bar and he spotted Grace. He pulled up suddenly, his hand catching my shoulder. When I turned to look, his expression showed his frustration. He didn’t know he was going to have to face her tonight.
“All you’re able to do is look at her,” I hollered at him. “She’s working. She can’t talk. She’s too busy.”
Darius just shook his head and nodded to a pair of stools that had opened up. It didn’t put us sitting next to Adam, but that was fine. He didn’t even look in our direction. We definitely had Grace’s attention.
From her expression, she didn’t know how to react. She looked between the three of us and bit her lip. Then she snapped on a smile, grabbed two beers and put them in front of Darius and I.
