Page 115 of Unleashed

I scratch my jaw as I peer over at the field, thinking of a valid response. I then laugh. “With all the fighting you bitch about, you’re asking me that?”

“Couples fight.”

“Look. I’m friends with her. Okay? I don’t wish a meteor to fall from the sky and land on her apartment.”

“Here’s what I think. You two broke up over an argument. Simone pulled the plug on the whole thing. You’re licking your wounds. But you love her.”

“I don’t.”

“Why not?”

I laugh again. “Why in the fuck are you asking me this shit? Here’s the scoop. I helped her. She wanted to go back to Richmond. She didn’t want to be stuck in a fake marriage, so she ended it. We went on our merry little way until her dad landed on her doorstep. I thought I’d be a nice guy and help her again. Period.”

“I don’t care what you tell me. I see more than you think.”

I shove my hands into my hair, losing my patience with his digging. I thought Hadley was worse. “I don’t love her! Jesus Christ, Wilder! We’re not a couple. We’re not dating. We’re barely even speaking to each other. And we’re not making this shit real. I go my way. She goes hers. I didn’t love your sister then. I don’t love her now. I’ll never love her! We’re barely friends! Why can’t anyone understand that?”

He frowns, and when I turn to go to the restrooms, I almost run into Hadley and Simone. Damn it to hell.

Hadley glares at me, but Simone stares at her brother’s chest as she folds her arms, propping up her tits. I sigh. “Are you okay?”

Simone nods but slides past me and mutters, “Fuck off, Rod.” Son of a bitch. I can’t win.

With them both glaring at me, I shrug. “What?”

Hadley narrows her eyes at me and says, “Sparks, go back to the field. I’ll be there in a minute. I’d like to have a word with Gregory.” She used my real name. I’m in deep shit.

He checks his flashy silver watch. “Okay, but don’t take long. We have to get started. I still have to shower and change before work.”

She reaches up and kisses his cheek. Hadley isn’t wearing her rings, so her black-scrolled Finnigan ring tattoo catches my eye. “Thanks.”

Wilder grabs her hand and squeezes it before leaving. They’re giving me cramps.

Hadley watches Wilder walk away. I don’t have time for her to ogle his ass. I put my hand on my hips and now notice where Simone threw up. I imagine most of it being my jizz. I clear my throat to catch Hadley’s attention. “What do you want to tell me?”

Hadley takes a deep breath before looking at me. “What the fuck are you doing? I want the truth this time.”

“Uh, I’m standing here, talking to you. I wish I were somewhere beachy, though. No offense.”

“What happened to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You used to be nice, caring, lighthearted, even.”

I laugh. “I’m the same asshat you’ve known for years.”

She shakes her head. “No, Rod. You’ve changed so much. There’s shit you’re not telling me.”

“There’s really not much to tell. What has Simone said about me?” Do I really want to know?

“Nothing. She refuses to talk about you with me. She probably thinks I’d tell you everything.”

“And won’t you? I mean, BFFs, right?” I point to her and then me as I smirk, but Hadley’s frown doesn’t change.

I sigh at the sky before leveling with her. “I already told you everything you wanted to know. We were married. It was a favor. I like her as a friend. Sometimes. We fucked. A lot. Can we please, for the love of Tom Petty, end this now?” I try to keep my voice even so she doesn’t hear that I’m close to losing it.

“Would you consider getting back with her?”

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