Page 126 of Unleashed

I shake my head as my hand shakes, so I set down my fork. “I don’t know what you’re smoking, but pass some my way. You are so far off that it’s sad. Don’t you have any women you want to date? A hobby, maybe?”

“It sounds weird, especially when you thought you loved Hadley.”

I put my elbow on the table and cradle my forehead. “Come on, Nico. Could you give me a fucking break?”

“I thought about it, but no. Simone feels the same way about you. This garlic bread is pure heaven.”

I raise my head. “Who says?”

“I do. It’s buttery, but not too garlicky.”

I sigh. “Not about the bread, dipshit. Did Simone say something to you?”

“She doesn’t need to. That woman is as bad as you at faking her feelings. You’re perfect for each other. My mother thinks so too.”

“What? Val said that?”

He chews slower, and his expression says he went too far. “I just think Mom believes most people dating are meant to be. She can’t always be right. She thought my destiny was to be married by now. Not happening. She does a better job with her coworkers’ love lives than mine. But I’ll tell you she’s as convinced of you and Simone as of Hadley and Finn. So, if you don’t want to break my mother’s heart, you’ll remarry Simone.”

I ball up my napkin and throw it onto the table. “Thanks for the damn guilt trip.”

He shrugs. “I’m trying to help you out, buddy. You want to get back with Simone, don’t you?”

I cut my lasagna up into smaller pieces as I contemplate that. “I never said that.”

“Cease the bullshit, Rodwell. In the time I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you so conflicted as you are when around Simone. And when you see her with other guys, you get jealous as hell.”

I frown before taking a bite. After I swallow, I argue, “I’m not Finn fucking Wilder. I don’t get jealous.”

Nico laughs. “The woman you love isn’t yours anymore. It has to drive you insane.”

“I didn’t say I love her. I thought I did, but I was mistaken.” I sigh as I fork another piece. “I’m always wrong. Maybe someday I’ll meet the woman I’m supposed to be with, but I’m not looking for a while.”

Ferrera shakes his head. “Greg, I consider you one of my best friends, and I got to say that you’re reaching Patrice territory.”

I’m stunned. It’s been a long time since I had a guy best friend. Ethan Farmer had been my best friend in high school. He played left field on our baseball team. We did everything together, but on our graduation night, he stood there and laughed with everyone else while they drugged and raped me. Because it must’ve been hilarious to watch classmates restrain his best friend and watch them suck and fuck him as he screamed. Afterward, I told him to go to hell and never spoke to him again. So, hearing Nico say I’m worthy of being his best friend is different but humbling. I never expected any man to see fucked-up me as friendship material again.

“Because I’m not dropping everything to confess my undying love to a woman who didn’t want me? I have self-preservation.”

“No, because you’re trying to talk yourself out of being with Simone. Why did you break up? Don’t give me the Broadway version. Give me the stripped-down, unplugged reason.”

I move my gaze to my half-eaten lasagna. I want to trust Ferrera. I need a friend other than Hadley or a clinger like Vaughn. I leave out some of the story and boil it down to the bare bones. “We had an argument because Simone found out she was pregnant.”

Ferrera sucks in a loud breath. “I assume with your baby?”

I nod, but don’t look away from my dinner. “But I accused her of cheating on me. I called her some names, and I walked out on her. Shortly after, she miscarried and ended our marriage.”

“Goddamn, Greg. That has to still hurt you both. Would you have wanted her to keep the baby?”

“I was mad because I instantly thought of Shasta and what she did to me.” I finally look at him. “When I realized Simone wasn’t doing that to me, I regretted everything I said and wanted our baby so fucking much. I wanted Simone to be the mother of my kids. But I ruined us. There was no coming back from that.”

“Have you tried?”

I cross my arms. “I was going to until she showed up at practice and Brandon’s party with two different bastards. So, no. I’m not going to, either.”

“You’ll lose her to another man.”

“Then I wasn’t the man for her.”

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