Page 2 of No Love Lost

Today’s dilemma was much simpler.

To Phail or not to Phail?

Even phrasing it that way in his head had him smiling. Probably why Epic didn’t want to change either his surname or his town’s name.

Heath’s phone beeped, and he moved to the kitchen where he’d left it. Of course, it was from Troy because that’s the way the universe worked some days.

The text was a photo showing Troy, Sean, Levi, and Marcus clinking beer bottles with the caption Wish you were here.

Shaking his head at the universe, he tossed the phone back on the counter. With the mood he was in, he wasn’t ready to talk to anyone. He’d make himself some food, and maybe that would help him make some decisions.

He pulled out some chicken, pasta and tomatoes, then the phone beeped again.

This text was from Levi. We miss you, man.

He didn’t answer it either. When he was draining the pasta, it beeped again. Sean. You can do your job from anywhere. Bring your laptop.

He’d plated the meal when Marcus’ text came through. We need your specialized skill set for a project. Let’s get the team together again.

Damn it. They were pushing all the buttons. Cutting off his work argument. Reminding him they were the family that mattered. They knew about his strained relationship with his parents, and how much he missed Gramps and Grams. Now, they were hinting at a secret project they’d conjured up. Without him.

Because he wasn’t in Phail.

Heath ate his meal, keeping one eye on the sports scores and the other on his phone. He knew they weren’t done. And he knew that because they hadn’t got their way yet.

Were they going to get their way?

With a chuckle, Heath realized they probably were. But he had no intention of telling them that. Certainly not tonight when his emotions had been ping-ponging all over the condo.

It was already December, but when he looked around his place, he realized he hadn’t put up a single thing to denote the holiday. Was that because he was a man who hated to decorate? Or because he wasn’t ready?

Or was it because he’d decided this wasn’t where he was going to celebrate the holiday?

His phone beeped again, and he finished his last lonely bite before he looked at it.

This one was a video. Heath pressed play and immediately laughed. His friends were grinning at him. Like they knew he’d been avoiding their calls.

Marcus spoke first. Arrow had been their military team leader and was the steadiest man Heath knew. “Hey, Slick. We need your brain.”

Levi, never one for a ton of words, nodded. “Get your ass to Phail.” Oz was a farmer at heart and always got straight to the point.

Sean laughed and slapped Levi on the shoulder. “Oz’s right. We need you, man. You and Scooby. We’ve got a room all ready for you.”

Troy grinned. “So stop ignoring us when we know perfectly well you’re in that condo all by yourself. Get your ass up off the chair and start packing. We’ll see you soon, Slick.”

The four of them grinned and then chanted in unison. “Come to Phail. Come to Phail. Come to Phail.”

The video cut out and Heath realized he was laughing right along with them.

He did the only thing he could do in the situation. He got his ass up off the chair and started to pack.

Addison Syrette jumped out of her chair when the buzzer sounded. The buzzer that meant she’d ignored the first two timers. Again.

She laid her hand over her heart to help slow its beating. That heart had been through enough crap in its time, and she needed it to keep working for a few more decades.

Addison forced herself to save and back up her work from a standing position. If she sat back down, she’d get swept up in her story again and miss picking up Nina.

Of course, her daughter would simply laugh and go into Phail General or Phail Phoods to wait. Or she’d call Nimii to pick her up instead. Her twelve-year-old was one hundred percent reliable, and Addison tried desperately to live up to her example.

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