Page 121 of The Blame Game

Clearly, Audra would be well taken care of, so Dom left them to it and went in search of drinks.

Since it was only the team and a few of the people from the organization who’d been let in so far, there wasn’t a long line at the bar. Dom had just given his order to the bartender when Matty sidled up.

“Uhh, what the fuck, Dom?” Matty said quietly. “Audra?”

“What about her?” Dom asked, knowing full well what he meant.

“Um, well she’s not your type.”

“Why? Do you think I don’t like redheads?” He gave Matty a tight smile.

“No. I didn’t really think her hair color was the issue.”

“Just because I told some of the team, that doesn’t mean that I have any interest in telling everyone,” he pointed out, his voice still low as he glanced around, hoping no one was within earshot.

“I know. But—”

“But what, Matty?” Dom said. “God, I’m not you. I’m not Dustin. I’m definitely not Nico or Felix or Jonah either.”

“I know that, but—”

“Please,” Dom said, closing his eyes for a second. “I’ve got enough to deal with right now. I can’t take the pressure from anything else.”

“Sorry.” Matty’s voice was gruff. When Dom blinked his eyes open, he saw genuine concern on Matty’s face. “I know you feel differently about it and even if I don’t get it, I shouldn’t push.”

“Thank you,” Dom said, reaching out to squeeze his arm. “I appreciate it.”

Matty nodded.

“Your drinks, sir.”

The bartender slid drinks across the bar and Dom smiled reflexively, tucking a tip into the nearby jar. “Thank you.”

He’d just handed Audra her cocktail and taken a sip of his eighteen-year-old whiskey when Kate’s voice rose over the quiet babble of the crowd. “Time for pictures, everyone!”

“Sorry,” Dom said, grimacing at Audra. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

“No worries,” she said, holding out her free hand. “More drinks for me.”

He laughed and handed over the glass. “See you in a few.”

The team followed Kate to the far end of the room. It was a shitshow as always—trying to get two dozen guys wrangled and all looking at the camera at the same time and not cracking jokes to screw up the guy next to them—but they finally managed it.

As Dom stood there, pressed between Dustin on one side and Felix on the other, he got a little choked up, realizing this would be the last gala like this he’d attend as a player.

There would be more and more of these last moments as the season progressed. And then … and then it would be over.

Dom knew his smile probably looked forced but when Kate finally released them, Dom grabbed a couple of the guys. “Hey, wait. We should do some selfies.”

“Are you feeling okay, old man?” Nico shot him a sidelong glance. “You never want to do selfies. I always have to drag you kicking and screaming into them.”

Dom wasn’t sure he could explain what he actually felt without getting a little misty-eyed, so he shrugged. “Feeling sentimental, I guess.”

“Ahh.” Nico smiled, as if he understood. “Yeah, I get that. C’mon, guys.”

Several guys crowded around and it was a while before Dom returned to the cluster of SAPs—and Audra.

She seemed to be getting along famously with them but for a moment he wondered what if would have been like if he’d invited Shea instead.

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