Page 27 of Something Unavoidable

“Who’s the one?” Damion asked.

“Keegan. He’s the worst. I’m definitely not fucking him again.”

“Again?” Eli parroted. “When did you fuckKeegan?Whydid you fuck Keegan? You hate him.”

“Twice,” Izzy told him. “Would’ve been three times, but he shot me down.” He took a bite of his burger. “S’why I hate him. Also, he called me manipulative.” He used the burger to gesture at Hunter until he finished chewing enough to talk. “You shot me down too. Why don’t I hate you?”

“Because I give you a discount on your drinks, and I don’t cut you off nearly as soon as I should,” Hunter said dryly.

“Yeah,” Izzy agreed. “That’s why I like you.”

“In Keegan’s defense, youcanbe kinda manipulative. Like when you’re trying to get me to pour you another drink after Hunter cuts you off.”

Izzy’s jaw dropped, and he stared at Damion in betrayal. He turned to Eli. “Do you think I’m manipulative?”

Eli winced. “I wouldn’t call you manipulative. But when you don’t want to deal with something, you turn up the assholishness to get the problem to leave you alone,” Eli said.

Izzy didn’t want to talk about this anymore. It was a stupid, terrible topic. This was Keegan’s fault. Why were they even talking about him? He wasn’t there. He was off somewhere else being all hot with his stupid name and his perfect cock. “Ugh.Keegan,” Izzy mocked. “I need that asshole out of my head. Please tell me there’s someone worth the effort in here.” He tried to focus on the rest of the bar, but when his vision decided to cooperate, it was practically empty. Where had everyone gone?

“They cleared out when the snow got bad,” Damion said, like he was reminding Izzy.

Snow? “It’s not gonna snow until tonight,” Izzy corrected.

Damion’s lips curved up in amusement. “Izzy, it’s almost midnight.”

What? Izzy fumbled for his phone. It hadn’t even been dark the last time he checked. He hit the button a few times before he remembered he’d turned it off so he didn’t have to feel it buzzing in his pocket. “That’s bullshit,” he decided out loud. “I had plans.”

“Pretty sure you abandoned those around drink number eight, hon,” Eli told him. “You shot down everyone who came near you.”

“He’s right,” Ash said when Izzy tried to argue. Izzy had forgotten Ash was there. “You told one guy he was too late. You’ve been ruined for all cock that isn’t attached to, and I quote, ‘a forty-year-old obnoxious asshole with a PhD in horses.’” He paused. “Which sucks for you because I don’t think you can get a PhD in horses.”

Izzy scowled. What the fuck? That didn’t sound like him at all. This was all Keegan’s fault. “This is all Keegan’s fault.”

“You should let him know,” Eli said. “Lord knows I’d worry less if you were with him instead of some random.”

“Why the hell would I do that?” Izzy said, straightening on, and nearly slipping off, his barstool to give Eli the full weight of his glare. “I hate that bastard.”

“So you’ve said,” Hunter replied, tone dry enough to make Izzy want another drink.

“I like Keegan,” Damion announced. The traitor. He was sitting next to Izzy with a beer in front of him. Wasn’t he working a minute ago? “He’s always polite, and he tips well. More than I can say for some of the guys I’ve seen you with.”

“Traitor,” Izzy said then snagged Damion’s beer, getting two gulps before it was stolen back. “Whatever. You guys suck. And not in the fun way.” He slid off the stool, proud that he didn’t waver when his feet landed. Then he realized Ash had his elbow. Whatever. “I’m outta here.”

“Izzy,” Eli said, scrambling down from his own stool. “You can’t leave. The roads are terrible. Stay with us tonight.”

“I’m notdriving,” Izzy shot back, rolling his eyes so hard that he tipped sideways a little. Luckily, Ash still had him. “I can walk,” he told Ash.

“Of course you can, but I’m feeling a little dizzy. Is it okay if I hang on to you?”

Izzy figured that was fine. He didn’t want Ash to get hurt. “Night, guys,” he told his friends. “Don’t do anything I would do.”

“Don’t you mean ‘wouldn’t do’?” Damion asked.

“He really doesn’t,” Hunter said. “Izzy, come on. We’re gonna have another drink upstairs as soon as we finish closing up.”

Izzy dismissed him with a wave. He knew that trick. “Nope. Not tonight, lovebirds.” He started toward the doors, the former celebrity wrangler keeping pace with him.

“I’ve got it,” Ash said to the group behind them. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t end up in a ditch somewhere.”

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