Page 104 of Vegas Heat

“I met Troy’s daughter before I knew she was Troy’s daughter,” I admit, and his jaw drops open a little. “We had a thing, and now it’s over.”

“Ah, so that’s the girl who fucked you up. I thought it was your ex,” he says.

“I know. I let you think that because I can’t have this getting back to Troy.” I offer a pointed look, and he nods.

“It won’t.” He pretends to zip his lips, but then he downs half a glass of whiskey, so I’m not sure how trustworthy the promise is.

The girl he was talking to slides back in beside him.

“Did you ask him about Leila?” she asks him, pointing toward me.

“I mentioned you had a friend, but Coop’s going through some things,” he says.

“I bet Leila could make you forget,” she offers.

“I’m sure she could. I’m so sorry, but I’m going to have to politely decline,” I say.

I glance over at Gabby just like I’ve been doing all night, and see the two of them with their bodies basically all over each other.

I shouldn’t decline Leila before I’ve even met her. I should take the offer on the table.

But I won’t stoop to her level. I won’t flaunt some new thing in front of her on purpose.

Though at the stadium today, when I found her in the Club Level…it didn’t seem like she was doing it on purpose.

I can’t help but wonder whether what we had was so meaningless to her that she could just move on so easily. I’m not like that.

I need some time. Time to heal. Time to move on. Time to focus on baseball.

Fuck it, maybe I’ll just play my three years before I even look at another woman.

That thought is confirmed as I hear Gabby’s loud laughter carry all the way across the bar.

“I’m going to head out,” I announce once I finish my whiskey. I’ve had four, which means I shouldn’t drive.

I decide to head out front and call up a car because I just need to get the fuck out of the bar where I can hear her having fun and laughing while I feel like a constant weight is pressing against my chest.

I bid goodbye to Danny and the girl whose name I never learned. I don’t know where to go besides home, so I open the Lyft app and order up a car back to Troy’s place.

One week down, three more to go until I have my own place and won’t have to head back to the same house where Gabby lives. Although from the way things look between her and her new boyfriend, maybe she’ll start spending more time at his place.

I’m leaning against the building, head down as I try to remain incognito, when the door of the bar bursts open and I spot Gabby rushing out. She looks wildly around, and I get the sense she’s drunk.

I am a little bit, too.

She spins on her heel then spots me standing against the wall. “Did you follow me here?” she hisses at me. “Watching me, making sure I’m not drinking too much? Or were you going to force me to go home again?”

I clear my throat. “I could ask you the same considering I was there with my buddy before you even showed up.” I force all emotion from my tone.

She points a finger at me. “I want you to leave me alone.”

“I’m trying. Believe me, I’m trying.”

“Justin and I are very happy together.” She juts her chin out, and I get the sense she’s lying.

“Great. Happy for you.” I avert my gaze to the ground at my own lie.

“Good. Now leave.” She glares at me.

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