Page 28 of My Ex-Best Friends

Logan slid in after him and rolled his eyes. “I’ve got fifteen minutes before I have to meet a potential student and his parents. He’s being chased by a lot of the high school teams in the state but his parents like the beach.”

Not wanting to draw out what I needed to say, I just spit it out. They often told me I was too blunt, but I got shit done and that was what mattered. “Brooke has to go.”

Noah reacted like I’d punched him. “What?”

Logan just watched me with a frown on his face.

“I set her up on a date. He’s one of the teachers at your school. Billy Dorn? Seemed like a nice guy.” I rushed on. “I also checked around and there’s one apartment left at Oceanside. It’s a three bedroom so it’s probably more than she can afford but the property manager assured me that a smaller unit would be available in just a few weeks.”

They both just stared back at me for so long that I shifted uncomfortably in the vinyl booth. I didn’t understand what their issue was. I’d done all the heavy lifting.

“What?”

Logan stretched his long body over the tabletop to poke me in the chest. “Seriously, Colt? You just decided that you’re getting rid of her? You didn’t think you should’ve talked to us first?”

Noah nodded. “It isn’t your place to decide things for all of us. She’s our friend.”

I let out a bark of laughter that sounded bitter, even to my own ears. “No. Shewasour friend. Then she vanished on us and stayed away for a fucking decade. I thought we were all on the same page. She can’t just stay with us.”

A lanky kid I recognized from the docks came up to the table with a notepad in his hand. “Hey, Colt. Logan. Noah Um. Do you know if there are any spots open on the team this year?”

“Stanley, right?” Noah smiled kindly up at the kid, always at ease around new people.

“Yeah. Well, Marcus Stanley, but yeah. Yes, sir.” He tapped the notepad against his leg. “I tried out last year but didn’t make it. I’ve been practicing, though. I’m on the boat most days withmy dad but at night I go to the field and we throw the ball, you know?”

“We had tryouts at the end of the school year. Why didn’t you come by then?” Noah’s words weren’t unkind but I had a flash of memory from the docks about the kid’s mom passing and I watched his face fall.

“Uh… My ma got sick. She died.” He looked like he was going to cry and it did something to the hard stone in my chest.

“Let him try out now, Noah.” The words were rough past my lips but I ignored their looks and locked gazed with Marcus. “Your dad okay missing you on the boat while you’re working here?”

“Um, yes, sir. Tips pay better right now and we need the extra money.” He looked back at Noah. “Can I try out now?”

Noah shot me a look but nodded. “Sure, kid. Come by my office when you’re free one day this week. You think you’ll be able to get off work for the camp coming up if you make the team?”

He’d be able to. If I had to slip money to his old man, he’d be able to. I cleared my throat. “Bring me a cheeseburger, kid. And a beer.”

Sure, it was lunchtime and I had to go back out on my boat but if I was going to keep feeling shit I was going to need more than just the beer. Noah and Logan gave their orders and then stared at me with open curiosity.

It was Noah who ventured out first. “What the fuck? I don’t interfere with your fishing, Colt. You don’t interfere with my job. What’s going on with you?”

I sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“And now you’re apologizing? Are you fucking dying?” Logan leaned across the table again, that time to feel my forehead.

I batted his hand away. “He’s a good kid. Works hard. I know his dad enough.”

“That’s fine, Colt. If he has the skills, I’ll put him on the team. I don’t care about that so much as I care about you overstepping.” Noah sat back. “In this and in dealing with Brooke.”

I hardened my gaze. “You think I’m overstepping with her? I’m not. I’m just protecting you two fools from getting your hearts dumped on again.”

Logan snorted. “Cause we were the only ones with our hearts shit on last time.”

I ignored his sarcasm and pressed on. “Do you know the teacher? Is he nice?”

Noah begrudgingly nodded. “He’s a nice guy.”

“Then what’s the problem? She can’t stay with us forever. That house isn’t big enough for the four of us.” I waited for one of them to suggestIleave but I should’ve known better. We’d been a trio for a long time, a lot of years spent having each other’s backs meant something. “Okay?”

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