Page 24 of Dirty Player

Not our relationship, that’s irreparable.

I mean our conversation. I was rude. Really fucking rude. My mother would be ashamed of me and...well, I’m ashamed of myself.

I meant what I said though—most of it, anyway.

Months of hurt, anger, and frustration boiled up and exploded when I got her alone in the hallway. When she shoved me and disappeared, I caught the glisten of tears in her eyes, and it did something to me.

All this time, I thought she’d dumped me for an NFL player and it just didn’t work out. No surprise—Colby’s relationship average is worse than mine.

But today, as she ran from me, I realized I might be wrong. I also realized a few other things.

I fucking miss her.

I miss her pretty whisky-colored eyes, her soft locks, her sexy smile.

I miss hearing her smoky voice and little giggles.

The way she skips around life, positive and excited.

I miss having her in my arms.

In my bed.

In my life.

How I used to surprise her after class. Take her for drives and impress her with my stupid car. Well, not that stupid—it’s a Maserati, the sexiest car on the planet.

According to me.

I miss working out while she reads one of her textbooks, studying toward her own degree. Not that we are in college anymore. We’ve both graduated and are living different lives now.

Unfortunately, not that fucking different. Kaylee is working for the Hawkes.

Jesus, fuck.

“But?” Drew climbs off his chair and heads over to my fridge for another beer. He holds it up in question.

Kyler and I shake our heads.

Atlas, with a mouth full of chicken, says, “I’ll have one.”

“Why are you not home with your nearly wife?” I ask my brother.

He swallows. “She’s insane.”

Drew laughs.

Molly is not insane. I know that for a fact. But sheispregnant with twins, and from what I’ve observed, Atlas has become a he-man. Way overprotective and driving her nuts.

“She kicked you out, didn’t she?”

Atlas takes the beer from Drew and shrugs.

“She kicked him out,” Kyler says, and bites down on a piece of grilled chicken.

“Fine. She said we need space tonight and that I should go and play elsewhere before, and I quote, she fucking kills me for knocking her up,” Atlas admits.

We all burst out laughing.

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