Page 38 of Whirlwind

“Tell me.”

I stick my hands in my pockets. “I think you guessed it, but Finley and I had sex.”

For a long pause, Hawk stares, then he punches my shoulder like he used to do when I said something dumb in college.

“Ouch!”

“I thought you made out or maybe got to second base, not fucked her right out of the gate. Jesus, Ryker!”

I rub my arm. “I honestly thought you’d figured it out.” Now his lack of reaction earlier makes more sense.

“I knew you could be an idiot sometimes, but I didn’t think you werethatmuch of an idiot. She’s your student, Ryker—you’re her mentor!” He hisses the last part quietly.

I grind my teeth. “Like I didn’t fucking know that? I’m beating myself up about it enough already. I know it was stupid and reckless—I told Finley as much after it happened.” Hawk punches me again, and I grunt. “What the hell was that one for?”

“You told her that?”

“Not those exact words, but she knows I regret it. I think she feels the same way.”

“You’re more than just an idiot—you’re acompleteidiot.”

“Fucking thanks. Exactly what I needed to hear from my best friend.”

Hawk runs a hand through his already disheveled hair. “That’s why I’m saying it, because I care about you.” He pauses for a second, thinking. Then he continues. “You have to know that was a stupid thing to say to her.”

I stare at him and wait, knowing he wants to say more.

He huffs out a breath. “Do you really regret what you did? Or did you say that to her to make yourself feel better?”

“Of course I regret it,” I express almost too quickly.

Hawk kicks some dirt at his feet and leans against the truck. “You’re lying to yourself, man.”

Annoyance grows in my chest. “I thought you’d be glad I shut it down.”

“You shouldn’t have had anything to shut down in the first place.”

“I know. But it just happened.” My eye twitches at the excuse. Sure, it happened, but pretending it “just happened” is a lie. Finley and I have been too comfortable with each other all year. I should’ve shut it down ages ago—but I didn’t.

“At least I know why you’ve been acting like such a dick since last night. Ezra thought yesterday was finally the thing that shook you up, but now, everything makes sense.”

“I’m not acting like a dick.”

Hawk laughs sardonically. “You’re treating Joey like trash, and you called Finley ‘Ms. Buckley’ like you’re some stuck-up scientist. You’ve also been short with me and Ezra since we talked last night.”

“I’ve been trying to remain professional.”

“Being a dick means you’re being professional?”

“You’re pissing me off, Diego.”

His eyebrows shoot up toward his hairline at my use of his legal name. We stare each other down for a long moment before my shoulders sink and I force a tense exhale.

“Have I really been that bad?”

“Joey asked me if he’d done something wrong.”

“He has a shirt with my face on it that says Tornado Daddy.”

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