Page 29 of How to Lose at Love

Diego’s head snaps up from the bench press. “What do you mean you gave Ryann a ride home?”

“It was cold, she’d just been dumped—by me, I might add—did you want me to leave her standing out in the street, too?”

There. That ought to shut him up.

“You gave her a ride home after I broke up with her?”

“You’re giving yourself way too much credit for doing nothing.”

Honestly, I’ve never met anyone so naïve.

“She was my girlfriend.”

“Dude, you paid him to break up with her. What do you care?”

Drake, bless his heart. He might be a shithead, but at least he’s got my back. And speaking of dudes who have my back, Diego is my teammate—one of the reasons I agreed to help him out. Shouldn’t he climb down off my nuts about it and not ride my ass?

Diego needs to grow the fuck up and stop acting immature. Besides, what does he care? He broke up with her.

“You haven’t even asked me how she took it,” I remind him. “You haven’t even asked how it went.”

Diego sits up on the bench, wrapping a towel around his neck and wiping the sweat from his brow so he can give me his full attention—attention I do not want.

“How did she take it?”

“Fine.” I pause. “In fact, I don’t think she gave a shit, if I’m being honest.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

I laugh. “I’m being serious, dude. Why would I lie?”

“Because you’re an asshole.”

“Yeah, an asshole you asked for a favor.”

The rest of the group stares on.

“But…I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t she give a shit?”

“Maybe she didn’t actually like you.” I shrug, about to take another dig. “Pretty sure she was about to dump you. You just beat her to it.”

“Shut up.” His laugh is hollow, smile forced.

“Dead serious.”

“How the hell would you know?”

“Because in the car on the way home, we barely talked about you. All she did was call me an asshole, ask what would make a guy like me get involved. Not a tear shed, my friend.”

I leave out the part where I told Ryann he’d done her a favor and she didn’t look broken up about being dumped. She looked way too sensible for any kind of theatrics.

Sensible.

Responsible.

Probably someone he could have taken home to his mama, had he given her more of a chance. There’s a small part of me that suspects nowomanwill ever hold Diego’s attention…

He just hasn’t admitted it to himself yet.

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