“I can see the way you look at him. You’re not over him at all. And it’s…pathetic.”
Fitz cringed before a frown furrowed his handsome brows. “Wow. An ass kicking was definitely not something I wanted on the menu today.”
“Apparently it needs to happen.”
“Oh, and you’re the one who should be handing out advice?” Fitz said, his ire clearly rising.
“In this case? Yes.”
“Well, if the gloves are off, then you’d best be careful. I might hit back,” Fitz warned.
“Oh? And just what do you think you couldeversay that could injure me?”Just about anything.
“Don’t,” Fitz cautioned, his tone deepening.
“Bellamy doesn’t love you the way you love him and never will. Move on,” Tanner spat, trying to keep his face emotionless.
Fitz winced. “Oh?” he asked, his face tightening in anger as he leaned forward aggressively. “Why? So you can get the chance you want?”
Tanner’s eyes widened, and he leaned back. “You’re insane if you think I’d ever wantanythingto do with an arrogant, narcissistic alpha like you.”
“Me?I’mthe narcissist? You’ve got to be kidding me, McCreary.” Fitz leaned a little closer. “You’resoused to being the center of attention. ‘Everybody, come look at me. I’m the amazing Tanner McCreary. Here, come look at my shitty art and fawn all over me. Tell me I’m wonderful.’ Well guess what? I can see right through it all. You’re just a self-absorbed blow-hard who likes to hear himself talk!”
“Maybe Idolike hearing myself talk. Maybe I think I’m a riot. Maybe I find myself interesting. In an alpha, that would be calledconfidence. In an omega? Apparently, we’re self-absorbed blow-hards. But you know what, I really don’t care what you think of me.”
“You can’t stand the fact that I refuse to blow smoke up your ass,” Fitz snapped.
“As I said, I don’t care what you think of me.”
“Oh?” Fitz asked. “I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at me over the years. I think you care a little too much about what I think of you.”
“I thinknothingabout you,” he lied.
An evil smile crossed Fitz’s lips. “Were you thinking of nothing during that handjob in your brother’s bathroom? You should’ve seen the look on your face while you were stroking my cock. I could see you wanted me to pin you to the floor and take you then and there.”
Rage flooded Tanner. He grabbed his glass and flung what was left of his drink in Fitz’s face. Jumping to his feet, he glared at the angry alpha. “You’re a fucking asshole, Fitzy.” Tanner raced out of the bar without a backward glance, indignation fueling every step. As soon as he reached the sidewalk, he hailed a cab. Flinging himself inside, he barked the address of his studio at the cabby, then slammed the door.
He wanted to open it and slam it again, the visceral feeling too good, but he stopped himself. Before he was done, he’d likely destroy the door in his fit of fury. Instead, he bottled the emotion, waiting until he could get back to his studio and funnel it all intosomething.
Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be pretty.
Chapter Ten
Back inside the bar…
What the fuck just happened?
Fitz didn’t even bother to wipe away the remnants of Tanner’s whiskey for a few moments. He deserved it. Deserved more than a drink flung in his face. He had been atotalasshole, and he couldn’t explain it. Every single time he was near Tanner, he felt that same anger. Some days it was stronger than others. Today… mixed with the insane lust he’d recently begun to feel… it had gone utterly haywire.
After finally wiping away the whiskey, he reached into his pocket and fished out his wallet. He tossed a fewrenoson the table, then rose and shoved the billfold back into his pocket and headed for the door. The sun was just starting to go down, and he was in no mood to go back to an empty apartment with his too-many thoughts. He walked down the street a ways before jumping onto a passing trolley. Fitz watched the city passing by, numb—until he reached his brother’s stop. He jumped off and headed deeper into the city a few blocks and then traveled up the three floors of steps to get to Harrison’s apartment.
The door opened before he could knock.
“Hey man, come on in,” an apron-clad Harrison said before turning back to walk inside.
“How’d you know I was here?” Fitz asked before entering and shutting the door behind him.
“Saw you walking up the street from the window,” their brother, Luke, called from the kitchen.