Page 65 of Finance Bros

His jaw works as he stares me down. “Sorry for fucking up the flow,” he finally says.

“No problem,” I say easily. Maybe a little blithe.

Abruptly, he stands and leaves the table. Bailey gapes after him and then turns to me. “What the hell?”

I shrug.

“What happened? Seriously?”

“Seriously? He and his girlfriend are on a break, and I don’t think he knows how to be alone.”

That’s FACTS.

“Oh. Yikes. I know how that feels.”

“Maybe you should go to his place tonight and keep him company,” I say.

She makes a horrified and slightly pissed off face.

“I didn’t mean like that.Jesus. I meant as moral support. Encouragement. You could hold the camera while he makes some content. Tell him he looks smart or something.”Give him a nice long hug. He loves those.

“I can’t tonight. We’re having dinner for my mom’s birthday, but good idea. You do that, and hopefully by tomorrow we’ll have some subscribers, and he’ll be in a better mood.”

“I can’t tonight either,” I say quickly, the epic backfire blasting my face and turning it red hot.

“Why?”

“The gym and I’ve got…I’ve got…”

“Nothing to do. Go help Mal. We need this to work, Ryan. I’mnot losing to Piper for fuck’s sake. If you make me lose to that bitch, I will never forgive you.”

“What happened with Piper?”

“Have you not seen the comments she’s leaving on the videos?”

I haven’t. I’ve had to stop reading the comments. There are too many to keep up. I shake my head.

“Well, she’s leaving them, and she’s stitching some of the videos, too. She’s doing this get ready with me bullshit while she basically contradicts everything you guys are saying.”

“She’s what?” That’ssabotage.“Why would she do that?”

“Because we have a winning plan, and they probably don’t. Or she’s just a bitch.”

“I will tear her apart,” I say under my breath, my anger with Mal easily redirecting itself.

“Good. You should. If I had the looks, believe me, I’d be doing it myself, but?—”

“Hold up—Piper’s a Barbie doll. You’re far more interesting to look at, and if you wanna play her stupid get ready with me game, you should, because fuck her.”

Bailey’s silence surprises me, but her stunned look has me rethinking what I just said and wondering if I owe her an apology. “My makeup routine consists of putting on moisturizer and combing my eyebrows,” she says.

“And you look great,” I tell her.

She frowns.

“What?” I ask, not understanding.

“I mean…” she touches the corner of her eye. “I guess I could learn to do more…”

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