Page 25 of More Than a Spark

“Oh damn, Milo is pissed off.” Chortling, Axel stood up across from Gabe and sipped a dark liquid from a low ball glass. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen angry Milo.”

Everyone at the table focused on me.

“Axel, shut it.” Remy pulled Axel back down into his chair and flicked a lock of brown hair off his forehead. “What happened, Milo?”

I glanced at the bar, where Archer still waited for me, my chest heaving. I shouldn’t take out Ryder’s leaving on Gabe. But what the fuck were they talking about in the bathroom? “Ryder left.”

A warm hand landed on my arm.

I turned.

“Guess you have an answer to your burning question from earlier today?” Cash hooked his arm around my shoulders and embraced me, then whispered in my ear, “Ryder couldn’t stand to watch you with Archer. What does that tell you?” He freed me, leaving his hands on my shoulders. “But he didn’t want to get in the way of your date.” He arched a brow.

I stared at him a second, my pulse racing. No…was I too stupid to see it? But Ryder was straight. We were best friends. “My life is a shitshow, isn’t it.”

“Welcome to the club.” Silas held up a lowball glass containing what appeared to be the same thing Axel was drinking, then smirked and sipped it.

* * *

The next day,I dragged my ass out of bed and ambled to my dresser, then found my pink sweats and slid them up my legs, covering my black lace underwear from last night. The outfit had been a bust. I hadn’t felt like hooking up with Archer and had blamed it on exhaustion. It was mostly true, and Archer had taken it well, considering the awkward shit that had gone down with Ryder leaving so suddenly. After unpacking the gear, I’d gone to bed without saying much to anyone. I’d been too confused.

Patting my curls down on the top of my head, I shuffled into the main room of the house. If Cash were up, maybe he’d make me some cinnamon toast. My heart warmed and my stomach grumbled.

As if on command, Cash stood at the kitchen counter in front of the toaster with a butter knife held high in his hand. “Good almost afternoon, sleepy head.”

Toast popped out of the toaster and Cash snagged it, then buttered it on a plate. “This is for you, by the way. If Silas had walked out first, it would be for me.” He sniggered and cocked his head as he sprinkled cinnamon sugar on the bread. “You know Silas only likes cold pizza for breakfast.”

I dropped into the chair at the head of our dinette, saying, “Thanks, Cash. You’re the best.” Propping my elbows on the table, I rubbed my forehead.

“I’ve got coffee made, too.” He poured two cups, added creamer, and brought it all to the table, then set it in front of me. “Want to talk?” He slid out the chair next to mine and sank in.

“I think I need to wake up a little first.” I sipped the coffee, then bit into my toast. I didn’t know what it was, but when Cash made it, it was perfection. As I chewed, my mind jumbled with images from last night, Archer pawing at me and Ryder leaving. He’d looked pained when he left. Had I hurt him? “Cash?”

“Yeah.” Cash twisted the handle on his cup toward him and picked it up.

I pressed my lips together. “What the hell happened last night?” I shifted my attention to him. “Gabe and Ryder talked in the bathroom and neither one wanted to tell me what it was about.”

“Because it was about you. Isn’t that obvious? If they were shooting the shit, they’d tell you.” Cash leaned in close and hooked a lock of hair around my ear. “Gabe’s not going to come between you and Ryder. You know him better than that.”

I snuck my upper lip between my teeth, ruminating. “Okay then do you think Ryder was confiding in Gabe? I mean, Ryder knows Gabe and I were close the last few years.”

“Yes, I think that’s exactly what happened.” Cash pushed my plate toward me. “You need to talk to Ryder yourself.”

Eating more toast, I nodded. “He said we needed to talk before he left.” I licked at some sugar on my fingers. Maybe Ryder had found something out about Archer that I needed to know, but hadn’t wanted to bring it up last night? “What do you think he wanted to talk about?”

“Why don’t you call him and ask?” Cash quirked the corners of his mouth. “We can sit here and wonder all day, but until you call and talk to him, you aren’t going to have your answer.” He sipped his coffee.

I slumped my shoulders. “Yeah, you’re right.” I ate more toast and slid my phone out of my pocket. Ryder would probably be up already, since he’d gone home so early. I opened my text app and ate the last of my toast.

Milo

Hey, you want to talk now? I’m up.

I watched the screen and drank my coffee, my pulse quickening. Something didn’t feel right between us. I’d actually gotten angry with RyderandGabe last night. This was not like me. “Is Gabe still in bed?” I cut my gaze to Cash, examining his nails.

“No, he went somewhere with Jeremy. Maybe to his parents’ house?” With a sigh, Cash rose up from his seat. “Time formycinnamon toast.”

My phone buzzed and my heart missed a beat.Ryder. I answered it. “Hello?”

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