Page 136 of Relationship Goals

“Gold,” I call, already shaking my head at myself.

He turns around, and his half-pleased, half-surprised expression tells me all I need to know: Even Gold, my closest friend on the team, doesn’t expect anything from me.

“I’m having people over,” I tell him.

“What?”

I grunt, annoyed already. “I’m having people over. Do you want to come?”

“Um, yeah, man. Sure. Who else is coming? When?”

“I haven’t asked anyone yet.” I pause, squinting at him. “Except you. And…I don’t know. When do you think?”

He stops walking, wiping his forehead with the white towel on his shoulder.

“Do you want me to tell some of the guys? We could do it Sunday. You can order some food in and I’ll do a beer run.” He winces. “Scratch that last part. I’m not touching alcohol again for a while.”

I glare at him, and he sighs.

“Look, man, I’m sorry. I don’t remember it, but I didn’t…I didn’t mean to tell her everything.”

“It’s fine.”

He tilts his head at me.

I grunt. “Don’t fucking make me say it.”

“It’s not fine,” Gold says, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I fucking forgive you, okay? Fuck.”

A huge grin stretches across his face, and disgust wars with annoyance as I realize Tristan Gold has fucking dimples. Asshole.

“You make that one word mean so many different things.” He shakes his head at me, laughing, then sobers. “And thank you. It means a lot, man.” His big hand claps me on the shoulder, and my tired legs nearly give out under his weight.

“Yeah.” I consider him for a moment. “I think I should apologize, too,” I say slowly.

He looks taken aback. “For what?”

“For being an asshole. I…” Shit. I’m not good at this. “I should have tried harder with the team, and with you. You’re a good guy.”

“Aw, c’mere,” Gold crows, pulling me into a bear hug.

“Get the fuck off me,” I growl.

When he doesn’t, I reluctantly pat his back.

“You smell like shit.” I can hear the grin in his voice.

“Then we have something in common,” I fire back at him.

He laughs, and it makes me smile, soothing some of that bone-deep hurt.

But not the place that cradles Abigail’s laugh like a lifeline.

I’m not sure anything will soothe that.

Chapter Forty

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