Page 85 of Third Chances (Men of Manhattan 2)

"I'll just stay here too then," Mason said.

Matt stood up. "No way. Someone is coming with me. What is wrong with you guys? It's our last day here. Let's go crazy."

Mason laughed. "My crazy days are over. The only reason I agreed to go to dinner last night was to try and convince Layla to come back and be the spokesperson for Sword Body Wash. But she's made up her mind. Pestering her more won't do any good."

"Please?"

"I think I was plenty crazy last night," James said. "I'm going to pass on doing anything wild today." He picked up his book again.

"Besides, I don't think Alina's going to sleep with you," Mason said.

"Is that a challenge?" Matt asked.

Mason frowned. "No."

"Fine. Pool day it is. I'm going to go swim laps. You're all so lame."

"I will, however, join you for that." Mason and Matt both walked over to the pool.

I closed my eyes and rested the back of my head against the pool chair.

"What really happened last night?" James asked.

I kept my eyes closed. "Nothing."

"It couldn't have been nothing. You really liked her. I could tell. What changed your mind?"

"Really, it was nothing. I just didn't think she was worth pursuing."

"I don't really remember last night. Did I say something?"

I opened my eyes and leaned forward. "No. It wasn't anything you did. You're good."

"So just tell me what happened. Maybe I could help somehow? She really did seem nice. I think if you gave her another chance..."

"Just drop it, okay?"

"I just don't see why you would have changed your mind if..."

"Look, she completely lost it. I'm pretty sure she's crazy. I don't know what you said to her but she just kept talking about how you needed help. She doesn't even know you. She just assumed that you were an addict."

"So it was my fault."

"No it wasn't your fault."

"But she was right. I am an addict."

"You're not. You're good. You've been clean for years." I hated when he referred to himself like that. He used to be depressed. He used to have nothing to live for. Now he did. He had Penny. He wasn't an addict anymore.

"It's not something that goes away."

"But you're good now."

"Yeah. I am. Maybe she knew about my past though. Maybe she thinks I drop acid on the regular." He smiled.

I laughed.

"Wasn't it kind of nice of her to worry though?"

---