Page 80 of Best Frenemies

“You did, didn’t you? Fuck me, they always fucking fall, fellas.”

“Don’t you need to head out, cuz? It’s almost five. Surely you want to avoid the dick-lynching.”

“I think someone’s avoiding,” Cap teases, and Thatch’s laugh is practically a bellow.

“Fluffing right, son. Mack is definitely avoiding.”

“Guys, leave him alone,” Kline chimes in. And I almost think he has my back, but then he adds, “Just make sure you invite us to the wedding, okay?”

Fucking hell.

All four men erupt into more laughter, and everything inside me sizzles. Maybe if I were further along in my pursuit of Katy, this razzing wouldn’t bother me so much, but I’ll be damned if I can even pin the woman down, let alone be talking about a wedding. I run a frustrated hand through my hair.

“How did this meeting go from investing to weddings?” I question on an incredulous laugh.

“Welcome to the insanity,” Wes answers with a knowing smile. “Shit always seems to go that way with this bunch. Just be happy you didn’t have to suffer through their book club.”

“Speaking of book club,” Cap voices and puts both of his elbows on the table. “I think we’re going to have to start up another one on behalf of me taking a dive into the published-author pool.” He smiles proudly. “I’m in the process of publishing a children’s book with Max Monroe.”

“What the fluff?” Thatch questions, and his face is surprisingly irritated.

“You know Max Monroe, don’t you?” Cap asks Thatch, his intention to piss him off unmistakable.

“Of course I fluffing know them. They wrote a book about me and Cass long before they wrote one about you, asshole.”

“Technically speaking, I was the first,” Kline chimes in, surprising me.

“What do you mean, you’re publishing a children’s book?” Thatch questions, barreling right over everyone else in the room.

“Just what it sounds like, dude. I’m speaking English,” Cap retorts.

“T, you’re awfully pissed over this. What’s the deal?” Kline asks, his eyes curious as he glances back and forth between the two men.

Thatch doesn’t hesitate to explain his anger. “Because no less than two weeks ago, I told this motherfluffer that I wanted to write a kids book with Philmore in it. Got the idea after I readAccidental Attachmentand went down a Brooke Baker rabbit hole and found out she has a service dog.”

“Who is Brooke Baker?” Even Wes is confused now, but he doesn’t get any explanation because Cap’s next response turns up the volume on Thatch’s anger.

“What can I say, T?” Cap shrugs. “You saying you wanted to write a kids book made me think that I should publish that book I wrote for Ruby—with a few enhancements, of course.”

“You’re such a dick, dude!”

“How am I a dick? I already wrote my book. Why wouldn’t I publish it?”

“So, uh, now is probably a good time to leave the room,” Kline whispers toward me while Thatch and Cap rise from the table in some sort of standoff. “These two will be at for a while.”

“I’m going to make sure my book gets published first, you fucker!” Thatch bellows.

“Ha! Challenge accepted, my man!” Cap cackles. “As you know mine is already written and has a release date scheduled!”

“What? When?”

“Like I’d tell you that!”

“Yeah, they’ll definitely be at it for a while,” Kline adds and nods toward the door. “Save yourself while you can.”

“What about you guys?” I question, glancing between him and Wes.

“We gotta referee,” he says through an audible sigh. “Make sure these two idiots don’t try to kill each other over fucking children’s books.”

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