Page 61 of Double or Nothing

Haven’t you hurt her enough?

Callum’s right. I have hurt her enough. I need to move on. I need to let her live the life she’s built without me in it. That’s what I made her do. I have no right trying to weasel my way back into it.

I scrub my hand over my face trying to erase the emotion the realization instills in me.

“Fuck it, let’s get a drink.”

We make our way down the strip, trying to find a place that isn’t too crowded. The sign for Neon Nights catches my eye, and I remember sneaking into that place as a kid. I nod my head in its direction, and Mac and I make our way there.

Walking inside, it’s pretty quiet, all things considered. The crowd is thin but just enough to give the place a buzz. The dance floor is full of gorgeous gyrating women, and the seats at the bar are filled—including the last person I ever expected to see here.

Kat.

There she is, occupying a seat at the bar, her friend Liz sitting next to her.

Kat.

There may be a plethora of beautiful women around, but my eyes have tunnel vision, and she’s the only thing I can see.

“Let’s go somewhere else,” Mac suggests.

Even though he’s the one that orchestrated this, he knows tonight isn’t a good night for me to see her. Any interaction we have is bound to be explosive. I know he’s right. I know we should leave and find somewhere else to get piss-ass drunk, so I can forget the woman I can’t take my eyes off. My feet, however, have a mind of their own. Without permission, they make their way in her direction, Mac hot on my heels.

“Hey, Liz,” I say when I approach the two ladies. Kat sits up straighter in her seat, her eyes wide as she stares at me. “Hey, Kitty Kat.”

“What… how…” she stutters, completely baffled by my presence. “Did you follow me?”

“How could I when I was busy waiting for you to meet me at the restaurant?” I cross my arms across my chest as I lock eyes with her.

Her cheeks flush a bright red, and she doesn’t know how to respond.

“Is there a reason you stood me up?”

“I had a better offer.”

Glancing in Liz’s direction, my eyes rove over her. I can already feel the heated stare from Mac, telling me to back off, or he’s going to kill me. Only this time, it’s not because of Kat. It’s his precious Liz. “Not bad, but I’m better. No offense, Liz.”

“None taken, rock star.” She gives me a quick hug, clearly not as angry with me as Kat still seems to be, then turns her attention to Mac. “Hey, Mac.”

I glance behind me where Mac is standing. My big, tough manager and bodyguard, rolled into one, looks like a nervous little kid as he stands before his high school crush. And he gives me shit about my feelings for Kat?

“Liz,” he says quietly.

The whole situation feels so familiar yet so awkward. The four of us spent so much time together as teenagers, but the last five years…

I scoot between Kat and Liz, copping a nonchalant feel of Kat, and lean over the bar.

“Four shots of tequila,” I say. “No, wait. Make that eight.”

“I am not staying here, let alone doing shots with you,” Kat states adamantly.

“More for me,” Liz cheers.

“Liz,” Kat scolds Liz.

She shrugs. “If he’s buying, I’m drinking.”

“You owe me,” I tell Kat as I extend one of the shots the bartender just poured.

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