Page 53 of Wrong Pucking Player

“I’m nothing like that!” Wyatt stresses.

“I’m not blind, Cyrus,” Oscar seems to dismiss his comment. “Just because you ain’t a photocopy, doesn’t mean you’re not influenced.”

“Meow!”

“Yes, yes. You want to go jump over to the other balcony to visit the plants,” Oscar grumbles to the kitty I’ve yet to put an image on. “I stick around Jayce simply out of loyalty. Nothing more.”

“Yet, you believe he’ll be loyal to you in return?” Wyatt mutters under his breath.

“No. I don’t,” Oscar quietly confesses. “I’m simply a golden retriever who’s far too used to his owner to leave. No matter if he’s abandoned for days, weeks, months, or treated questionably. I remain because my loyalty is strong enough to withstand what’s ahead of me, but I’d be but foolish to believe Jayce would ever do the same for me in return.”

His words make my heart ache for him.

Why be loyal to someone who will never have your back in return? I knew without a doubt that Mikayla would always have my back. She’d go to jail for me if it meant I was supported and protected.

Even if it was criminal to acknowledge.

“That’s a lonely friendship, Armani,” Wyatt whispers.

“Which is why I can’t wait for it to end.” I never would have thought he’d say those words. “The Heartbreaker Crew was meant to crash and burn, anyway. We’re only still friends because I’m still of use to Jayce. Once that runs out, he’ll cut me off just like he did Maddox, Damien, Ace, and Wolfgang.”

“You’re okay with that type of ending?”

“Not sure.” I can imagine him shrugging. “I’ll find out sooner or later. Gonna smoke. See if you can wake Andrews up. If we have to take her to the hospital, I can borrow Kane’s car.”

His words follow with the sound of a sliding door shutting, leaving the environment in a lull of silence.

I won’t reveal that I’m awake just yet. My mind is filled with their conversation and repeats itself again and again so I can absorb the key points.

Odd how it feels like I’ve learned more about Oscar this morning than I have my entire teenage years knowing him. It could be him being within a space he feels safe within or because he’s grown into a man and is no longer the boy I remember from years ago.

Either way, I’m grateful to him.

For taking care of my place, protecting my pride and shame of being poor, and respecting my autonomy and privacy enough not to tell Wyatt about my businesses.

I’ll have to return the favor somehow.

Deep down, I really hoped I’ll get the opportunity to do so.

I need to wake up.

WE’RE JUST FRIENDS…FOR NOW

~WYATT~

“Either stop playing around with your food or learn to share, Equipment Manager. Or someone else is going to take your favorite dessert before you get a spoonful of its delicate sweetness.”

Why can’t I get those words out of my head?

Oscar’s words are playing games in my mind, fucking with my emotions.

It’s a smart player move, but I know that’s not the reason why I’m anxious. It’s definitely not the reason why I couldn’t think straight since I saw him with Mackenzie.

With my girl.

The possessive part of me is driving me fucking insane. That nagging need to get right in his face and tell him that Alexandra Mackenzie Andrews is mine and mine only.

I honestly feel stupid realizing at that moment that things are far different from five years ago.

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