Page 57 of No Regrets

Ryan shrugged. “Don’t really have a choice. It is what it is. It will settle down. Reynolds is just making his mark. Have you heard anything from Kelly?”

Steve brought two more beers to the table. “You guys look way too serious.”

“Yeah, we’re kind of concerned about that jersey.” Dex aimed his beer bottle at Steve’s Boston Red Sox’s jersey.

Ryan laughed as Steve looked down at his shirt in mock horror.

“What’s wrong with it?”

Steve’s love of the Red Sox was well known and well-ribbed among the team as the rest of the team were die hard Padres fans.

“To love the Red Sox is one thing. To broadcast it, in San Diego, well, you’re just asking for trouble. Just warning you...” Dex smiled.

Giving him a friendly finger, Steve walked away. Dex took a swig of beer, turning back to Ryan.

“Yeah, we had coffee while you were gone.” He recapped the conversation. “And before you say it, yeah, I know I was a dick.”

“Please tell me you reached out and apologized, agreed to her terms?”

Dex focused on his beer bottle sheepishly.

“Jesus, Dex, you haven’t?” Ryan didn’t hide his frustration. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I was going to, but I didn’t know what to say. Shit, Ryan, I don’t want to make things worse, maybe a little space is better.”

Ryan shook his head in disbelief. “From the man who is never lost for words. How much worse can things get? She told you she wants to be friends, reached out. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard that was for her.”

Dex scrubbed his hands over his face. “I know. I fucked up. I was so convinced that we were about to get back on track, it took me by surprise. I will reach out.”

“Do it sooner rather than later. I love you man, but you got to understand that the message you’ve given that beautiful woman is that if she only wants to be friends, you're not interested. Not cool brother.”

Dex recoiled at his best friend’s words. Fuck, could Kelly really be thinking that? That was not what he thought at all.

“Alright, you've made your point. I will speak to her and make things right.”

Ryan said nothing, instead raising his beer to his lips.

“Kelly wasn’t what I wanted to talk about. I got something to tell the team, but I wanted you to know first.”

Ryan raised his eyebrows in question, waiting for him to continue.

“I’m leaving Alpha.”

Ryan slammed his bottle on the table.

“What the fuck? Because of the NJP? Reynolds? You don’t just quit. That’s not who we are. What kind of message does this send to the guys?” Ryan let him have it. Dex held up his hands trying to get Ryan to take a breath.

“It’s not like that. I’ve been offered an opportunity, and after a lot of consideration I've decided to take it.”

“You're not seriously considering going down the merc route?” Ryan glowered at him.

Dex threw him a get real look.

“What then?”

“You’ve heard of Sam Harrison, right?”

“Duh, yes.” Ryan rolled his eyes and Dex chuckled.

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