Meet me tonight.
A prickle of unease races up my spine. I haven’t heard from my brother since that night at the hotel suite. I’d hoped they’d partied their asses off and gotten back home the next day with nothing more to show for their Vegas experience than a nasty hangover. But, no, he’s still here.
Which means he’s up to no good.
Although we were raised by our mother, our fathers couldn’t have been more different. Mine was attentive, always paid child support, showed up for every wrestling match, and bought me whatever I wanted. Drake was lucky to get a phone call on his birthday, and most years he didn’t. Because of that, I’d always look out for him. I’d lie and tell my dad I needed new shoes but buy them for Drake and take him shopping with my allowance. It wasn’t much, but it was all I could offer. I know Drake was resentful, and I often wonder if that’s why he made a play for Jessica. Yeah, I got the college education, but he got the girl.
“Mason! Pay attention!” Cameron’s growl of frustration calls me from my thoughts.
I lift my eyes to his, palm my phone, and sink back into my chair with a three-finger salute. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
“Baywatch.” Jonah leans into my line of sight, breaking my glare-off with Cam. “Quit with that shit.”
My shoulders lift a tad and I ignore Jonah. It’s not like I enjoy making Cam’s job difficult or that I have little respect for him after the way he fucked with Eve. Oh, who am I kidding? That’s exactly what it is. “Continue.” I nod toward the boss standing at the head of the table.
Hard as I try to stay focused, being in a room with Cameron and Eve isn’t my idea of a party. The sooner he stops talking, the sooner I can escape and go exhaust myself in the weight room rather than stare at Eve as she jots down notes while biting her lip in concentration. Fuckin’ A.
Cameron leans over the table, bracing his weight with two fists. “Thank you for your permission to continue my meeting.”
“Stop . . . please.” Eve’s whisper is low enough for only the few of us sitting up front to hear. Her eyes dart to mine and narrow in irritation.
Lame.
I smile wide and act like I’m listening. My foot taps anxiously; I’m so ready to get the hell out of here. A few fighters ask questions, but I remain zip-lipped. I already know everything I need to know. Cameron wants to set up a card with me vs Tanaphon Li, a Muay Thai badass who has been openly challenging me since my first televised fight with the UFL three months ago.
“. . . Caleb’s training in Europe for another two weeks, and until Blake is back, I want you with Wade and Rex,” Cameron’s words penetrate because they carry the tone of finality. “Train hard, boys.” He’s wrapping this shit up. Perfect.
He grabs a stack of papers and hands them to Eve, who shoves them into a folder. A soft expression on his face makes me want to punch a wall. The fighters trickle out one by one.
Rex grips the back of my neck. “Weight room in thirty.”
“Yeah.” I answer him, but don’t take my eyes off Eve, pinning her in place with my stare.
She must get it because, after the final fighter has left, it’s just the two of us. She slaps a folder down and glares at me. “What the fuck is your problem?”
A slow chuckle falls from my lips. “I’m surprised you’ve noticed I have a problem.”
“How can you say that? You’re one of my best friends.” Her eyebrows pinch together, and I’d do anything to erase the hurt I see in her expression.
Like she has the right to be hurt. “Was.”
“No, are. You are one of my best friends.”
My stomach churns, acid and guilt mixing in an I’m-an-asshole-induced nausea.
“I miss hanging out with you, Mase.”
I groan and drop my chin. Why does hearing her say that shoot straight to my gut? The truth is . . . “I miss that too.”
I hear the sound of her chair creaking and then shuffling feet. “Then why do you continue to do this?” She props her ass against the table next to me so that I’m eyeing her gray dress pants. “I’m trying to give Cameron a reason to like you, and you’re not helping.”
“I . . .” I shake my head. She asks a good question, one I can’t even answer. “I don’t know.” I shrug. “You’re happy.”
“I am.” The happy sigh that falls from her lips makes my fists clench. “I want you to be happy too, and if you keep taunting Cam, then things are never going to get better.”
She’s right. I’m a little bitch.
“Oh, I know! We should catch a movie sometime.”
“Are you crazy?” I glare up at her, meeting her wide blue eyes. “Cameron would shit himself if we went out alone.”
A soft smile curls her lips. “I didn’t mean alone. You, me, and Cameron.”
I flick a balled-up Post-It note across the table. “Fun.”