“Could we?”
“No.” Zach hated the lift in Scott’s question.
“Not if you’re not both interested.”
“Bad way to try and keep him in your life.” Scott’s voice had gone flat again.
What the…? Zach’s head swiveled toward his best friend, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Rae’s do the same.
“So neither of you wants to hear it.” She was on her feet again. “That’s fine. Honestly, I’m not sure there’s room for both your egos anyway.” She strode toward the parking lot.
“Rae, wait.” Scott’s plea hit her back.
She didn’t turn her head once on her journey from the table to her car, and seconds later, she was peeling out of the parking lot.
“Nice. Glad she still only sees her side of things.” Zach pulled his smokes from his pocket and bounced the pack on the table. The words hurt to say, but he needed to recognize the truth in them. It wasn’t like he had anything to do with her reaction. Which was why he wasn’t going to track her down and apologize. Much as every single inch of him hurt because he’d been the one to piss her off.
“You’re one to talk. You couldn’t even hear her out?” The venom was back in Scott’s voice. “You’re so fucking petty, you have to let personal issues come between you and a second chance?”
“There are no second chances.” Not with her and not with Cord. “You can’t do what we did and then try it again. We can’t afford it on our own, and the moment we let investors in the door, we set ourselves up for this to happen once more. She doesn’t know that. She doesn’t see it. She’s too busy trying to make everyone happy.”
“No.” Scott shook his head. “Not everyone. Besides, you know this is what she does, right? How she earns her living? If she thinks we can do it, do you really think spite is a good reason to ignore her?”
Zach was on his feet in an instant. He didn’t even know who he was pissed at anymore. “I think the fact it’s a bad idea is a good reason to ignore her. I’m cashing out. If you don’t want to do the same, don’t throw my future away with it.”
Scott stood, back stiff and shoulders back, so his full height was obvious. His hands clenched into fists. It was an imposing posture, except Zach had seen it too many times to back down. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Scott finally plucked a twenty from his wallet and tossed it on the table. “She’s right about one thing—there’s not enough room for both of us in anything new.”
And he was gone too, tearing out of the parking lot seconds after dropping into his SUV.
Zach rubbed his face. He didn’t care. It was better this way. The words didn’t devour him—not Scott’s and not Rae’s. Whatever they were clinging to, it wasn’t healthy. Which was why he needed to completely ignore any urge to do the same.
Chapter Thirteen
Zach snubbed another smoke out in his ashtray as his car coasted to a stop on the freeway off-ramp. He leaned his head against the headrest, half paying attention to the red light and waiting for it to change.
How did things get so messy? Obviously the stuff with DM and Kelly were the start, and it had all gone downhill since then. Rae showing up in his war room looking for her sister’s spare key was almost like a second catalyst. Not that he could blame her for the insider trading or shitty DM management.
He put the car into gear when the light changed and let his thoughts drift as he followed the road.
But Scott’s stubbornness—that had to be all her. Even though he’d always been like that. She was trying to drive a wedge between them.
He changed lanes and turned at empty intersections, enjoying the path of least resistance option for going nowhere.
Rae had even used Scott to back him into a confrontation in order to be heard.
Zach ignored the nagging voice whispering he would have done the same to get his own way and had on several occasions. There wasn't a comparison. What Rae was talking about was financial suicide. At least Kelly had had investment capital.
The last thing he needed was to rehash how everything having to do with Kelly was a bad idea. That always led to regret and comparisons with Rae and then the fantasies.
He licked his lips, suddenly realizing how dry his mouth was. He popped the glove compartment open. No gum. He pulled his car into the first parking lot he came to. The shopping center was almost deserted. A single shop was open, tucked away between two abandoned store fronts.