Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

Mitch

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Jasper Springs Pizza, but I was feeling like a damn asshole, and I guess the cheese blanketed the guilt enough.

“What’s your deal today? You look like someone stole the last cookie from the cookie jar,” Dawson nipped.

Cade sipped his drink before chiming in. “Dawson’s right. You seem more sullen than usual. Does this have anything to do with that guy from karaoke? Pete, was it?”

“Penn,” I said his name, feeling it echo in every part of my being.

Nolan tapped away on his phone, but I didn’t miss his glance.

I sighed, picking at my crust.

“I mean, kind of, yeah.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Weston asked cautiously.

I sighed, knowing it was best to just get it over with. Maybe then they’d let me eat my feelings in peace.

“He’s new. To, you know, guys.”

“Ah,” Dawson said. “So you’re worried he doesn’t really like you. ”

Penn had told me he did, but I guess old habits died hard.

“And you really like him,” Cade chimed.

I didn’t even have to answer them. Instead, I just groaned in defeat.

“Yeah, and on top of all of that, I said I love you. By accident.”

Dawson smirked. “So you really like him, then.”

“Yes, Dawson. I fucking love him okay, are you happy? Is that what you want me to say?” I snapped.

Cade sighed. “He didn’t say it back, obviously.”

I huffed in annoyance. “Obviously. But that’s probably because his dick was down my throat.”

Nolan laughed.

“What’s so funny Pencil-Pusher?”

Nolan set his phone down. “Nothing.”

“So let me get this straight, you’re worried you fucked shit up because you were honest about your feelings?” Weston asked seriously.

Well, when he put it that way...

“I mean, I don’t even know what I am to him, but?—”

“What is he to you?” Cade asked.

Everything.

My lack of response was probably telling enough.

“How did this become so fucking complicated?” I asked, running a hand over my face.

Dawson piped in, his tone serious. “Don’t tell me to fuck off, but I want your honest answer.”

I shot him a glare, and he continued.

“Did you give him a chance to talk about it?”

Dawson giving me relationship advice was the equivalent of hell freezing over. The man was notorious for his lack of commitment .

At least, he was until he met Nolan.

I’d replayed the moment over and over in my mind, but suddenly I saw it with startling clarity.

I’d avoided Penn because I was afraid he was going to clam up and avoid me because of what I’d said.

So I beat him to the punch.

I left before he could hurt me.

I didn’t give him a chance, because I couldn’t even give myself the chance to be vulnerable for once in my life.

I’d really fucked up.

“No,” I said, my shoulders sinking.

“When’s your next event?” Cade asked.

I looked at my phone, noting the Pride kickoff was our last event.

Tonight, that was my shot.

My chance to make things right.

To set the record straight.

Once and for all.