Chapter 23

23

STERLING

I never made it to Daphne's. After seeing Fiona and her bitch squad, I'd gone back to the game, remembering suddenly all those reasons why I'd stayed away from Daphne for as long as I had.

Sitting at the bar with Eric and Jake to celebrate the team's win, I had to admit I was glad I hadn't gone to see her. This, right here, with the two of them after an Allisburg High victory? This felt right.

It was where I belonged, especially after having missed so many moments like this with them. Jake grinned as he raised his beer for a toast. "To our boys, and to us for making sure they got there."

Eric laughed. "Us? Last I checked, you only pop into practice once a month and Sterling has only ever been there once."

"Yeah, but my contribution was invaluable," I said, smirking at him. "Did you see Asher today? He kept his eyes up, gentlemen."

"I've been working on that with him for two years," Eric said incredulously, laughing as he shook his head. "But sure, take the credit."

"I will, thanks." I winked.

Jake's phone rang and he frowned as he picked up. "Hey, baby. What's up? Are you okay?"

Listening intently for a moment, he nodded and then got up as soon as he ended the call. With an apologetic smile, he drained his beer and inclined his head toward the door. "I've got to go, guys. Rachel's not feeling well, and at this point, we've been told to be ready for the baby to come anytime, so I'm not taking any chances."

"Of course," Eric said, his own brow furrowing with concern. "Keep us in the loop and let us know if you guys need anything."

"Good luck," I added after nodding my agreement with what our friend had said. "We'll see you later."

"See you later." He took off fast, dodging between bodies as he raced to the exit.

We watched him go until he disappeared. Eric sighed and took a long sip of his beer. "God, I hope they're ready for this. I mean, I know they are, but how ready can anyone ever really be?"

I shrugged. "They have each other. That's something, right?"

"Right," he said thoughtfully, glancing back at me. "How about you? Someone special waiting for you back in Manhattan?"

I scoffed. "Not hardly. You? Am I flying home for your wedding next?"

"Would you?" he shot back. "Come home for it, I mean. That was a pretty nasty stunt you pulled with Jake and Rachel's wedding. It took him a long time to forgive you."

I exhaled heavily. "To be honest, I don't think he really has. Anything I can do to make it up to them?"

"Just be there, man," he said simply. "Next time something big happens, be there. Even if you can't physically be in Allisburg, you do own a phone. At least give ‘em a call."

"With any luck, I'll still be here when the baby comes," I said. "Maybe spoiling her a little bit will help them realize that I didn't mean to upset anybody. I just couldn't get away."

"Couldn't or didn't want to?" he asked.

Before I could answer, movement caught my eye. When I looked and saw what had caused it, I groaned. Fiona and her posse of mean girls had arrived, and they were shooing people aside, forcing the crowd to part for them so they could pass without breaking rank.

Eric laughed at my side. "Some things really never change. I thought that was over."

"It is," I said. "So very, very over. Thank God."

He watched as they marched to our table like some kind of synchronized dance team even though they were just walking. On the other hand, they had been on the cheer squad together. They were a synchronized dance team—or at least, they had been.

"It doesn't look like Fiona got the memo," he said, barely restrained laughter in his voice. "The way they're making a beeline over here is pretty familiar, man. You sure it's really over?"

"Maybe it's not for me this time," I said hopefully. "You were a pretty hot commodity yourself back in the day. It's possible one of them has finally decided to take her shot."

He snorted. "I really fucking hope not. I don't like these girls at all. Never have."

"Yeah, I remember. Thanks."

As soon as they reached our table, it became clear that Fiona had, in fact, come here for me. Her green eyes were fixed on mine, and she hardly even looked at Eric as she sat down—right on my lap.

I frowned up at her. "What are you doing?"

"Welcoming you home, darling." She smiled, those red-painted lips curling. Her gaze skimmed across my face. "I was wondering if you'd be coming back for this. I'm glad you did."

Wrapping my hands around her hips, I lifted her off me and scooted to the side, glancing at her and shaking my head. "How's your husband, Fi?"

She giggled as she waved one of her hands dismissively. "Ex-husband, silly. We just got divorced last year."

Shit, and now she's here, and I'm here, and she's on the prowl. Not good.

Sliding closer to my side, she turned her torso to face mine and reached up to push a manicured hand through my hair. It brought back a slew of memories of her, always all over me even if I didn't lift a finger in return. "I hear you're based in Manhattan."

I nodded. "You heard right."

"I'm thinking of taking a job there," she murmured, leaning in to speak against the shell of my ear. "How would you feel about that, Sterlo?"

Oh, God. I hate that nickname.

I could practically hear Eric's internal laughter as he watched us, but despite her insistence on calling me something I'd told her a million times not to, I was suddenly wondering how I would feel about that.

Fiona and I had been a match of convenience back in high school, but maybe she was what I needed.

Someone who just barely tolerated me but loved riding my dick. Someone who would let me continue to live alone, in a stale, luxury apartment she would never be at even if she did move in. That way, at least if anything ever happened to her, I wouldn't end up all broken up about it like my dad.

But I would still have company.

I would have someone to share my lonely life and the empty apartment with. Someone to take to my bed when I was in the mood and to have on my arm for events. In as far as arm candy went, I wouldn't do much better than Fiona Marksmith.

Ten years later, her skin was still as smooth as porcelain. I was pretty sure she'd had some work done to her lips, but other than that, she was still hot. She grinned knowingly when she caught me looking at her, completely ignoring her own friends as they sat down and tried to engage Eric in conversation.

"What do you think, baby?" she purred. "Wouldn't it be nice to live in the same city again?"

My features remained stoic and I shrugged. "You should do what's best for you, Fi. If it's taking that job, then take it. But don't do it for me."

"What if I want to?" she asked, lifting an elegant hand again to toy with the hair at the nape of my neck. "You and I were good together, Sterlo. I know I hurt you and I regret it. Deeply. But we could try again. We could have the future we always planned."

I scoffed, my eyebrows shooting up. "We? The only thing we were, were kids. We dated when we were eighteen. Let's not turn it into some epic romance."

"It was an epic romance," she said softly, slowly swiping her tongue across her full red lips as she peered up at me from underneath black lashes that were very obviously fake. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I know that's where this is coming from, but Paxton and I had to give things a try. There was a spark. I couldn't ignore it."

As she said it, I thought back to my own spark. With Daphne. Can I ignore that?

Blissfully unaware of the direction my thoughts had taken, Fiona brought a hand to my thigh, wrapping her long fingers around it and inching up. Yeah, no. I'm not doing this.

Between her talking about a spark and the revulsion that skated down my spine when she touched me, I knew I needed to get out. The thought of Daphne jarred me into action and I pushed my chair back, standing up in an effort to get as far away from Fiona as I could.

I wanted to see Daphne. I needed to talk to her, even if what I'd said to her was unforgivable. I owed her an apology at the very least. She hadn't done anything wrong. I'd just been myself.

Grumpy. Cold. Empty.

As I stood up, Eric followed and I glanced at him, tossing some bills down on the table to pay for our drinks. "Hey, man. Weird question, but do you have a suit?"