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For Gen, she would do anything.
Anything except call Scott back and ask to use his pool.
Sixteen
“DUDE, YOU STILL haven’t called her?” Scott couldn’t miss the condemnation in Finn’s voice.
He cringed. “I meant to, but then I tweaked my shoulder, and Lindsay had to send Dylan home, so I had to coordinate with Lauren, and I wanted to give her a few days to cool down, anyway...” He trailed off, noting Finn’s raised eyebrows and crossed arms and knowing his excuses were as empty as a backfield on a five-wide.
“Can you imagine what Kelly’d say to me if we had a fight and I didn’t call forsix days?”
Scott could, actually. Finn’s wife ran their home with an iron fist, which benefitted Finn, because otherwise he’d have already blown his contract money on fast cars, fancy suits, and expensive watches.
“But it’s different,” Scott insisted. “You’re married.”
Finn silence further implicated Scott, and he had the adolescent inclination to squirm under his best friend’s unwavering gaze. “You wanna marry this woman?”
Scott raked a hand through his hair. “Yeah, maybe. Someday.”
“Then you gotta start acting like it now. You know this life ain’t easy, and if you can’t hack it dating, then what makes you think you can get married?” Finn paused. “You of all people should know that.”
“Low blow, there, man.”
Finn jutted out his chin. “Harsh, maybe, but you know it’s true.”
He did.
“You think she’ll be angrier at what I said or at me blowing her off?”
“Does it matter? Either way, you’re gonna have to apologize.”
Scott shook his head. “All your marriage counseling must be paying off.”
“You spend long enough in therapy, you learn a few things, whether you want to or not.”
Eager to turn the topic away from himself, Scott perked up. “Kelly forgive you, yet?”
Finn waved a hand. “Long since. Don’t mean she trusts me, though. Away’s are gonna be rough this year. Takes time. But we both want it.”
“She’s good for you.”
“Your girl good for you?”
“I suppose she is,” Scott replied, accepting Finn’s unspoken rebuke for changing the subject.
“You got a few minutes right now. ‘S good a time to call as any.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m going, I’m going.” Scott snorted as he stepped into the hall, then girded himself and tapped Abby’s picture in his contacts.
“Hello?”
His breath caught at her voice. In that moment, he feared he might lose her, and it would be all his fault.
“Hey, Abby. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
Her words were clipped, short. Whether hurt or angry, he couldn’t tell.