Page 116 of Devious Love

Stopped at a traffic light,I drum my fingers over the steering wheel. On days like this, I’m so fucking thankful for air conditioning. I ride my Harley as much as I can, but I have to carry around too much gear when I’m coaching, so I drive my Escalade to and from practice.

It’s a toss-up which I like better, motorcycles or cars. In the end, what I really love is the speed and freedom each one provides.

My phone dings, and a notification banner pops up on my infotainment system. I tap it and listen as the robotic voice reads Matt’s text.

Matt:

Dinner tonight at 6. You remember, right?

Fuck. I forgot.

With a shake of my head, I hit the appropriate button on my steering wheel and dictate a response.

Me:

Of course. How should I dress?

Matt:

Is your “don’t be an asshole” costume still hanging in your closet?

Me:

For you? Always

Matt:

Thanks. Luna and I really appreciate it

I rough a hand over my face. I really can’t wrap my mind around the fact that my best friend, my fucking stepbrother, is getting married in a few weeks. The kicker? His fiancée is his former colleague, the woman whose Tinder profile he swiped right on four years ago. Though he apologized to her at first, denying his feelings and trying to play it off, in the end, he was crazy about her, swore he’d do anything to be with her.

It’s like a punch to the gut every time they tell the story. It only makes me think about how Ididn’tgo after my dream girl.

Matt? He’s not a coward like me. He wasn’t fucking around with the no-fraternization policy at the firm. He up and quit so they could be together. He got hired as in-house counsel for afancy IT start-up, and in a matter of months, Luna had moved in. Now, they’re getting married.

Luna is great. She’s witty, and she’ll never pass up the chance to put an asshole in their place—especially me.

I can’t say I’m always pleasant around them, but it’s hard when they’re so disgustingly in love. Matt says sarcasm and insults are my love language. It’s not even remotely true, but there’s no sense in arguing.

Love, relationships, marriage…none of it is in the cards for me.

Because I destroyed any chance I had with the only girl Iwantto marry. Mia doesn’t even come home to visit. She’s built a life in Milan without a single look back. I’m bitter because being forgotten so easily is exactly what I deserve.

Pushing her away was the biggest mistake of my fucking life. At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. It wasn’t until months later that I realized how wrong it was. By then, it was too late.

But whatever.

I tap the brake and pull into the parking lot of the coffee shop. I need another dose of caffeine if I’m going to make it through family dinner. If I could get out of it, I would. I have no doubt it’ll turn into another wedding planning session. For weeks, it’s all Matt has talked about. My brain is quietly rotting.

Miles and I wanted to throw a bachelor party for Matt.ThatI’d be interested in planning. But he has other plans, though he hasn’t shared them with us yet. Whatever they are, I’m in, even if I do bitch about it. I’ll do anything for my best friends. Matt and Miles are my family. They stuck with me when my life was falling apart, when I was an insufferable jerk. They stood by me, and I’d do the same for them.

This coffee shop is halfway between the high school and the shop, so I stop in just about every day. And not only is it convenient, but the coffee is fucking amazing.

I place my order, and as Lily gets to work on it, we chat. Her little brother is on my team, so she’s always checking up on him. Coach McDermott and I are strict, sure, but the last thing we want is to destroy a kid’s confidence. So, even though we have high expectations, we’re not shy about recognizing all the things they’re doing right, and mentioning those things to Lily always brings a smile to her face.

When she’s finished, she places my cup on the counter. I thank her, and as I turn to leave, I catch sight of jet-black hair, and my feet stutter to a stop.

Am I hallucinating? Is this what sunstroke feels like?