Page 61 of Kicks

“I had no bloody option, did I?” Scott replied. “No way was I going to let him see it bothered me. So, I did it.”

“Oh, Scott,” Eddie said. “What a piece of shit.”

Scott nodded. He pulled his hand free and took another slug of wine.

“I think we’d better have another bottle,” he said. “Fuck it, eh?”

Tyler caught the waiter’s eye and held up the bottle.

“Impressive,” Scott said with a sniff. “You should work in buying stuff.”

“Good idea. Are you okay? Really?”

“Yeah. I feel better telling you both.”

Eddie playfully shoved him. “Don’t stew about things again. I’ve told you about that before.”

Scott stuck his tongue out.

“Is he still here? I’d like a word,” Eddie asked.

He would do more than that, the way he was feeling at that moment.

“No, they went home yesterday,” Scott replied. “I knew you’d be angry, which is why I didn’t tell you until today. And before you ask, yes, I’ve deleted his number.”

“Probably for the best,” Eddie said.

He would quite happily give this wanker a piece of his mind. He found himself a bit annoyed that Scott had denied him that. Still, it was his situation. Eddie adding to it wouldn’t help anyone.

“Now let’s talk about something else,” Scott said. “Public emotion is so not my bag. How are things going in your bid to wipe out Brad?”

“More importantly, when are you seeing Billy again?” Tyler added.

Eddie scrubbed his face with his fingers. “I don’t know, guys. I’ve really fucked things up. Billy is amazing. Like really amazing.”

“And you’re worried about the contract?” Tyler asked.

Eddie nodded. “I don’t know what this is going to turn into with Billy. If anything at all. Regardless, I feel shit going into it with a secret.”

“It’s hardly a secret,” Scott said. “You said yourself, he didn’t even try to negotiate.”

“I know that. Even so, I didn’t put up much of a fight.”

“You weren’t to know you’d get caught up with him,” Tyler said.

Suddenly, inspiration hit him. “I know what I’ll do.”

“Steady,” Scott said. “What?”

“I’m going to work my arse off and annihilate Brad. Then I can offer Billy a five percent discount.”

“Boom,” Tyler said. “You’re the hero.”

Eddie shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t mean that. At least I’ll have righted the wrong.”

“That too.”

All he had to do was to sell like he’d never sold before.