Page 48 of The Right Garza

I twist so he can hear me. “There won’t be more fights?”

“Don’t think so,” he replies. “Also don’t care. Just came here to see Tripp.”

To be honest, I don’t care either. Tripp’s fight was a rush, but the need for sleep is pacing back and forth with crossed arms behind my eyes.

So, much to Maggie’s sulking disappointment, we leave the VIP area and begin squeezing through the crowd which seems to have gotten thicker.

It takes us a while, but we’re almost at the exit when someone starts shouting Trent’s name over the noise.

With me tucked protectively into his side, Trent stops and pivots to glance behind us.

The crowd parts, allowing passage for Tripp and a group of men. “Finally, you fucker!” he shouts with a grin as he moves in and hugs his big brother.

Trent releases me to hug him back. “Good fight,” he says, slapping his back. “It was definitely…something.”

“You should have told me you were coming,” Tripp says, pulling back. “I would’ve left free passes for you and got you front seats.”

“No worries. VIP was fi—”

He breaks off when Tripp scoops me up in ginormous hug, lifting off the ground and making me squeal. “Sexy Lexi. Are you the one I gotta thank for getting his grumpy ass here?”

“It’s the other way around, actually,” I say through a laugh as he sets me back on my feet. He’s all sweat and blood.

“Been meaning to come say hi to you,” he tells me. But between work and training…”

I wave him off. “It’s fine. I’ve been a boring old spinster these days, so you aren’t missing anything with me.”

He looks me up and down grins deviously. “Tor’s gonna punch a wall when he sees how much hotter you’ve gotten.”

I don’t get to complete a full eye-roll because a gasp is knocked out of me when I’m abruptly jerked to Trent’s side again. When I glance up at him with a disapproving scowl, he’s glaring at Tripp.

“Wait, Glades?” Tripp says, ignoring his brother’s glare and shifting his attention to Maggie. “Magnolia Glades?”

“In the flesh,” Maggie replies with a nervous wave, which pulls a frown from me. Why is she so coy all of a sudden, as if Tripp is some sort of a celebrity or something? We went to school together. He was a year below us and a complete hothead. What’s she all shy about?

“Damn girl,” he says, taking her hand and twirling her. “Been some years, but I like what I’m seeing.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Trent grumbles under his breath. He wants to get out of here. I can feel the irritation and impatience vibrating off him.

“Hey, we’re having a celebratory party at my place. You ladies should come.”

“No thanks,” Trent says without hesitation.

“No one’s inviting your moody ass,” Tripp shots back. “I saidladies. You grow a pussy overnight?”

“They’re not coming to your—”

“I’ll come!” Maggie jumps in, lit up with excitement.

Tripp takes her hand and kisses the back of it, like the gentleman he is sonot.

Maggie looks to me, her smile both eager and sheepish. “Oh, you don’t mind, do you, Lexi?”

“No, no, it’s fine.” I wave her off, then tell Tripp, “Next time, old friend. I’m too tired. Your brother all but dragged me here tonight.”

“Boo.” He sticks out his bottom lip. “Don’t hang out with this one too much if you wanna stay young, though, Lexi. He’s a fucking wet blanket.”

Trent ignores him and gets out his wallet. He withdraws two Benjamins and hands them to Maggie. “Cab fare in case this fucker doesn’t arrange a ride to get you home.”