36. JOSH
JOSH
It had been a week. Everything had gone to shit. My apartment was a reminder of April. Her toothbrush was still next to mine. There was an extra pair of sneakers in the closet. This fucking sucked.
She had been avoiding me at work and the guys had noticed something was off. I hadn’t told them everything, just that we had a fight and were cooling off. I thought they would have come at me for it but they didn’t.
Tonight was the team gala and fundraiser for children.
I had planned on coming with April, but that wasn’t an option.
I almost wanted to skip it, but it was a big cause and there were management, owners, and celebrities expected to be there.
The coach would bench me if I missed it.
So, I put on my classic black tux and did my job.
I had gotten there later than most and made my way around the room as politely as I could.
My eyes were constantly searching for April.
My breath hitched upon spotting her, talking with a group of people across the room.
Her red hair was curled. Her makeup was brighter than I’d ever seen, and her floor-length red-velvet dress clung to every one of her curves.
She looked like a living image of Jessica Rabbit. Gorgeous.
My dick felt tight enough across the zipper of my dress pants that maybe Jake and Kev were right and they were too fitted.
The urge to stalk up to her died the second I watched Moose with his big brawny arms swoop in behind her and guide her farther into the open ballroom of the hotel.
She flashed a smile to him that was both genuine and beautiful.
Jealousy tore through me worse than when I lost MVP to Kev.
What the fuck was he doing touching her?
Before I could stop myself, I darted across the room and came up beside her. I gripped her elbow, pulling her towards the dance floor, ignoring the shock across Moose’s big, fat face.
“What are you doing?” she whispered through clenched teeth, as if she was trying not to cause any commotion.
“Me? What the hell are you doing?” I asked, guiding her in front of me and locking our arms.
She turned her head to the side, ignoring me, as she refused to look at me. Harsh and not not warranted after my stunt. “Why are you here with Moose?”
Without missing a beat or looking at me, she simply stated, “He asked.”
My lips pursed together, mostly to keep in the string of profanities threatening to unleash the minute it opened. Instead, we moved back and forth, left and right, to the music. It dawned on me, she knew how to waltz.
I twirled her on the floor and as she came back to me, our eyes locked. I felt my knees weaken under her angry stare. “Why are you doing this?”
“Dancing?” she huffed as if that was obvious. “Because I wanted to and to say, you’re stunning.”
“Do not try to be charming now. I’ve seen the real side of you already.”
Damn, she was hot when she was pissed off. “Are you with Moose?”
“You don’t get to ask me that.”
She was right and yet, I didn’t care. “Just answer.”
“No.”
My face scrunched in confusion. “You’re not answering? Or you’re not with him?” She glared at me. “April, look.”
She stopped mid-step. Her icy glare turned right to me.
“No. I will not. You ended things for whatever freaking reason you came up with. Not me. You made your choice and it was as clear as a goddamn window. The one thing I should be thankful for, was that you showed me how I should and shouldn’t be treated. ”
She yanked her arm away from me, stomping on my toe in the process, and stormed off, out of the ballroom. Moose glared at me and shook his head before chasing after her. I stood like a chump in the middle of the floor, having a dozen sets of eyes staring at me. Fan-freaking-tastic.
Stalking back over to my table, I plopped my ass firmly into the seat, nearly tipping the chair backwards. My eyes were locked on April and Moose, standing across at the bar. My insides recoiled when his hand dipped to her lower back as he leaned in to presumably ask her what she wanted.
“Chardonnay.” I realized I’d mumbled out loud to myself, knowing that would be what she ordered.
With furrowed brows, I watched as Moose leaned over, listing their items to the server.
Then watched as they idly chatted, I scrutinized their body language.
He was leaning in, she maintained a professional distance, but they appeared a little too friendly for my liking.
Just then, the server handed him a glass of perfectly poured ale and her a glass of white wine.
Moose tapped their glasses together as they each took a swig.
It was then that April’s eyes swept around the room and landed on mine.
It felt like my breath caught in my throat.
It lasted for a split second before she purposely glanced away from me.
It was clear from here; she was annoyed with me, and I fucking hated it.
I hated the feeling that was consuming me, watching her with him.
Friends, colleagues, or whatever. And for fuck’s sake, it had better not be a date. I’d kill him.
For what? My inner self chided. For picking up on what you so casually tossed away? It was a mutual agreement! I heard myself argue. To no one but me.
I slid my chair backwards to get up to go over. And do what? My own psyche got to me. You ended things. Fine, ended was maybe not correct. I merely mentioned the timing of our deal and then she ended things. Semantics. My inner self chided. You knew what you were doing. Especially the timing of it.
I have completely lost my mind, I realized, as I had an entire inner dialogue with myself, and lost.
Before my thoughts could tear me down further, I felt a hand on my arm, gently pushing me back down, not even realizing I had started to stand.
My gaze tore away from April, down to my right arm to see it was Millie.
She was gorgeous in her dazzling charcoal cocktail dress.
Her hair was down, and she had Jake watching her from across the table chatting with Kev and Milos.
He shot me a brief glance as if to say, I tried to stop her.
“So, you’re a dumbass,” she stated.
“Wow, just like that, huh?” I shook my head. “Not even a hi first.”
“My bad.” She smiled brightly. “Hi. You look like you’re about to take down a bear.”
“More like a Moose,” I grumbled, grabbing my glass and taking a swig.
“Ah, then my previous statement is correct.”
“Huh?” I answered absently as I watched Moose guide April over to a table with some important looking people. He beamed as he introduced April, and I wanted nothing more than to walk over and plant myself firmly between them.
“You’re a dumbass,” she stated firmly, following my stare.
Millie had been known to cut through the bullshit and call you out on whatever it was you had done.
It was uniquely part of her charm and so far, she hadn’t been wrong.
Not even when Carlos got himself into hot water with his wife.
Millie was the one to catch it and tell him off, then made him fix it.
What she did for them, probably saved them from divorce and years of therapy, in one harsh but true moment.
I knew enough that if she was coming for me, I deserved it.
“So, tell me why it is you’re stewing over here, instead of over there, clinging to April like you want to be the one to introduce her to people.”
That was a good fucking question. I blew out a long breath. “Because I am a dumbass,” I responded flatly.
Millie chuckled. “Are you going to do anything about it?”
My head turned to her. “Nope.”
She patted my leg. “At least we agree on something.”
“What?” I was thoroughly confused. “Aren’t you supposed to tell me I am supposed to go after her or something?”
Millie shrugged. “Is that what you want? Permission?”
I stilled for a moment. My back going up. “No.”
“Then, what is it you want?”
Direct, and yet, it had so many questions that followed. What did I want? What if I went over and threw her over my shoulder, claiming her for everyone to see, would she want that? She walked away easily enough. Maybe it was just a situationship and nothing more.
“She is amazing and she seems to be having a good time.”
“She does,” I conceded. Because I couldn’t take my eyes off her, I was watching firsthand their inside-bond.
They way they laughed or both quirked their brows at something one of the suits said.
And yet, every few minutes, she glanced at me.
Each time my breath would still. Until the last time, when she gave a small smile and wave.
My chest instantly inflated, I felt lighter, only to see it wasn’t me she was waving at. It was Millie. Fuck.
Millie cleared her throat, making me turn my attention to her.
She stepped next to me and narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t be a dumbass anymore.” She lingered for an extra moment.
“And also, don’t do or say anything you can’t take back.
” She paused and leaned down so she could whisper.
“Let me leave you with a question, I don’t want it answered right away. ”
“Okay.” I hesitated.
“What is your endgame with her?” And with that, she stepped away and headed towards Jake, leaving me speechless. What had that even meant?