“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Maybe you should have pulled your head out of your ass for five seconds and asked her about her own life. But now you’ll never get the chance.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?” I sounded composed but her words had completely disarmed me.
Hands pressed firmly against the table, Hailee stood slowly, the chair scraping against the tiles, the sound cutting me right to the bone. “Because, dear brother, you might have won the game but the only real loser here is you.” She walked to the door, glancing back at the last second. “And Jason?”
“Yeah?” I croaked.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from Felicity. She doesn’t need you back complicating her life anymore than it already is.”
Her warning hung between us, and I knew whatever progress we’d made in patching up our relationship had just been torn wide open again.
And I only had myself to blame.
“Hey,” Cam said as I entered the gym. We h
ad morning practice, and I’d been bracing myself for his tirade. So his greeting was unexpected to say the least.
“You’re still talking to me then? Because after the lecture Hailee gave me this morning, I wasn’t sure if I should wear body armor.”
“Come on, Jase,” he let out a heavy sigh, “you had to know it wouldn’t end well. You really hurt—”
“Yeah, yeah, save me the speech. I already heard it.” We moved over to the chest press and started adding weights.
“So what happens now?”
“Nothing happens. It’s done, we’re done. Felicity knew what she was getting into.”
“But—”
“There are no fucking buts,” I ground out, irritation swimming in my veins. “It’s done. Over. Did you know she applied to Penn?” My brow rose.
“Hailee mentioned it, but I didn’t, no. You think she did it because she knew you were going there?”
“I don’t know what the fuck to think, but she can’t go there.”
“Jase, you can’t tell someone where they can or can’t go to college, man. It’s her future and Hailee said something about her parents being alumni.”
“I don’t care if her parents are best friends with the Dean, she can’t go there.” I can’t have her there, everywhere I turn.
When I met Cam’s eyes again, he was scrutinizing me. “What?” I barked.
“What’s really going on with you?”
“Save the Dr Phil routine, I had enough of that from Asher.”
“You called?” he appeared out of nowhere.
“Great, now I have to listen to the two of you bitch.”
“Nope.” Ash held up his hands as I got situated on the bench. “No bitchin’ here. The way I see it, now you’ve cast Fee aside, she’s fair gam—”
“Don’t even fucking think about it.” My chest rumbled.
“About what?” He played dumb.
“Ash, don’t push him.”