Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(28)

Like a lot of girls I went to high school with, she dated him for a while. Well, dated is a stretch.

She slept with him until he tired of her. It’s the MO of Hunter and his brothers.

“Buy you a shot?” he asks.

“I’m not sleeping with you,” she says.

“That ship sailed eight years ago, Lindsey. It’s just a fucking drink, not a marriage proposal.”

“I’m good. My friends are waiting.”

I peek over her shoulder. Erikka Cage, Jen Wilson, and Johnna O’Donnell are all watching us.

I’m pretty sure they were all part of the parade that escorted me out of town.

“Okay, maybe we can talk more later.”

“I’d like that.”

Paige sidles up to me. “Told you not everyone would loathe you.”

“Two,” I say. “Lindsey and Hunter. Everyone else is treating me like I have the plague.”

“Nicky!” someone calls. “Over here!”

Tate Emler and Andrew Tyner are waving me over.

“I’ll be right back,” I say to Paige. “Thanks for the shot, Hunter. See you later.”

He moves down the bar to Rebecca Jordan. “Buy you a shot?”

I shake my head as I cross the room, wondering if it’s Hunter’s goal to get as many of us drunk as possible. We all know he’s a toad, so getting us drunk would increase his chances. But toad or not, he’s being nice to me, and for that, I’m grateful.

Tate and Andrew were both on the football team with Jaxon. I’m fully prepared for them to spew words of disgust my way. But isn’t that what I signed up for when I agreed to come here?

“Damn, Nicky,” Tate says. “You look incredible.”

“The camera really does add ten pounds,” Andrew says. “But in your case, in all the right places.”

“Uh… thanks?”

Tate holds out his pool cue. “How about a game?”

I eye it, more memories flooding back. I haven’t played pool since Jaxon and I played on our second anniversary—right before things started to take a turn in our marriage.

Because of me.

Playing pool with Jaxon right outside isn’t exactly topping my list of fun activities. “That’s okay.

I’m just making the rounds.”

“Rumor has it you’re only in town for a few months,” Andrew says.

“The rumors are correct.”

“How about you go to dinner with me while you’re here? Next week?”

I narrow my eyes. Isn’t he still friends with Jaxon? “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

He motions to the door. When I glance over, Jaxon and Calista are walking through. “He won’t mind. He’s with Calista now.”

I have no intention of going on a date with Andrew, or anyone else, but I search my mind for a good excuse. “Still, isn’t there some kind of bro code that prevents you from dating a friend’s ex?”

“If you don’t want him to know, we won’t tell him.”

Because I need more secrets in my life. “I’m flattered, Andrew, but my job is pretty demanding.

I don’t have the energy for anything else.”

He sets the balls in the triangle. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

Shane Frommel joins us, scooting around me before leaning against the pool table. “Well, if it isn’t Nicky Forbes.”

I’m quite sure I’ve never heard my full name spoken more times than I have in the last ten minutes. “Hi, Shane.”

“Congrats on the weather girl thing.”

“I prefer broadcast meteorologist, if it’s all the same. Weather forecaster, weather reporter, or even just meteorologist will do.”

“It is the same, isn’t it?”

“Sure, Shane.”

“Hey, you want to catch a movie or something?”

“Uh, no, but thanks. It’s been nice seeing you guys. Paige is waiting for me.”

I head back toward the bar.

“Nicky Forbes,” a man says.

For Pete’s sake, what now? I look over. Tony Truman is approaching. He pulls me into his arms and starts dancing to the music, swaying me back and forth.

“Hey, Tony. Sure, I’ll dance with you.”

He laughs. “I heard you were in town. Didn’t think you’d show your face here, however. You’ve got some lady balls.”

“It hasn’t been that bad so far.”

“You mean you haven’t been attacked by the sharks in the corner?” He nods to the large booth under a television. In it sits a half dozen girls, all from the cheer squad, if I recall. All Calista’s friends. And they’re staring at me like I just told them Botox lost FDA approval.

“Haven’t had the pleasure.”

“Not to mention your ex staring a hole in the back of your head.”

Anxiety crawls up my spine. “Jaxon is watching us?” Tony swings me around. I search over his shoulder until I see Jaxon. The venom spewing from his eyes could kill a rhino. “Oh, jeez. He really does hate me.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s me he hates. For dancing with you. If the man had a gun, I fear I’d be bleeding out on the floor right now.”