Page 91 of All In
“What the hell is your problem, man?”
He jerked around to glare back at me by the light of the lone streetlamp above us. “You really have to ask? No, wait. Me first. I’ve got a question I’ve wanted to ask forweeks.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “By all means.”
“What the fuck is going on with you and Kacey?”
“Nothing’s going on. We’re friends.”
“Oh yeah. Just friends.” His gaze flickered to the silver watch on my wrist. “Hey, you got the time, by any chance?”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah, I do.”
“I’ll bet you do. It’s a sweet watch, man.” Oscar’s eyes were challenging. “Where’d you get it? Let me guess. YourfriendKacey gave it to you.”
“You got something to say to me, Oscar, then go ahead and say it.”
Oscar shook his head, a short, disgusted laugh gusting out of him. “You know, I thought it was strange you kept flying back and forth to see her, but I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I told myself you were just friends too. And then I saw you today. Weallsaw you. Including your mother, I might add.”
“Saw what, exactly?”
“Don’t play stupid. Neither of you could stop looking at each other all fucking night.” Before I could reply, he took a step closer, dropped his voice. He had the look of a man itching for a fight. “Are you sleeping with her?”
My jaw clenched and I spat the words through gritted teeth. “None of your fucking business.”
“It is my business. Jonah was my best friend and Iknowhow you operate.”
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Why her, man? You canfuckany woman you want. And you do. So why Kacey?” His jaw worked and it seemed like he was trying to keep his fists from flying. “Why do you have to go after Jonah’s girl?”
I took a step back. “It’s not like that.”
“No? You trying to tell me this time, afteryearsof chasing after anything in a skirt, it’s nowdifferentwith her?Special?”
I fought to keep my voice even, while inside I was ready to combust. “What the hell is wrong with you? You spend one day with us, and you think you know the story?”
“I knowyourstory,” Oscar said. “I’ve heard it before. Holly. Rachel. Lana. Brandi… Shit, those are only the ones I can name. You got at least a hundred more in your phone. Different names, same fucking story. But not Kacey, man. She’s not like the rest. She’s not some chick you can bang and then never call again.”
The blood drained from my face. “I’m aware of that.”
“Are you?” He leaned close, his words hissing at me while his finger jabbed my chest. “Because it looks to me like it’s business as usual with you, only this time it’s your dead brother’s girlf—”
My hand shot out and gripped Oscar by the front of his shirt, and I yanked him to me until we were nose to nose. “Shut. The fuck. Up. You don’t knowshitabout it.”
“I know what I see.” Oscar tore away from me. “I know what you do with women, and I’m warning you, you can’t do that with Kacey.”
“Oh, you’re warning me?”
Kacey and Dena were on the front walk, and both stopped, staring. The air thickened so I could hardly breathe.
“What’s going on?” Dena asked.
“Nothing. Let’s go.” Oscar headed for their SUV. He opened the driver door and put one foot in.
“Bye, Oscar,” Kacey said in a small voice.
“It’s a really nice watch, Kace,” Oscar said in return, his eyes hard on me. “I hope you kept the receipt. Dena, let’sgo.”
