Page 80 of The Dis-Graced
“Maybe something fell apart, but I promise you, it wasn’t always bad. You two were thick as thieves. You can’t fake that kind of bromance.”
“I wish I had known something was wrong,” I finally say. “I mean, I can understand why there’d be resentment, me coming from a wealthy family, and him…well, he had his struggles. I tried to make it as fair as I could growing up. Bought him a wardrobe, got him into my school even. I guess I told myself it was enough. It wasn’t.”
“I actually understand that. I didn’t have to ‘pull Remi up,’ exactly. She did that herself, but the disparity of wealth was something that hurt me. Never her, though.”
“I totally pulled Fiona out of the gutter.” Zevran chuckles.
“Yeah, out of the gutter and into a rundown slum,” Gabriel chimes in.
My brow furrows. “Excuse me? Isn’t that your wife you’re talking about?”
Zevran shakes his head, continuing to laugh as Gabriel reaches to pat him on the back.
“God, you guys really are assholes. Even if he is a backstabbing thief, Luke has buckets more decorum than you. Whatever analogy you’re trying to—”
“No, no, no, I don’t think you understand,” Gabriel says between fits of laughter. “Zevran literally housed Fiona in a condemned maintenance unit when they met.”
Zevran punches Gabriel in the shoulder. “You really do know how to make a guy sound like an asshole. It’s not like you didn’t cheat on your fiancé with your new wife, who just so happened to be an employee of yours.”
I rise from my seat, adjusting my blazer. “Zevran, I do believe it is your actions that make you an asshole. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you two jerks to leave.”
“Wait,” Zevran puts up a hand, a finger pointed at me. “If you would just let me explain, I think I can manage to change your opinion of us.”
“One of the world’s richest architects keeping his future wife in a slum and another prominent asshole cheating on his fiancé, oh, I think I’ve formed the right opinion.”
“Then let us give you more ammo,” Gabriel says. “I promise you, Drake, we’re hard not to fall in love with.”
Their cocky grins would normally set me off, but for some reason, I have a feeling there’s a lot more to them than arrogance and malice. They’re not all bad, Gabriel is known to volunteer at a children’s medical facility, and Zevran’s been working hard to establish affordable housing. It’s easy to sum it up to every rich asshole needing a charity to hide behind, but they’ve both seemed dedicated to their causes, going above and beyond. It’s entirely possible that although we may never be friends, we could have a relationship beyond mutual hatred.
I reclaim my seat, sit back, and sip my Scotch. They’ve earned my attention, but not my warmth.
“Carry on,” I say dismissively.
Their exuberance is addicting, and their friendship is genuine. Often, in crowds like mine, you have to be careful who you trust. It’s not as easy as going to a barbecue and meeting someone with similar interests. That would most certainly bite you in the ass. You have to befriend family friends, associates, and, sadly, people that have just as much to lose from a falling out as you do. My friendship with Luke was far from the norm, which is perhaps why I’m so deep in mourning. I thought what we had was real.
I was sorely mistaken.
After several drinks, a drunk dial to their friend Cassius, and confessions that are slumber party-worthy, it’s safe to say that whatever issues we’ve had are now water under the bridge. Gabriel, although a tech rival, is a good man, as is his friend. Their wives sound lovely, as do their ambitions.
“How about you?” Zevran asks. “You thinkin’ about settling down?”
“Me?” I sneer. “I’m more or less married to my work.”
“He’s married to ALAN!” Gabriel jests, and we all break out into laughter.
“Fiona came literally out of nowhere at a time I least expected it. God, I can’t imagine where I’d be now without her,” Zevran confesses.
“Yeah, Remi was quite a bait and switch from Sayo,” Gabriel says.
“Well, I’m happy for the two of you.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure you’re home free.” Zevran casts me a wink. “Love is in the air. Bit Cassius who is a complete horndog. Oh, and that Stryder guy.”
“You know, there was someone recently,” I confess. “I really thought she was the one.”
“What happened there?” Gabriel asks.
“Her name’s Grace, and she’s Luke’s sister. You may have seen an article linking us today. I’m pretty sure she was brought in as a decoy to help Luke get his hands on ALAN while I was distracted.”
