Page 22 of The Man I Once Hated

“So you’re still using that ten thousand limit, I take it?” I ask him, shaking my head slowly. “What a pussy.”

“I’d cool it with the name-calling, there,” Robert smirks at me. “We all know who the real pussy is at this table.”

His smile falters at the same time our table shakes and when I look at Ethan, it’s clear he’s kicked Robert in the shin. Zach wears the same look even though he’s trying to pretend he’s only interested in the green felt fluff balls at which he’s picking.

“Got something to say to me, old man?” I lean forward, glaring at Robert.

He’s the grandpa of our group at forty-one, and thinks he’s the funniest when mostly he’s just annoying as fuck. I notice him squirm a little under the heat of my confrontation, but it’s all a show. I’ve known him long enough to recognize when he’s about to rise to take the bait.

“We know about your little meeting with Daddy Dearest,” he says, not disappointing me.

I slap my cards down on the table, all focus on the game lost. “What about it?”

“Nothing,” Robert says with a shrug. “It’s just… don’t you think you’re a little old to need your Daddy signing off on your money?”

Zach stifles a laugh behind his hand, Ethan gives Robert a slow head shake and sighs heavily. He was most likely told to keep his mouth shut, but my good friend should’ve known better. Robert was never the type to ignore an opportunity to have a go at someone. Least of all me.

“That’s not what this is,” I reply in an even tone. The last thing I want is for any of them to think he’s gotten a rise out of me. “He just wanted to know about the hold I placed on funds for the theater.”

I leave out the part about my father laying into me about being irresponsible with my money, about how I’m never going to grow up. And how I then yelled at him for never letting me. For treating me like a kid and then complaining when I acted like one…

“That’s it?” Robert seems dubious. “He just wanted to clear things up? Not, maybe… get into it about all the other spending you’ve been doing?”

Just then, Cara walks in with drinks. Her sudden appearance catches me off guard even though I knew she was on shift. I guess having her walk in on something like this is what does it. We haven’t spoken since that day at the theater, if you don’t count the drunk voice note she sent me last night about how what happened between us was never going to happen again.

I don’t want her hearing them make a fool of me, make her think I can’t deal with my shit. Not after I worked so hard to give her a certain impression of me.

Zach finally decides to get in on the pie. “Why don’t you just tell him to quit treating you like a seven-year-old who doesn’t know how to handle his shit? You gotta stand up to him, Bear.”

“Well, first he’s going to have to stop acting like a child,” Robert cuts in before I can respond. “Then maybe Daddy Dearest will hear him out.”

Ethan gives me an apologetic look. I confided in him, the way I always do, and he fucked up by running his mouth with the others. That’s something new for him. Ever since he’s shackled up and settled down it’s like I don’t even know him anymore.

But worse than that realization, is seeing Cara’s face as she quietly, diligently goes about her business clearing glasses and setting down fresh drinks on the table. She’s wearing a smug smile, like she’s enjoying the show they’re putting on.

Well, we can’t have that, now can we?

“Have your fun,” I say to the childish laughter from Robert and Zach. “I may act like a big kid at times, but I’m all grown up where it counts.”

I lock my gaze on Cara and she glances at me, a deep flush coloring her cheeks. There it is. The only absolution I need tonight. Never happening again, my ass. She still wants me.

“Oh, shit.”

The alarm in Ethan’s voice is enough to get my attention and we all look over to him. He’s staring down at his phone, a deep frown furrowing his brow. Lips moving rapidly as he reads something in silence.

“Are you waiting for us to ask? Spit it out, for God’s sake,” Robert presses him.

Ethan looks up at me first, which is a dead giveaway about whose shit it was he just referred to. He makes a face and hands me his phone.

“Might be a good time for a press release,” he says, and then clears his throat.

I can feel their eyes on me, including Cara, who’s moved off to the side. I scan the tabloid headline and look over to where she’s got her phone out. Mouth dropped open, eyes voraciously darting across her screen. And when she looks up at me, I know we’ve just seen the same thing. Not that it would be hard to find - it’s breaking news everywhere, even trending on Twitter.

Wannabe actress fucks billionaire playboy for role.

11

Cara

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