Page 86 of End Game

“Fine. Then I’ll be your wingman,” he says, wincing like there’s a bitter taste in his mouth. “Although for the record, I am thoroughly against this plan.”

“Why? Am I not entitled to a night or two of good sex?”

“You are,” he concedes.

“So…”

Barrett shoves a giant piece of lasagna into his mouth and doesn’t answer me.

Chapter 25

Barrett

“I need help,” I announce to Tucker and Miles at breakfast. The rest of the guys haven’t joined us yet, still finishing their showers and eventually getting food. Miles has an early class, and Tuck is always one of the first guys showered and dressed after weights, so it’s not surprising that they’re the only ones ready to eat.

“With…?” Miles looks up from his bacon with a frown.

“Diana wants to get laid.”

“So sleep with her,” Tucker says, like it’s that easy.

I cut my eyes to him. “I don’t want to just sleep with her. I want—”

“You want more,” Miles finishes for me.

“Yeah.”

“Does she?”

I sigh. “Not with me.”

Playing back the conversation last night, I almost convinced myself she was dropping a hint when she mentioned finding a friend with benefits.

But I don’t want to sleep with her and discard her after. I don’t want to pretend I’m not absolutely in love with her. I care about her as a person and as a friend. I want an actual relationship with her, and as she reminded me last night, she’s not in the right headspace for that.

So I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place with no end in sight. Hence, asking my friends who are in stable, committed relationships how to fix this.

“You need to find someone else,” Tucker announces.

“I don’t want someone else. I want her.”

“Well, she doesn’t want you.”

I flinch.

“What are you going to do, mope around for two and a half years and hope she changes her mind?”

“Well, it worked for you,” I remind him.

Tucker’s laugh is bitter. “Yeah, I guess so. But I wouldn’t recommend it. Pining after someone who isn’t interested is the worst feeling in the world.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

Miles shakes his head. “I wouldn’t be so sure she doesn’t have feelings for you.”

“I am.”

“No, seriously. She’s always around,” he points out.