Sprint

Chapter eleven

"Are you ready to go?"

I look up from the international economics textbook I'm trying and failing to read to find Leroy watching me expectantly. "What?"

"We have to get going if we wanna be there on time," he continues patiently as if I'm a bit slow.

"Where is it you think we're going?" I've certainly not agreed to go anywhere with him.

"Davis' place... Were you not invited?"

I choke, and close the book so fast the table rattles. "Of course, I was invited," I say indignantly. "Why were you?"

Davis and Jen are hosting a barbecue tonight, and it's the first time the whole group will be gathered in a while. Apparently, with a mostly unwelcome addition that no one bothered to tell me about.

"Because they're my friends, too," Leroy says, sighing. He swings his keys around his finger impatiently.

Like hell they are. I grind my teeth together to avoid spewing a string of hatred toward Leroy; we might be back to mutually destructive aggravation, but even that has its limits.

Why would my friends do this? Again? When I told them Tuesday morning that Leroy and I had cleared the air and the whole 'unsafe' thing had been a misunderstanding, it wasn't an invitation for them to try to wheel him into the gang again.

It's probably Jen's fault; she's incapable of not taking in strays.

"There are so many things wrong with this," I say, gesturing towards Leroy. "Starting with you thinking you in any way belong in that company, to you for some reason concluding that we'll be driving over together."

I've watched him slowly worm his way in on the guys whenever he joins our medley practices, but part of me had hoped that was all it was: a professional coup. Now I have to reassess and revert to my initial interpretation the night he joined us at the bar: Leroy isn't just out for my spot on the team; he's implementing some master plan to infiltrate every good thing in my life and stealing it right out from under me.

Fucking hell, just when he couldn't get any more annoying.

"Mitch said your car was in the shop, and he was supposed to give you a ride, but since I was coming, there was no need. But if you prefer to walk." Leroy shrugs, turning to the door and snatching his jacket.

"Wait!" I call out, begrudgingly getting to my feet.

I'm gonna kill Mitch.

I don't like how familiar Leroy is with the way to Jen and Davis' house. I know he's been there before, but I'd hoped that had been a one-time thing. Apparently not.

We walk in at the same time, the last two to arrive, and Sophie and Davis meet us at the door.

"Jay, the rookies are here," Sophie hollers out back, where I presume her partner is standing ready at the grill.