“Okay, then explain. I can’t wait to fucking hear this.” I turn my body, crossing my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes at him while I wait.

“First, I admit—I did omit the truth. I purposely didn’t tell you I would be attending this weekend, but it wasn’t for a malicious reason. I knew you wouldn’t come if you knew I would be here, and—”

“You’re fucking damn right I wouldn’t have come,” I reply, cutting him off.

“And,” he continues. “I knew this would be a great opportunity for you, so I left this tiny piece of information out. I wasn’t trying to trick you, Cash. I would never do that.”

“Because you’re so fucking noble,” I scoff, rolling my eyes.

“Cash, Jesus. You’re too stubborn for your own good. Anyone ever told you that?”

“Maybe once or twice.”

He rubs his forehead, and I can’t help but notice, once again, that his hand is missing a very important piece of jewelry. “Can’t we… I don’t know. Fuck. Be friends?”

“You want to be friends?” My eyebrow raises and my pulse pounds in my ears. I don’t know why I’m even entertaining this conversation, but there’s some part of me that just needs to hear what he has to say. See where he goes with this.

“Yes. We work together and have to see each other all the time. I really would like to be friends. There’s no reason it needs to be so tense all the time.”

My fingers run through my hair, messing it up further than it already is, as I think over what he’s asking.

“I wish you would’ve been honest with me. About being here, I mean.”

“Would you have come?”

I hold his gaze for a few seconds before being honest. “No, probably not.”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you.”

A dry laugh bubbles out of me. “Stone, that isn’t for you to decide. You don’t get to lie to me because you think it’s helping me do the right thing. That isn’t your place. I deserve to know the whole truth.”

“You’re right, Cash. And I’m sorry. I made a judgment call, and it was the wrong one.” He sounds so sincere, it almost knocks me off my ass.

“Whatever. Congrats on your fancy award.”

A smile tugs on his lips. “Thanks.”

“Is that your first time winning it?”

“Nah. I won it my second year here.”

“Well, aren’t you cool.” I laugh.

“As a matter of fact, I am. Thank you for noticing.”