Undisputed by A.S. Teague Page A

breakfast of the day consists of half a dozen eggs and two grapefruits. Tripp’s idea of a good time while I’m in camp is to rub it in that he can eat whatever the fuck he wants. This morning, it’s sausage-gravy biscuits and about half a pig’s worth of bacon.
    Pissed off because I want his food, I tell him, “You’re fucking disgusting, you know that? No wonder you don’t have a girlfriend. How the hell can anyone stand to watch you eat?” I purposely ignore his question. I refuse to admit that I’m nervous about anything, not even to Tripp.
    Looking down at his plate, he mumbles, “How the fuck do you know I don’t have a girlfriend?”
    “Dude, you practically live here. And I haven’t seen you with a chick in months.”
    His lack of eye contact makes me pause.
    “Wait. You fuckin’ someone?” Racking my brain, I try to think of the last time he was here at night and realize he has been out a lot.
    Rolling his eyes, he huffs. “No. I don’t have a girlfriend. But remember that chick we met at Raw?”
    I smirk. “We met a lot of chicks. You’re gonna have to be a little more specific. Just tell me how big her tits were.”
    Throwing a strip of greasy bacon at me, he laughs. “You’re such a fucking prick. I’m not telling you about her rack. Her name was Aly.”
    When he pauses, waiting for the reminder to spring some kind of memory, I shake my head. I still have no clue who he’s talking about.
    He groans. “Remember, she didn’t like you? The only chick in existence to not like you?”
    I remember meeting a girl, but I’m pretty sure she did like me. “Oh, yeah! I do remember her!” I smile proudly only for it to morph into a frown. “She was a bitch though. What’s wrong with you, man?” I swing a fist at his shoulder. “You must be seriously hard up for some pussy.” I narrow my eyes and stare off into the distance while tapping my chin. “Wait, never mind. I remember now… She had fan-fucking-tastic tits.”
    This time, he slugs my arm. Laughing, I turn my attention back to now-cold eggs just in time to hear him crunch another piece of bacon.
    “Mmm,” he teases.
    I glower at him. He’s taunting me with food; I’m taunting him by being an ass. Such is our relationship. No sense in screwing with something that works.
    “She must give incredible head,” I push. “Is that why you’re going out with her? Mad blow job skills?”
    The humor in his eyes disappears, rage filling the emptiness.
    I throw my hands up in surrender. “Just kidding, man. I’m sure she’s great. I don’t remember much from that night anyway, so what the fuck do I know?”
    Tripp’s still glaring; I’m not getting off the hook that easily.
    “You fucking cocksucker. Sometimes, I don’t know why I’m still friends with you. You’re on your own today, man.” He shoves out of his chair and throws his napkin on his plate. “Good luck with that kid. Try not be a total ass.” As he storms through my apartment, he snatches his jacket off the back of the couch and then slams the front door on his way out.
    Nice fucking job, asshole.
    After a few minutes pass, I pull my phone out and type a quick apology.
    Me: T-Seriously, man, I didn’t know.
    His response is almost instant.
    Tripp: Of course you didn’t know. The only person you give a shit about is yourself. Why would you know anything about what’s going on with me?
    Feeling a rare stab of guilt, I stare at my screen, trying to figure out how to reply. I can’t tell him that he’s wrong—that I do care about him. That’ll make me sound like a fucking puss. But, if I don’t say anything, it’ll only justify the way he feels. Realizing there’s nothing I can do to make it up to Tripp right now, so I put the phone back in my pocket and make a mental note to call Reb. She’ll know how to handle this. Or at least his shoe size so I can buy him the new Burberrys he’s been eyeing as my apology.
    Drawing a deep breath in, I head inside my