“Just… finishing up a call.”
He raises an eyebrow in doubt. He always knows when something’s bothering me, and honestly, that might be the most frustrating part about him.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just cousin stuff.” I wave it off, moving to sit down next to him, but I can still feel the tension building between us, like the room isn’t big enough to hold it all. “So, Serena and Tyler are actually going to meet us at the bar. They’re running late.”
“That’s cool.” he points his thumb over his shoulder towards the door. “ready?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
Jared stands up, grabbing his jacket off the back of the couch, and shrugs it on effortlessly. The casual confidence he exudes should be comforting, yet it reminds me of how unstable I feel tonight.
“Let’s go then.” He flashes me that grin again, the one that makes my heart skip a beat, even when I don’t want it to. “Unless you wanna stay and finish that call to avoid me. I don’t mind waiting for you.” He gives me a wink, sending me into overdrive.
I roll my eyes, ignoring the heat in my body. “Very funny. I’m not avoiding you. Just… don’t feel like getting into it.”
“Getting into what?” Jared’s tone stays light, but there’s something clever beneath it, like he’s fishing for more.
“Nothing, really,” I lie, pulling my jacket tighter around me, even though the room isn’t cold. “Just family stuff.”
“Alright,” he says finally, though I can tell he’s not convinced. “But just so you know, you suck at hiding when something’s bothering you.”
I shoot him a look. “I don’t suck.”
“You do,” he insists, stepping closer, his voice dropping a notch. “You get all fidgety and quiet, and you avoid looking at me, like right now.” His fingers caress my chin, tilting my head to look up at him, making my breath hitch in my throat. “You’re doing it again.”
“I’m not avoiding anything.” But the way I look down at the floor probably gives me away. Jared’s presence, his nearness, is making it harder to keep my walls up, and I hate that he sees through me so easily.
“You know you can talk to me, right?”
I glance up, his eyes are on mine, all that usual cockiness replaced by comprehension. I swallow hard, the proximity making it impossible to dodge the truth. But I can’t get into everything with Evelyn right now. I can’t even figure out what’s going on with us.
“I know,” I breathe, forcing a smile to change the mood. “But tonight’s supposed to be fun, right? Let’s not turn it into a therapy session.”
Jared watches me for longer, as if weighing whether to press me or back off. After a beat, he steps back, that stunning smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
“Fine. But I’m holding you to that. No deep conversations tonight, Castillo. Just drinks, dancing, and you trying to keep up with me.”
I let out a laugh, grateful for the shift in mood. “Oh, please. You’ll be the one struggling to keep up with me.”
“Challenge accepted.” He winks, and I feel that familiar spark between us, the one that always flares when we’re bantering. It’s easy with him until it’s not. I’m already in too deep.
Chapter 26
Jared
The bar’s packed tonight, music thumping, glasses clinking, and the smell of cheap beer in the air. It’s the usual weekend crowd, but something about being here with Alli feels different, like the vibe’s a little off-kilter in the best way. Or maybe it’s just me.
I lean against the bar, waiting for the bartender to take my order, while Alli stands beside me, close enough that her arm brushes mine every now and then. I try to play it cool, like I’m not completely aware of every small touch, every glance she throws my way when she thinks I’m not looking.
It’s been like this for a while, this push and pull. We pretend everything’s normal, like we haven’t already crossed a line, but the single push needed is always there, sizzling.
“What’s your drink tonight?” I turn to her, trying to keep the vibe going.
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. It’s tight, like she’s trying too hard. “Just a soda, thanks.”
“Soda? Come on, Alli, live a little.” I nudge her with my elbow, but she just shakes her head.
