“Bullshit,” Jamie yelled, he slammed his glass on the table and it slid forward, rocking precariously. “But fine. You want me to leave? I’ll leave!” Conversations stopped as people turned to look atus.
Shane wrapped an arm around Jamie’s shoulder, tugging him toward the exit, and Jamie let him. But before Shane could push the heavy wooden door open, Jamie turned back like he wanted to say one more thing. And of course the crowd chose that moment to part like the fucking Red Sea, leaving nothing but empty space between Jamie and Parker Hoffstraeder, his former bestfriend.
Parker stared at Jamie, his gray eyes stormy and completely bewildered. He ran a hand through his short, blond hair. “Jamie,I…”
For a second, I worried that Jamie was going to attack Parker, the anger on his face burned sohot, and I was stunned into immobility because that wasn’t the Jamie I knew. Jamie Burke was friendly, affable, and funny ashell.
Then again, maybe Molly and Matty’s anniversary was messing with hismind.
“Looks like you win again, Parker,” Jamie said bitterly. He glared at the folks nearby who’d stopped what they were doing to stare at him. “Enjoy the game.” He shouldered Shane out of the way and shoved the door open, escaping into the chillyafternoon.
Parker swallowed and shook his head like he was trying to shake off Jamie’s anger. He smiled hard at the people who’d likely be feasting on this drama for a week. “Who needs a refill before kickoff? There’s still a few minutesleft.”
His words were like a starting pistol, and suddenly everyone was in motion. Even Frank and Julian headed for the bar and the buffet table, respectively. Only Parker stoodmotionless.
“You alright?” I asked him, laying a hand on hisshoulder.
He didn’t look at me. “Of course.Fine.”
Right. Of course. “Parker, you’ve gotta stop letting him in here,” I said. “Or if you do let him in, don’t let him drink. You’re not doing him any favors when he ends up causing a ruckus and we have to bring him down to the station to sleep itoff.”
“I haven’t pressed charges,” Parker said staunchly. He stared at the door like he was hoping Jamie might reappear. “And Iwon’t.”
“But one of these days he’s gonna hurt someone, or maybehimself.”
“Nah. Jamie knows how to control himself. He’s pissed, but he’ll come around,” Parker said. He sounded like he was trying to convincehimself.
“I hope so.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “So, have you seen, uh… HenryLattimer?”
Parker’s face lightened. “Henry? Why? You need some building advice for that apartment over yourgarage?”
I sighed. Figured Parker had heard about the apartment. Some helpful resident had probably put together aWelcome Back to O’Learyfact sheet with all the important recent town happenings onit.
“Or maybe it’s notHenryyou’re looking for?” Parker continued. “I met Everett earlier when they came in. He’s a good-looking guy.” He clasped his hands behind his back and rocked on his feet, like a little kid with a secret. “Reallygoodlooking.”
Parker had no idea. He hadn’t seen Ev on his knees staring up at him, his cheeks flushed, his gorgeous green eyes hazed with need, and his lips kiss-swollen. And if I had any say, Parker neverwould.
Whoa. My stomach rolled.Where the hell had that comefrom?
I liked Ev a lot, yes. Averylot. But possessiveness implied commitment, and I wasn't sure I was thereyet.
Baby steps,I reminded myself. Tiny, infant, fetussteps.
“Yep. He’s good looking. And he’s afriend,” I said, ignoring Parker’s triumphant grin. “You know better than to listen togossip.”
Parker’s grin changed to something fonder. “Well, good, because I think the man could use a friend right now. Henry hopped himself over to the table where Diane and Marci were sitting, and you know how those three are when they get together. The gossip had to be flying fast enough to scare off any sane person. Last I saw, Ev was standing by the food table, stuffing hisface.”
I bumped Parker on the shoulder again and headed deeper into thebar.
My plan for the previous day had gone spectacularlywrong —I mean, as wrong as a surprise blow job could ever be. After the oral and the tears and the bizarre cluster of toxic plants and spookywind chimes, I’d hoped we’d have a chance to just hang out and find some level of normalcy last night. I’d gone over and rescued Ev's art supplies from his car earlier in the week, when Joe Cross had mentioned it was headed for the junkyard, and I'd hoped to surprise Ev with them last night. I’d wanted to convince him I was a decent guy who wouldn’t expect more than he was ready to give, and who would try to give him as much as I could inreturn.
I’d wanted to spend time with him, because something about the prickly, mistrustful, sensitive, gorgeous man justdid itfor me. That was the God’s honest truth. He was beautiful and fascinating and mercurial. I wanted him in my bed, and after yesterday I was no longer fooling myself into thinking that was all I wanted fromhim.
But of course fucking O’Leary had blocked me yet again, this time in the form of a couple of teenagers shopliftingcondoms and lubefrom Hardison’s Drug, because irony (like trees, festivals, and gossip) was something O’Leary had inabundance.
I’d dropped Ev off with a promise to call him when I was done, but by the time I’d finished explaining to Logan Simms that the benefits of safe sex didn’t quite outweigh the implications of petty larceny, it had been way too late to just show up atHenry’s.
I’d spent my night staring up at the ceiling – which I could safely report had exactly the same number of bumps and cracks as it had for the past two weeks – and wondered if it made me an asshole that I couldn’t help remembering every second of that blow job, up to the part with thetears.
