Of course, Jace notices, and he actually fucking licks his lips as his eyes flare. Maybe now I understand a teeny tiny bit why all those girls are screaming and creaming for him every night. Because he isonright now, giving me every bit of his unwavering attention, and I can’t seem to look away.
At least until Tuck gives him a nudge, making us both drop out of this weird stare-off we have going on.
“I have to get the bottles downstairs, wait for me in my room?”
Maybe I shouldn’t feel relieved that Jace shakes his head.
“No, I still have to dance with my girls. I’ll find you when I’m done with my shower.” He gives Tuck a broad smile, one of his hands still lingering on Tuck’s neck, fingers caressing the stupid blond strands there.
They’re going to make very blonde babies together.
Well, figuratively then.
I huff at my own idiot thoughts, making them both glance my way again. Jace smirks at me–like he always does–as he lets Tuck go, and Tuck raises his brows in a silent question. A question that I do not want to hear, because I don’t think I have an answer.
I like Tuck, I really do, he’s a year younger than us–a sophomore–and he’s doing well on our team. He’s quiet, reliable, likes to goof around like the rest of us, and really is a good guy in general.
So why do I really, really want him to leave right now?
“Right, then I’ll just go,” he says like he’s hearing my thoughts, giving me an upnod in goodbye, and thank fuck my head corporates and gives him one in return. “See you two in a bit.”
He gives Jace a quick smile, grabs the crate, and hauls his ass downstairs. The music flares up when he opens the door, but when it's closed again, it gets quiet. Just me and Jace here.
Jace is still against the wall, smirking at me with that all-knowing gaze. I swallow thickly, the bundle of clothes still in my arms, and actually want to put this awkward encounter very, very far away.
So I got a little hard by watching two dudes kiss. Big fucking deal. I’ve gotten stiffies on weirder occasions–once actually while watching Frozen with Kaylee, still confused about that–so this is only a thing if I treat it like a thing. Which I’m not going to do.
“So, here’s some clothes” I finally start, stuffing the clothing in his hands, deflecting like a pro, ignoring the fact that he still looks at me likethat.“You can just use whatever product is in there, there’s a bunch of stuff with a lot of guys living together.”
“I want to use your shampoo,” he mutters, leaning into me as he slides his way past me in the now too crowded doorway. “You always smell so good.”
He actually sniffs my neck and sighs when I shiver.
“Maybe I should just use Tuck’s shampoo, hm?”
“Sure, bud… Tuck’s in there as well.”
“Does Tuck like to fuck?” He laughs at his own lame joke.
“I think you are the one who’s gonna find out, not me.”
“Maybe.” He pushes off the jamb, but wobbles dangerously. I quickly steady him by his upper arms.
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe I don’t feel so good.”
Ireallylook at him then, observing his unfocused gaze, his lazy smile, and the way he keeps swaying. Yeah, he’s wasted, no doubt about it. If the very distinctive smell of alcohol wasn’t indication enough, his slurred speech would be the second hint.
“Okay, buddy, let’s get you into the shower. That will help,” I suggest. I guide him into the shower, turn on the tap, and leave the door slightly ajar after helping him out of his clothes, giving him as much privacy as possible. Since he's so inebriated, I don't want him to fall and hurt himself, break a hip or anything like my grandma did a while back.
She’ll deny till her dying day that she had a few too many at her bridge club that night, but we all saw the empty gin bottles downstairs after we picked her up from the hospital. Granny and her friends sure know how to party it up.
It appears that Jace likes to party as much as she did. It takes him an eternity to finish in the shower. Finally, he emerges with just a towel around his hips.
“Didn’t I give you clothes?” I inquire, leaning against the wall with my arms crossed.
He chuckles briefly. “Too much work,” he mumbles.
