I huff out a breath, running a hand through my hair.
“I was a dick.”
He takes a sip of his beer, nods.
“Yep.”
I sigh.
“You gonna make me grovel, or is that enough?”
Jensen smirks, shaking his head.
“You’re lucky I know what you’re like. If I didn’t, I might hold a grudge. But …” he sets his drink down, turning toward me fully now, “… you really do need to let people in, Ford.”
I look away, watching Stormy as she talks animatedly to Will.
“What’s this all about, anyway?” Jensen asks, his voice softer now. “What did Stormy do?”
I scoff, shaking my head.
“Nothing. She didn’t do anything.”
“So, why’d you bite her head off?”
I let out a long breath, staring down at the bar, trying to decide if I should say anything or not. But, after a moment of consideration, I decide that Jensen is probably right; he’s my best friend, so I should let him in.
“I started to like her, Jensen. Like, actually like her.”
I run a hand over my face, trying to rub the thought out of my skull. “And then I realised she has a boyfriend, and I just … shut down. Snapped. Pushed her away before I could make more of a fool of myself.”
I glance over to where she’s sitting. “I felt so damn stupid, because I haven’t felt this way in years, Jens, you know I haven’t. And then I look at her, man. Look at her …” I nod toward her without meaning to. “How could I not fall for that? … But I got distracted. Let myself want something I shouldn’t. And …”
Jensen laughs, interrupting my spiral with a smug shake of his head.
“You absolute idiot, Ford. Stormy doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
I frown.
“What?”
“She told me,” Jensen replies, leaning back. “We’ve talked a few times. It came up. Kind of avoided the subject when I asked about her ex. though, but definitely no boyfriend.”
I stare at him, his words sinking in.
No boyfriend.
But then … that message on her phone.
I scrub a hand down my face, the realisation pressing in.
“Even so … I need to apologise to her. Properly. She didn’t deserve any of that.”
Jensen smiles at me, quiet now.
I’ve been standoffish, short-tempered, and yeah, a dick. But that’s not really me. Sure, I can seem that way, but it’s not the whole truth. Stormy’s done nothing wrong. She’s her usual bright, lovely self, and I snapped at her like a bitter old bastard. No excuse. I should make it up to her. Show her I’m not just this grumpy idiot who shuts people out the second things get complicated. She deserves better. Hell, I want to be better.
I glance up just as Stormy heads this way toward the restroom, weaving through the crowd. She walks past, smiles at Jensen, then glances at me—a brief, polite smile. I can tell she’s unsure how to act around me now. I nod back, barely, heart thudding harder than I’d like.
