The problem is thatIactually care, which shouldn’t be happening at all because I’m in a goddamn relationship.
Jensen must feel my stare because he turns his head, and his eyes flick up and lock on to mine, a smirk tipping up his lips. He squints his eyes, taunting me, teasing me.
I might be unreasonably jealous or maybe just territorial—after all, he’s still one of my oldest friends, and I care about himat the lowest level—but one thing’s for sure: he’ll never know how hot my blood is boiling right now.
“There you are!” Luca sings as the security guy lets me through. Luca grabs my shoulders and pulls me into him, wrapping his arms tightly around me. “I missed you.”
The backs of my eyes start burning, but I blink it away as fast as I can. Sometimes, you don’t realize how deprived of touch you truly are until someone gives you a hug likethis, like they’re a shield to the world around you.
That’s what my brother has always been for me, my protector, and for the first time tonight, I’m really glad I came out.
Luca pulls away, leaving one arm around my shoulders as he spins next to me and guides me forward. “Be nice, okay? I know you hate him right now, but he promised to play nice, so I need you to be nice too.”
I audibly groan and actively avoid Jensen’s gaze that’s still tracking me from the table Luca is dragging me toward. “Fine.”
For one night, I can try to behave … unless he pushes it too much. Then I make no promises.
“Thank you!” Luca sings.
“Hey, Lainey!” a girl’s voice, one that I recognize, calls out to me from her chair.
I glance over to find Morgan smiling up at me, Cam’s arm wrapped around her waist. I bring Luca to a halt.
“Oh my gosh! I didn’t know you were coming!”
“Hi!” God, seeing a familiar face that isn’t pumped full of testosterone is refreshing. “Yeah, I told my brother I would.”
Luca waves and smiles.
“Grab a drink with me later?” Morgan asks, and of course, I agree, nodding as Luca starts dragging me away.
“Yes, please! We’ll catch up!” I shout back to her.
She nods and smiles before turning her attention back to her table.
Luca drops his arm and plops down across the table in his seat, leaving me to sit next to Jensen and the wannabe blonde WAG at his side since the other two chairs are occupied by heaping piles of coats.
Do they really expect me to behave under these conditions?Absurd.
Forcefully keeping my gaze on Luca, I ignore the humans beside me, pretending they don’t even exist.
Apparently, Jensen doesn’t like that idea.
“Hey, Lain.” A wave of alcohol hits my nose as he leans toward me, invading my space. “You look nice.”
“I know,” I bite back, side-eyeing him.
His gaze is locked on my chest, which is far more exposed in this top than the typical scrubs I like to wear to work.
“Good,” he says smoothly. “As you should.”
“What can I get you to drink?” A bartender saves me from continuing the conversation.
“Just water for me, thanks,” I order, debating if a thousand shots might be better to help me relax.
Clearly, I’m already on edge from the encounter outside the bar. I shouldn’t drink; that’s only going to make this all worse—that’s what Cole has always said, and I don’t think he’s wrong. Even so, I’m not ready to commit to anything, so I stick to my water.
Luca chuckles. “Lainey, the fuck?” He turns to the worker. “Three shots of Patrón, please.”
