“Three?” the blonde next to Jensen protests, jutting out her bottom lip. “There’s four of us.”
“Then youthreecan enjoy them,” I chime in, feeling that chip on my shoulder sharper than before. Sometimes, it’s exhausting,always being on defense, but I don’t know any other way anymore.
“No,” Luca corrects me. “They are for the three best friends in the entire world, and I’m sorry, but that doesn’t include you.”
Apparently, Luca is just as fed up with the puck-bunny energy coming from her as I am.
“Fine,” she snaps, standing up from her seat. “I’ll go get my own then.”
“And I’m going to take a piss,” Luca announces, following her out of the bustling section.
The air thickens, and Jensen’s gaze strokes the side of my face like a physical touch.
Tearing my phone out of my pocket, whether from guilt for feeling jealousy for Jensen or from needing a distraction, I text Cole, asking him what he’s doing.
Jensen stretches his arm behind my chair, resting his other on the table as he leans forward, his face only a few inches from mine.
His warm breath caresses my cheek as he asks, “Who’re you texting?”
I huff. “My amaaaazing boyfriend.”
He sneers. “Oh, are you going to tell him how you were just jealous, all because of me?”
My head snaps his way, and I suck in a sharp breath, suddenly realizing how close we really are. My eyes fall to his lips of their own accord, but I quickly snap them back up to his intense gaze.
“I was not.”
He runs his tongue across his upper teeth before biting down on his bottom lip, his eyes dropping slowly to mine. “You sure about that?”
It takes more willpower than I’d like to admit to force my gaze toward my phone. I read Cole’s message.
Cole: I just checked your location. Are you really at a bar right now, Lainey?
I don’t know where the hell he’s getting the attitude from, but I certainly know where he can shove it. I answer him back immediately as his next few messages come.
Yeah. Is that a problem?
Cole: Who are you with?
Cole: New city, new you, huh?
My brother. He’s in town.
Cole: You’re at a bar with your brother? You really expect me to believe that?
What the actual hell is happening? Where is the accusatory tone coming from? I know how Cole communicates in messages and I can tell he’s being snippy.
I’ve never given him a chance or reason to doubt me. I’ve been nothing but loyal and dedicated to him every single day of our relationship.
Yeah, I do because it’s the truth. Why are you being such a dick right now?
Anxiety begins to eat me alive after I hit Send.
I’ve never called him out like that before, and honestly, I regret it immediately because I don’t want him to be mad. I hate fighting, and I hate confrontation, especially with him.
He’s loved me and stayed by my side since the assault. Maybe I overreacted or lashed out too soon because Jensen has mewound tight. I’m taking it out on Cole, which is totally not fair to him.Shit.
Cole takes a moment to respond so I lock my phone and stare straight ahead, hell-bent on truly ignoring Jensen from here on out.
