“Sorry,” he mumbles, pointing at his head. “I’m sick. My filter’s not working properly. I don’t think you’re a slut. Far from it.”
Jed snickers, giving him another kiss on the forehead before looking at me. “Intense,” he repeats. “Like emotionally, right?”
“Well, yeah. I mean…” My right shoulder hitches. “I’ve never slept with anyone but Atlas, and that was like three years ago. I’ve been on all these dates, and I’ve barely kissed any of the guys I’ve gone out with, and then I kiss Tyrell like twice and he’s going down on me after closing tonight!”
“He went down on you as well?” Nix’s glee at my exploits is starting to grate.
I grit my teeth and refuse to reply to her comments. I probably should be celebrating with her. That was one hell of an orgasm.
But I’m trying to process shit here!
“Hey.” Jed taps the counter, grabbing my attention.
I reluctantly look at him, but my insides settle the second I catch that sweet expression on his face.
“Girl, I get that this is scary for you. Moving on is a big deal.”
Nix calms down, nodding along with him. “He’s right. But when you think about it, it’s not that fast. I mean, you’ve been on all those double dates with him. You were probably flirting withhim more than the guy you were supposed to be with. You just didn’t realize it.”
My cheeks heat as I take another sip of tea.
She’s probably right.
Tyrell and I have had a blast on all those double dates. Except for the yoga one, although that was kind of funny, and then the last one when Tyrell got all shitty because he could see how well it was going.
Crap. I really hope Rhys doesn’t reach out and try to connect anymore. He was the last to text, and I haven’t started up another conversation with him. I don’t want to give him the wrong idea.
He’s a good guy, and he deserves a woman who is totally into him. Maybe it would have been easier for me to pursue something with him, but when we kissed it was just… lackluster.
And when I kiss Tyrell it… sets my body on fire.
And sleeping with him…
I close my eyes, tipping my head back until it hits the cupboard behind me.
Nix gives my arm a squeeze. “Hey, it’s okay. Tyrell’s a good guy. You should be celebrating this.”
“I know,” I whisper. “I guess I just… feel bad.”
“Why?” Jed’s voice is deep with obvious concern.
“Because…” I purse my lips to the side, fighting a sudden swelling in my throat. “Atlas isn’t my one and only anymore. And I’ve been talking for weeks…months… about moving on, and now it’s finally happening, and I… I don’t know how to feel about it.”
My eyes are still closed, but I hear the scraping of a stool and then two strong arms wrap around me. Jed pulls me to his chest, cradling my head against his shoulder.
Nix comes in from the other side, wrapping her little arms around me until I’m sandwiched between them.
“I’m hugging you in spirit,” Tobin calls from his perch on the other side of the counter. “And I know I didn’t know Atlas super well, but I do know that he loved you and he’d want you to be happy.”
Would he?
After the way we left things… our final conversation, all terse words and biting anger… I don’t know what he’d want for me.
But I can guarantee me falling for his best friend would be a really hard pill for him to swallow.
“At the end of the day, it’s up to you and what feels right.” Jed gives me a final squeeze before letting go and stepping back so he can look me in the eye. “But don’t regret tonight, okay? Whether it turns into something more, something permanent in your life, or just becomes a distant memory, don’t regret it. You had epic sex on the stage at Offside. That’s hot, girl.” He grins.
“It is pretty freaking hot,” Nix agrees. She hugs my waist one last time before jumping away from me with a spirited laugh.
