Jared took a seat at the table.
“Do you want to deal in?” Hunter asked him.
“We’re playing Texas Hold’em,” Logan added. “We’re not placing bets.”
“Sure.” Jared was glad for the couple of afternoons he’d spent playing card and board games with Kyrone; otherwise, he wouldn’t have had a clue how to play Texas Hold’em. “I’ve got to warn you I’m not good at pub quizzes.”
“Nor is Hunter,” Dylan said dryly.
Hunter sneered at him as he collected the cards. “You’ll learn that Dylan likes to run his mouth off.” He shuffled them expertly, almost hypnotically.
“It’s because he’s making up for the fact that he’s lacking elsewhere,” Taylor said, smirking.
Hunter laughed as he dealt two cards to each of them and then placed three cards, face up, onto the centre of the table.
“I’ve got more downstairs than you,” Dylan retorted.
“You keep telling yourself that,” Taylor said.
The banter carried on as they took their turns. Although Jared didn’t feel he could join in, he was amused by their chatter. They’d played one round before Dylan nodded towards the door, which was behind Jared. “Jag and Michael are here. We’ll need to redraw.”
“We are going to have to when Kyrone gets back with drinks anyway,” Hunter said, raising his hand to wave at the men who had entered the pub.
Jared twisted around to see the two guys walking towards them. One was around the forty mark, with golden hair and a fit body. The other was probably around Jared’s age, with long dark hair that was tied back and shaved short at the sides. Like Dylan, he was slight but had a strong frame. He stopped in his tracks and stared at Jared with wide eyes as the blood drained from his face.
Jared frowned, wishing Kyrone was with him and not stuck at the bar buying drinks. He glanced around, but there was no denying that the man was staring straight at him. There was clear recognition in his eyes, which Jared could only wish he felt in return. He curled his hand around the back of his chair, as something about the look in the man’s eyes set him on edge.
“What’s wrong, Jag?” Dylan called. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He laughed, which didn’t seem entirely appropriate.
The older man, who had to be Michael, was holding Jag’s hand and whispering something into his ear. Jared watched as Jag slowly moved closer, clutching his partner tightly.
“Jared?” Jag asked, looking down at him.
“Yes…?” Jared wasn’t sure why he’d raised his voice as though asking a question. Kyrone had to have told his friends at the club his name during the time they’d been together. He’d certainly heard Kyrone mention Jag in friendly terms.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Jag hissed, the words more shocked than angry.
“Like what?” Jared’s head was spinning under the man’s scrutiny, making it hard to think straight, let alone come up with a more sensible answer.
“Like you don’t recognise me.”
Jared frowned. “Because I don’t. Should I?” He hoped his question would spur Jag into telling him how they’d known each other rather than piss the guy off. He wasn’t trying to be antagonistic, but he also had no clue how to handle the situation.
Jag’s face twisted in anger, and he took a step back. He was breathing hard, and his pupils shrunk to pinpricks. Did he look scared? Jared’s heart thundered in his chest. Why would anyone be scared ofhim?
“Is everything okay?” Kyrone asked as he returned to the table with a tray of drinks. He looked between Jag and Jared as he put the tray on the table and then put a hand on Jared’s shoulder. “What’s going on, Jag?”
“What…?” Jag shook his head, keeping his stare focused on Jared. “What the fuck are you doing here? How did you find me?” He glanced around. “Are you alone?”
Jared shook his head, not understanding. “I’m here with Kyrone.”
He laid his hand over Kyrone’s, seeking comfort and support from his boyfriend. He was confused, panic was starting to set in, and he didn’t know what to say. Why was Jag angry and upset with him?
Jag looked to Kyrone for the first time, but it was only a brief acknowledgement of his friend’s presence before he glared at Jared again. “Are you screwinghimto get tome?”
“What the hell?” Kyrone asked Jag. “Are you high on something?”
“Jag,” Michael said in a soft tone. “This probably isn’t the best place.” He smiled at Jared and Kyrone. “Let’s go somewhere else and talk so we can sort out this…misunderstanding.”
