Chapter Twenty-Four
Joel
I tossedand turned in bed but couldn’t sleep. Every single time I looked at the clock, it seemed like time was frozen. I was glad to be in my parents’ old bedroom because from here I couldn’t see the apartment opposite mine, although it seemed pointless to be in my bed if I couldn’t sleep while Max was on the small single bed in my childhood bedroom.
I kept running what had happened at the club through my mind like a film reel. If only I could grab a pair of scissors and edit out the parts that hurt and keep just the best ones.
Flirting with David had felt so damned right. We’d joked and teased each other on the dance floor. When I’d noticed something was happening between Max and Isaac, David had been beside me. I’d been surprised to see that David’s first reaction was to check in on Max and make sure he was okay.
When Max confirmed to me that Isaac was the same Isaac he met in New York last Christmas, my heart broke for him.
When we’d received the news of my parents’ car accident six months ago, we’d both been taken on a roller coaster of events we hadn’t been prepared for.
We’d both lost my parents, and were both grieving and trying to support each other. In those early days, he’d spent all his time at my apartment, and I’m ashamed to say I’d completely forgotten about the reason why Max had come to my place that day we received the news.
My best friend had looked like his heart was breaking, but he also seemed confused. My first thought was that I needed to get him out of the club. We could talk it through later.
I was surprised when David had asked Max if he wanted to go home before I’d had the chance. If I’d had any doubts about how much I loved David then, I definitely knew for sure the moment he put my friend first. That was until everything changed.
I’d seen the guy earlier before he’d approached us at the club, and should have guessed by how he was eyeing us on the dance floor that he knew David.
He was dressed in a pair of white jeans that looked like they were painted on and a white shirt that may as well not be there for all the skin I could see underneath. There was nothing real about the guy’s tan, which was odd in a country where you can sunbathe even on mild winter days.
The all-white combo didn’t do anything for me, and although it usually didn’t bother me, either, on this guy, it just made him look like an innocent predator. He’d accessorized with a paisley scarf that made his streaky blond-and-pink hair stand out.
His eyes, however, had been locked on David. My first thought was that he’d liked what he saw. I couldn’t disagree. David was stunning, and he was wearing an ensemble of jeans and shirt that for all its modesty and simplicity didn’t fail to show how fit he was.
I hadn’t cared if the guy was looking or not, David was with me, so he could look all he wanted, but when his gaze went from appreciative to defiant, I’d felt my hackles rise.
We’d gone to the dance floor to give Max and Isaac some space. I could see from David’s expression he had no idea what was going on, so I’d pulled him away before the situation became any more awkward.
When David had asked what was happening, I’d just said Max and Isaac had met in New York. I’d need to verify that Isaac really was Max’s Isaac, but I was pretty sure there was no need. Both guys were looking at each other like they either wanted to tear each other apart or tear each other’s clothes off, possibly both.
David and I had been swaying to the beat of the music, not putting all that much effort into the dancing, but the shift in white-outfit guy’s gaze had pulled me into action.
I’d put my hands on David to mark my territory and whispered in his ear. When he’d leaned further against me pressing his ass into my front, I’d all but forgotten white-outfit guy, Max and Isaac, or anything else but David.
The moment had been perfect, sexy flirting and a little bit of teasing grinding. As far as I was concerned, it was a prelude for another mind-blowing night together. I was about to kiss David when my eyes briefly landed on our table, and I’d seen Max and Isaac were no longer alone.
A tall, blond-haired guy had had his arm around Isaac. I hadn’t seen Max’s reaction, but it looked like Isaac hadn’t been particularly happy with the other man’s advances. It surprised me when Isaac suddenly left the table with the other guy.
We’d gone back to Max and had agreed to leave the club when white-outfit guy came over and sat down right next to David, too close to be a stranger as far as I was concerned.
“Well, if it isn’t the custard tart man extraordinaire.” The guy’s voice had grated on me and made the small hairs on my arms stand to attention. He definitely wasn’t good news.
I’d been surprised that David knew him, but from his reaction, it didn’t look like they were close friends. In fact, David seemed to flinch at the guy, Lucas,’ touch.
I’d expected David to put Lucas in his place and tell him to go or at least tell him we were going, but the conversation took on an unexpected turn when Lucas seemed to be seeking confirmation of David’s sexuality while also coming on to him as though Max and I weren’t there.
David saying he was there with friends but he wasn’t gay hurt, but it wasn’t unexpected. But then he’d lied about Max and me, and it was just too much.
If David had put his hand through my chest, ripped my heart out, and shredded it into pieces before stomping on them, it still wouldn’t have hurt half as much as hearing him say it was all a game and that Max and I were leaving. Together. Without him.
I’d pulled Max out of the club, nearly dragging him from his chair. I could only hope that my anger was masking my heartbreak. I wasn’t going to give Lucas the satisfaction of knowing exactly how I felt about David, especially after our earlier exchange from afar when we were on the dance floor.
I’d parked the car near the club, which made for a swift exit. I’d been trying to keep it together, but when the car key started playing up and refusing to turn to unlock the door, I just collapsed on my knees and broke down in tears.
Max quickly came round and held me in his arms. I’d let out long shuddering sobs while holding on to his shirt.
