“Sure.” Tex drank his beer and leaned in, narrowing his eyes. “Describe what happened when you both went for another round.”
With a shoulder shrug, I said, “Nothing much. He was a little flirtatious, but then he withdrew.” I hung my head. It had been so confusing. “He’s sort of hot and cold right now. He says he needs time to trust me again.”
“Yeah, I could see that.” Malik glanced toward the dance floor and tensed his mouth. “But he shouldn’t be leading you on and then getting cozy with another guy. Especially when he knows how you feel about him.”
“Howdoyou feel about him, Eli? Do you still love him?” Tex studied me.
“I…” Did I? I’d first seen him two weeks ago, but I’d spent little time with him. “I don’t know. I think I do, judging by how jealous I am right now.” I took a few gulps of beer. Yep, I was jealous. No doubt about it.
“You’re feeling insecure about him. You’re not sure where he stands.” Malik tsked. “Eli, I’ve never seen you unsure about anything. I don’t like it.”
“Me neither.” As my heart twisted, I forced myself to look at the dance floor. I needed to see firsthand what Wren was doing.
With an arm draped around Jasper’s neck, Wren swayed his hips in time with Jasper’s, a wide smile gracing his lips, throwing his head back in a laugh.
“Fuck.” I swallowed hard. I knew that posture. He was flirting with Jasper. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be back.” Striding through the crowd, I swiped my brow and hid my eyes from the dance floor as I passed. I didn’t own Wren, and we had no commitment to each other. But those facts didn’t make seeing him with someone else any easier.
EIGHT
WREN
“So, you have a boyfriend?” I swayed to the beat in time with Jasper. He’d been so supportive of me last year. Each time I’d had ankle problems, he’d been the one to wrap it for me.
Nodding, Jasper said, “Yes, he’ll be here soon. I met him at work.”
He was the happiest I’d ever seen him. “So, is he older than you?” I glanced toward the table where Eli and his friends stood. I had to take a breather from that situation, and Jasper had been the perfect excuse. Wait, where had Eli gone?
Stopping, I dropped my arm from Jasper’s neck and skimmed the bar area.
Eli, his back to me, was lumbering toward the restrooms.
“Hey, my boyfriend is here.” Jasper waved to a tall, dark-haired man, who strode toward us. “Hey, babe.” He hugged the man, and they kissed. “Cole, meet my old friend, Wren. We were on the gymnastics team last year.”
“Oh, nice to meet you.” Cole extended his hand, and I shook it.
“The pleasure is mine.” I chewed my lower lip, taking a quick sweep of the bar. “Listen, I should return to the people I came here with.”
“Sure, thanks for keeping Jasper company for me.” Cole gave me a warm grin and then turned his attention to Jasper.
“Don’t be a stranger, Wren,” Jasper called out as I hurried toward Malik and Tex.
With a wave behind me, I said, “I won’t.” As I approached the table, Malik gave me a stern look. “What happened to your friend there? Did he find someone he liked better?”
I halted and stared at him. What did he mean by that? “No, he was waiting for his boyfriend, and the boyfriend showed up.” I picked up my drink and sipped it. I wouldn’t waste it, although it was watered down.
Narrowing his eyes, Malik said, “So you’re just friends with that guy?”
“Yes.” I flicked my gaze from Malik to Tex and back again. What were they implying? “We were on the gymnastics team last year. Didn’t Eli tell you that?”
“He did.” Tex huffed and shifted his weight. “Eli thought maybe there was more between you, and I have to admit, it looked that way to me, too.”
“Wren, what are your intentions with Eli?” Furrowing his brows, Malik fixated on me.
“My intentions?” What the hell had Eli told them? This felt like an interrogation. “I’m trying to give him another chance.” I snuck a peek toward the restrooms. Where the hell was Eli? “Look, Eli’s the one who started this. He’s also the one who betrayed me in high school.” Fuck, was I really bringing that up again? But I had to defend myself.
“He’s doing his best to make up for it.” Malik lifted his chin, towering over me.
“I know he is.” Was he trying to intimidate me? I stepped back.
