“Because I don’t give a fig about a title?”
“Because you know David Carter will be there, as will Ada, and you don’t want to witness them together.”
Jonny snorted. “That has nothing to do with anything.”
It had everything to do with everything.
Jonny still couldn’t get over their kiss. He had gone home and thought about it all night.
Well, he had done more than just thought about it, if he was being honest, but then, Ada had been the woman he pictured when he pleasured himself for a long time now — at least since the night she had shot Blackwood.
In fact, he hadn’t been with another woman since then.
It was like every time he tried to approach someone different, her image filled his mind, and to be with another would feel like a betrayal.
It was inconceivable.
And yet, so it was.
“Just put in an appearance,” Rhys said, walking over to them, although he had softened somewhat in understanding. “You don’t have to stay long. Just enough to show that we appreciate the invitation and would like to bridge that gap, demonstrating that we belong there as much as anyone. If we say no, we might never get this opportunity again.”
Jonny shrugged. “I don’t care.”
“But others do,” Rhys said simply. “You are part of a team, Jonny, and this comes with it, whether you like it or not.”
Jonny sighed, running a hand over the stubble on his chin.
“Fine,” he bit out. “I will come. Briefly. But once it’s known that I’m there, I’m out.”
“Like you were last night?” Tommy asked with a grin and a twinkle in his eye, as though he knew exactly what had happened.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You went outside with Ada, then the two of you returned and she appeared rather… flushed. Next thing I knew, you were gone. So, what happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Jon—”
“I said,nothing. Drop it, Tommy.”
Tommy looked hurt, almost like a lost little puppy. Jonny felt a twinge of guilt, but he wasn’t going to talk about this with his teammates. He had never spoken to them of anything in his personal life before, and he wasn’t about to start now, when it would only raise their hopes for something that would never happen.
Colin placed a hand on Tommy’s shoulder, providing him with the comfort that Jonny never could, reminding Jonny that he was still the outsider here. These men had known one another for years, had formed a bond not only with their shared histories but with the family ties they now held with their wives.
“When you’re ready, Jonny, you come talk to us, all right? We’ve a fair bit of experience now and are happy to help you out.”
“I don’t need?—”
He stopped at the challenge in Rhys’s raised eyebrow.
“Fine. If the time comes, I’ll be sure to let you know."
“On that note,” Tommy said,shaking off the melancholy that had descended upon him for all of one minute, “what are you going to wear to this party, Jonny?”
At that, they all started laughing, the tension easing.
But Tommy had a point — Jonny had nothing to wear. This wasn’t his type of event.
