Of course he’s out here—God why did this have to be his house.
The second our eyes meet, I see it—that quick burn laced with humiliation before his jaw tightens. He takes one last hit, blows it out slow, and calling out, “really Jainey?”
Levy’s head turns immediately, his brows pulling together like he’s trying to do the math. And his look says it all—Who the fuck is calling your name like that?
Great. Exactly what I need.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath, forcing a fake half-smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. I can practically feel Levy’s question before he even asks it.
“You know him?” he asks, his deep tone no longer playful.
“Yeah… something like that,” I reply, already moving before thisturns into a scene. The last thing I need is both of them sizing each other up in the middle of the damn street like two dogs marking their territory.
So I meet Daniel halfway, my heels click against the pavement like I’m walking straight into trouble—which, let’s be real, I probably am.
He straightens as I get close, his eyes scanning me from head to toe like he’s trying to figure out what the hell he just interrupted. I can still taste the smoke from Levy’s kiss, and judging by the way Daniel’s looking at me, I’m not hiding it nearly as well as I think.
“What the fuck, Jaine?” he says low, like he’s fighting to keep his voice calm.
I cross my arms, keeping my tone even but laced with that edge he hates. “What the fuckwhat, Daniel? You’re the one out here playing Mr. Mysterious by the Corvette—don’t start with me.”
He runs a hand over his face, clearly trying to hold it together, his eyes flicking past me toward Levy. “You’re really leaving with this dude?”
I shrug, giving him my best I-don’t-give-a-damn look. “Why, you wanna come too? Maybe your parents have a guest room for three.”
His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t take the bait.
Behind me, I can feel Levy’s stare burning holes through my back, the tension thick enough to choke on even out here.
And here I am—standing in the middle of the street between two men, one who just had me an hour ago, and one who’s about to ruin me next.
My life really knows how to pick its moments.
Daniel exhales roughly, shaking his head like he’s trying to cool himself down. “You really doing this shit right now?”
I laugh, the sound sharper than I mean it to be. “Oh please, don’t start acting like you care now. You weren’t exactly losing sleep before seeing me tonight.”
His lips press together, eyes flicking away for a beat before finding me again. “You’re impossible you know that?”
“Yeah,” I say, the corner of my mouth lifting, “and you used to like that about me.”
The sarcasm hangs there between us, thick and biting, until his expression softens just enough to sting. For a second, it’s not anger in his face—it’s something else.
And damn it, I feel it too.
Without thinking, I sigh as I step closer, and wrap my arms around his neck. His body tenses at first, then his hands find my waist, grip firm and certain, pulling me in like muscle memory.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” I whisper, my chin brushing his shoulder.
He leans back just enough to look at me, eyes searching. “And I’ll be calling you,” he says, his thumb tracing the small of my back. “You know I prefer hearing your voice.”
That makes something twist inside me. It’s annoying and sweet and dangerous all at once.
“I’ll be seeing you soon, beautiful,” he adds, his tone dropping, eyes flicking toward my mouth. “And finishing what I started in that bathroom.”
Before I can stop him, he leans in and kisses me—achingly careful, but deep, and full of everything we shouldn’t still feel. His friend, leaning on his car, whistles low. “Damn, I didn’t know you pull em’ like that Danny,” he teases, half laughing.
I pull away before I can fall into it again, my hand resting briefly against his chest. “Now go enjoy your party before your ego explodes,” I say, forcing a smile even though my pulse is racing.
