Smoke sniffs, keeping his eyes forward. “Judge won’t look anywhere but at what is right in front of him.”
He’s talking about Penelope. Despite Judge not outright saying his feelings for her, I’m pretty confident everyone knows where he stands. At this point, he’s the only one who thinks it’s still a secret.
Returning my gaze to them, for a few seconds, it’s not worry that nips at my chest.
Her eyes are bright, her smile wide as she stays on the same side of the bar as him. Settling so close to the other, I’m surprised their knees don’t touch.
They’re so obvious, it hurts. She’s happy and in love, finding the man of her dreams, and I’m…
“Jealous?” Jinx appears, a duffel bag thrown over his shoulder. Seeing that I’m still behind the bar instead of finding a place to run to, he tucks himself between the brothers and smiles at me as he catches a hint of longing behind my gaze.
Scoffing, I turn away and snatch a towel so I can scrub the droplets of fruity syrups clinging to the wood.
Like he enjoys my silence, he hums in approval before thanking the two of them for doing him a favor.
Ace comments on his bruised cheek, and not even that makes me feel better when he admits he took a hit. I should correct him and reveal that he took quite a few.
Unfortunately, Jinx decides he’s in the mood to make me feel worse. This may be his payback for what I’ve done. It’s a talent of his, and it’s one I’m normally happy to meet halfway. But thinking about the impossible, about kind of wanting what Penelope has, has suddenly made me feel a little sick on the inside.
“Think you can throw something like what he’s having together before we head to bed?” Sending me a wink, Jinx’s smile is instant, but I can’t even muster up a snarl.
I hate feeling like this. Feels like a weakness, a festering wound I can’t take care of.
Smoke snorts in the back of his throat, and heat claws at mine.
He’s trying to get a reaction out of me to show off to the other prospects, isn’t he? Shame I’m not some kind of entertainment. He’ll have to look elsewhere.
“Make something yourself.” Huffing the words, I turn away from his smile and toss down the towel.
There’s this knot in my chest, one that’s growing too big to ignore. As much as I hate to admit it, he’s called me out, and I can’t even correct him.
Penelope deserves every ounce of happiness sent her way, yet he’s right. Yeah, I am jealous. Jealous that I have yet to find someone to make me feel the same way. Jealous that there isn’t a man who is brave enough to look at me like Judge looks at her.
At twenty-five years old, it can’t be a total surprise that deep down, I want a taste of happiness, too. I don’t want to die alone.
But now here I am, stuck with one who reminds me why I won’t find that kind of love here. These bikers frustrate me too much.
Jinx murmurs his thanks to the other two before he rushes to join me. Surprise, I guess he’s not as thirsty as he thought.
Humming behind me, I think he truly enjoys aggravating me. I don’t understand what he gets out of it, but I don’t think I ever will.
Reaching the door, I don’t have the mental strength to argue with him coming inside. He’s set on staying in my space. Opening the door, I slip inside with him following close behind. The clasp of the door shutting and the thump of his bag hitting the ground are the beautiful sounds of this awful night ending.
I’m ready for sleep. I need my rest. But first, I need to change.
Pajamas. Shit. How many times am I going to have to get changed in front of him?
Jinx is a mind reader because he automatically has the same mindset. Probably doesn’t want to keep playing games and going back and forth. If he’s like me, exhaustion is probably prickling at his eyes.
“We don’t look at each other, yeah?” He cocks a brow, kneeling down to dig around in his bag.
As if I’d want to see him naked. No thanks. Even if I’m mildly curious about some of the men here,very mildly, this guy is nowhere close to that list.
“Sure.” Tugging off my tanktop, I drop it in the corner. Giving him my back doesn’t feel great, but what other choice do I have? For just a few minutes, I’ll have to lower my guard.
Fear doesn’t prickle at my skin, and it’s surprisingly nice. Is it because he’s busy getting changed himself? That must be it.
My fingers dip into the waistband of my sweats before I shove them down, cool air graciously nipping at my heated skin. Some of these summer nights are too cruel. Like always, I shove the thought away before I start considering stealing a pair of my sister’s shorts.
