"Yes, sir," Ty said, sounding like he was nothing but serious.
Then J.D. grabbed the beer that had only arrived a few seconds before, tilted the bottle up, and chugged it all. Tanner pushed his at Ty, then thrust out his hand for the keys. J.D. passed those over, but as they shuffled past us, he stopped by Jake.
"That woman you're real busy chasin'? Yeah, she's my best fuckin' friend. She's my goddamn rookie, Jake. She's also one of the loves of my life, but she still ain't mine, get me?"
"Yeah," Jake breathed. "I think I actually do."
"Good. Cody, second bedroom's gonna be empty if you need to use it. If not, my bed always has room." Then he winked.
The fucker actually winked at me before leaving. It was so over the top that all I could do was laugh - and try to ignore how very weird all of this was. Mostly because Ty was right there, heard all of that, and simply took the leftover beer Tanner had given him and lifted it for a drink like he didn't give a shit at all.
"Yeah..." I breathed once my guys had left just as quickly as they'd arrived. "I need to talk to Jaxon."
"Jaxon?" Ty asked, suddenly paying attention.
"Because he hurt J.D.'s feelings," I said. "And J.D. might not know how to tell him that, but me? Oh, I do, and I have a whole lot to say."
"Then let's go," Ty said. "We're your backup tonight, Cody. Pretty sure my friend just asked me to be a bouncer, and while I might be a shitty boyfriend, I'm working on becoming a damned good man. Means I got a whole lot of making up to do."
But that? It was enough to make me relax. I wasn't fucking this up. I wasn't making this weird. Granted, J.D. was, but he made everything weird. He also deserved to have a few real friends on his side, and these two men? I was starting to think they counted.
I just wasn't sure what was in it for Jake, except me. Oddly, that made the flipping thing come back. This time, however, I didn't try to ignore it.
Chapter 65
Across the room,Jaxon was sitting at a table with Kaleb and Tim Moore. I headed that way, all too aware of Jake and Ty following behind me, and clearly it was an impressive sight, because all three of them looked up before I even got there.
"Hey, Cody!" Kaleb said, waving me closer. "Where's J.D.?"
Oh, that was all the opening I needed. My gaze turned to Jaxon, and held until I reached that table, pressed both my hands down on it, and leaned into Jaxon's face. "He left because he didn't feel wanted. Had an issue with hisfriendcalling him names."
"What?" Kaleb asked, looking honestly confused.
"Who?" Tim added, making it clear he didn't have a problem with J.D. by just that one word.
So I lifted a brow, giving Jaxon the chance to say something. Instead, the fucker looked away and grabbed his beer. It was almost like he was trying to pretend I didn't exist.
"You know what's sick?" I asked him. "Tearing someone down when they're at their most vulnerable. Shoving your problems in his face when you're surprised. Most of all, making someone who's helped you out feel like shit!"
"J.D.?" Jaxon huffed. "Shit, nothing bothers that guy."
"Right," Ty grunted. "That's why he's beat so many faces, huh? Because he didn't give a shit?"
"Well, no..." Jaxon tried, but he turned back to me. "And I didn't make him feel like shit."
"No, you just said he's disgusting," I shot back. "You made him feel like he'd lost one of his few friends in the world! You, Jaxon! He was fucking proud of you. Hereliedon you. He counted you as a part of his team, but the moment you find out he's not just like you - "
"J.D.'s never been like anyone," Kaleb broke in.
I gestured at the guy, making it clear he had a point. "But if your goal was to make a grown man cry? Yeah, you may have done that. I mean, I didn't see tears, but he went the fuck home because ofyou, Jaxon."
"Oh," Jaxon said.
Which made Jake step close enough to grab my shoulder and pull me back. "Cody, let the guy breathe. You can't beat sense into his head."
"Wait..." Tim begged. "What's the problem, Jaxon?"
"J.D.'s fucking gay!" Jaxon hissed. "He's a damned fudge packer, man. That's... It's gross!"
