They did look good together. Quinn was tall, but he used his height to create a barrier, like he would protect Avery from the crowd around them.
“What do you think?”
He tried to smile, tried to agree, but when he swallowed, the word got caught in his throat.
“Oh, honey.” Wanda pulled Vasquez against her. “This is so painful to watch.”
“Shh. It should only take another minute.”
Linc frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I think the feelings have melted his brain,” Wanda stage-whispered.
“Scott. Stop being an ass. You’ll feel better.”
He shook his head, lips pressed together. Whatever game they were playing, he wouldn’t give in.
“Quinn’s kind of a manwhore, though, isn’t he?” Vasquez said.
“Oh, totally. I’d love him to settle down with someone sweet like our little potato there, but he’s going to play the field for a few more years.”
Linc’s nostrils flared, and Vasquez’s smile turned evil. “Still. If he helps Avery feel better about himself for a night, that’s not a bad thing, right?”
“What did you say?” Linc wasn’t able to hide his glare as his attention swung back to Vasquez and Wanda.
Wanda’s mouth formed a littleO. “Wow. I’m still only into women, but you do an excellent tall, dark, and broody.”
Vasquez pinched her. “I can be tall, dark, and broody. When Quinn and Avery leave, I’ll go get the stilettos.”
Linc’s pulse thundered in his ears at the thought of Avery and the other man going anywhere, but Wanda and Vasquez kept chattering like he wasn’t even there anymore.
“Oh, V. You know how I feel about the heels. Wanna get you to kick them up in the air while I—”
“Hey,” Linc growled. The two women looked up at him with twin expressions of surprised innocence.
“Yes, honey?” Wanda said.
“What do you mean he’s going to help Avery feel better?”
“Well, you fucked up. And the way you’ve been gazing after him like a Disney prince all night, I’d say you haven’t found a way to make it better,” Vasquez said. “Which means poor Avery got his tender little heart squished. Wanda just asked Quinn to flirt with him a bit. Remind him that not everyone is an insensitive brute like you.”
Linc’s head swung back toward Avery and Quinn in horror. “So it’s a pity flirt?”
“Mm. I think it’s more than that now,” Wanda said. “I know my brother. See his face? This stopped being a favor for his big sister at least an hour ago.”
Before she even finished the sentence, Linc was pushing his way through the crowd. His emotions warred between fear for Avery—he’d be crushed when he found out Quinn’s interest wasn’t genuine—and rage at Vasquez. His patience was done. There would be no more pranks at work. No more good-natured teasing. He would buy no more donuts and do no more grocery runs just because he was the new guy.
Quinn glanced at him. His smirk as their eyes met set Linc’s blood on fire. It roared to a blaze as Quinn dipped his head down, whispering something in Avery’s ear that made him smile. He turned so they were so close they might as well be kissing. Quinn laughed, and Avery pressed his face against Quinn’s shoulder. Then Avery ducked away, pushing through the crowd, perpendicular to Linc’s path.
Linc changed course, trying to intercept him. He needed Avery to know what was going on. Fuck Vasquez and Wanda for meddling. Linc had screwed up everything, but Avery didn’t deserve to be played like this.
He was heading up the hall. With fewer people here, Linc could move faster. “Hey!”
Avery turned. His smile would have been the best thing Linc had seen in ages, except one side of his lower lip was still swollen and scabbed from where he’d cut it at the gym. “Oh, hi.”
Oh, hi? Oh. Hi? Linc’s breathing was coming so fast, he was dizzy. He grabbed Avery’s elbow and dragged him into what looked like a spare bedroom. Linc slammed the door shut behind them.
“What are you doing?” Avery seemed as breathless as Linc felt.
