Dylan narrowed his eyes at him. “You better not have.”
They both laughed.
The conversation barely lasted a few more minutes as they caught up, but the way Jared was frowning and clenching his jaw didn’t go unnoticed by Dylan.
What the fuck was his deal?
“So, Chaz, hm?” he muttered as soon as Dylan’s childhood friend returned to his family.
Dylan was taken aback by the sudden coldness in Jared’s tone, but somehow, it didn’t surprise him. “Yup. Just a friend.” He shrugged, not sure why he’d felt the imperative need to clarify that.
Jared smirked, but it wasn’t the cheeky expression Dylan knew by heart. It was darker, almost sinister. “Like me?”
Dylan’s brow furrowed as he looked at Jared, extra confused. Although he liked Jared and wanted more than this friends-with-benefits shit they had, they weren’t really anything serious enough yet for him to glitch like that. But he decided to let it slide. If Jared had anything to tell him, he would. Or Dylan would fuck it out of him.
Before either of them could say anything they’d regret later, Cora approached with Penny practically hanging off her.
“We’re gonna get going,” Cora said. “She’s drunk a lot more than I thought...”
Penny tried to speak, but her tongue tangled over itself. She was truly pissed as a fart.
“You need help?” Jared offered.
“Nah, it’s fine. I’ve got her. She’s coming over to my house. If I need anything, I’ll give you a call.”
Dylan nodded in agreement, itching to reach out for Penny and carry her to the Uber himself.
“I hope I don’t need to, though.” Mischief glowed in Cora’s eyes. “I bet you two have better things to do tonight than taking care of us.”
“How did—”
“You’re not as subtle as you think you are.” Cora laughed, blowing them a kiss and waving as she walked away with Penny. “Have fun, lovers!”
Once again, Dylan and Jared were left alone. But this time, the air between them was rare. The seconds became heavier as they passed between them like molasses. Music thumped, making the space between them even bigger.
“Maybe... we should leave too,” Dylan said, shoulders slumping as his heart sank in his chest.
“Sure.”
He didn’t know what he had said or done with Chaz for Jared to get mad at him. They had hugged at the beginning. Nothing else. But if he had something to say about their dynamics, Dylan had made it pretty clear his door was always open to talk. Communication was key in any type of relationship, more so when the waters were murky and people sometimes didn’t know where they stood.
The cold night hit them as they stepped outside the nightclub, and a chill ran down Dylan’s spine. Though maybe it was the weird mood making him feel so uneasy.
During the car ride, the tension in the air was palpable. Jared’s crankiness still lingered, and Dylan didn’t know whether to punch him in the throat or kiss him so he’d stop sulking.
As soon as the door of his apartment closed behind them, Dylan spoke, not wanting to continue with the awkwardness.
“What was that before?” he calmly asked while hanging his coat on the rack by the entrance.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I’m too drunk to have any kind of conversation, so I’m gonna go to bed,” Jared grumbled his response, heading into his bedroom.
He wasn’t that drunk. Jared was just trying to run away from the inevitable.
“Not so fast, mate.” Dylan grabbed his arm to stop him. “If there’s something bothering you, out with it.”
“What’s the point?”
“What’s the point of what?”
