Jake ‘Riddick’ Whittling.
Friend. Lover. Leviathan tamer.
1986-2024
I frowned, glancing at Jet.
“Lover?”
Jet pursed his lips and nodded. “I told you, we used to be close.”
A strange feeling twisted in my gut at this new piece of information.
Had Riddick been so worried about us hooking up because he was jealous ofme?Or because he was jealous of Jet?
I chewed on my lip, and Jet misread my expression entirely. I jumped as he reached out with his pinky finger, gently curling it around mine.
“And like I said… you remind me of him.A lot.”
Heat flushed my cheeks, and I felt my eyes widen.
Okay, that was DEFINITELY a flirt…
Maybe Riddick wasn’t being so ridiculous after all.
I cleared my throat and tugged my pinky away, stepping back.
“Jet… I…uhm…” My face was so hot it was embarrassing.
Understanding flooded his expression, and he held up his hands playfully as if showing me he was unarmed.
“Oh, shit… did I totally misread that? I’m usually pretty on point with the gaydar. If you’re not into dudes, my bad.”
“What? No, it’s not that… I’ve been known to dabble.” I chuckled, awkwardly rubbing the back of my neck.
Jet frowned and cocked his head to the side. “You seeing someone then?”
“Uhm… It’s… complicated,” I muttered, and he watched me carefully, his kind brown eyes searching my face.
“I see…” he said softly. He stepped in closer to me, and I swallowed thickly. His warm, spicy scent filled the space between us, and he curled a finger under my chin, gently tilting my head back. “Well, if someone hasyou, and they’re making itcomplicated,then they’re probably a dumbass.”
A surprised laugh puffed out of me, and I didn’t miss the way his eyes dropped to my mouth, that easy, half-cocked grin tilting on his lips.
I stepped away again.
“He can definitely be a dumbass,” I mumbled, and Jet let me go, dropping his hand back to his side.
“I have no doubt,” he murmured.
We stood there in strangely comfortable silence for a beat before he shrugged, adjusting his shortboard under his arm.
“Maybe we can take a rain check on that movie, then.”
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea,” I said, digging my toe into thepebbly ground.
“If you ever change your mind and you feel like…watching a movie,let me know.” He smirked, and I glanced at him, unable to stop myself from smiling.
“Sure… But I probably won’t. Change my mind, I mean…”
