The asshole looked like he was trying to murder me with his laser eyeballs, and I felt a faint glimmer of satisfaction… before I remembered that the asshole was dancing withmy John, and what the fuck was he doing being jealous of anyone else?
He swallowed hard and turned his attention back to John. Then suddenly they were plastered together with Goodman nearly bent in half, doing a bump and grind that was hotter than anything in my porn folder.
Mother. Fucker.My hands clenched into fists, and I briefly contemplated throwingdown, right there in the club, despite never having been involved in a physical confrontation in my entire life.
I wouldenjoyit.
“Hey.” Knox put a hand on my waist comfortingly. “It’s okay. Chill,” he whispered in my ear, not understanding my chronic, congenital un-chill-ness. He obviously didn’t know about the fairy. I bit my lip so hard it stung.
“I don’t know how,” I moaned. If John and Goodman were acting like this at the fucking club, it was only a matter of time before they slipped away to the back. Or, Jesus fuck, went back to Goodman’s place. Orours.
I was seriously going to be ill.
Suddenly, I felt a familiar hand on my wrist, pulling me away from Knox’s almost-embrace. “T,” John said, low and urgent. “Can I speak to you, please? Right now? Outside?”
For a second, I almost refused. I didn’t know if I could speak to him without bursting into tears. This was the part where he would tell me that he and Goodman wanted to go back to our apartment, wasn’t it? How could I refuse?
Then I would have to stay the night at Monica’s apartment so I didn’t murder Gage Goodman in cold blood. Or, no. Maybe I needed to get a hotel room someplace further away. Like downtown Boston. Or Vermont. Or Sri Lanka. That way, I wouldn’t be tempted to go across the hall and refuse to leaveuntil Goodman had answered a comprehensive list of questions to prove his worthiness as John’s potential suitor, including an essay question that I didnotintend to grade on a curve.
I sighed, then nodded woodenly and let John lead me away.
“Can I be arrested for refusing to leave our apartment, even if you ask me to?” I demanded as he towed me through the crowd. I didn’t pull my wrist away—I wanted his hands on me, and I told myself this might be the last time I got to enjoy it.
Because John was incredibly quick-witted—and, yes, used to dealing with my random thoughts after a year of friendship—even while slightly inebriated, he didn’t hesitate. “No, you couldn’t. But then, I’d never ask you to, so the point is moot.”
I hustled faster to stay by his side and used my free hand to grasp his bicep. “Pick one, John!” I insisted passionately. “Showing consideration for your best friend and roommate, even if it means no sex… Or having loud, passionate sex with a guy just to get your rocks off, even if it leads your roommate to abject misery later.”
John stopped and blinked down at me sadly. “Those the only choices?” he asked, his voice so low I had to read his lips. “Friendship or sex?”
I nodded solemnly, making my hair fall over my eye. “I just don’t know how else it can work. I’m sorry. I know you’re disappointed.”
His whole face collapsed, but he nodded slowly. “Yeah, that’s… that’s safe to say. Well, that answers that, I guess. Thanks for letting me know. I’m heading out. Enjoy your night with…” He glanced back at the dance floor. “Whoever.”
I blinked at him, definitely feeling a few margaritas shy of comprehending what was going on here.
“John!” I yelled, my voice getting lost in the buzz ofchatter as I darted around patrons in an attempt to catch up. “Excuse me. John, wait, I— Oh, oops. Pardon me.John!”
Miraculously, he heard me and turned toward me.
“John, why are you?—”
I slipped on a wet patch of floor, and suddenly I was falling. I grabbed for the closest thing to break my fall and ended up yanking Nicki to the ground along with me…
Or, more accurately, yanking Nickiand the full tray of drinks she carriedto the ground along with me.
I screamed in shock as a torrent of icy liquid ran down my back and arm, plastering my shirt to my body. Nicki’s tray thumped down on my head.
“Oh, shit! Teagan!” Nicki cried, grabbing the tray. “Are you okay?”
Was I? I landed hard on one knee and one palm, and I knew both would bruise. But far, far worse was the sting to my pride. “Yeah,” I sniffled. “I’m okay.” A small sob bubbled out of my chest before I could help it.
“T? Oh, fuck. Oh, Jesus. Teagan?” John’s voice held none of its usual calm steadiness. As soon as he reached me, he knelt and scooped me bodily off the floor like I weighed nothing, then held me in his strong arms. “Are you okay? Baby, your head. Are you…?”
For one second, I let myself revel in the feeling of him holding me. It was everything I wanted.
“I need to go home,” I told him. And not just because I smelled like several breweries, a distillery, and an orange grove had all vomited on me simultaneously.
“I’ll take you,” John said firmly. He set me on my feet but held me against his side, much the way he’d held Goodman earlier. I was too weak-willed to push him away.
