The way he emphasizes the word, sends a shiver down my spine. I tilt my head up so I’m face to face with him.
“No.”
He fucking smirks.
“Yes, Ash,” he replies before walking away.
JT stares at me with his eyebrows raised.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He shakes his head. “Just… maybe stay away from him tonight. I don’t know what his deal is, but that can’t be good.”
“The fact that he’s drunk?”
“Yeah. He’s not been this drunk since—” He sucks his teeth, shaking his head.
All of the shots have gone straight to my bladder, so I get up and head for the bathroom. Gabe being drunk puts me on edge. I don’t know why he’s decided tonight of all nights to get wasted, but nothing good can come from it. I should’ve left when I had the chance.
When I come out of the bathroom, guess who’s leaning up against the wall right outside the door?
“What the hell. Stalker?”
Gabe laughs, and it’s a bright warm sound. It reminds me of our days on the roof. He steps toward me until we’re so close I can smell his cologne.
“What are you doing, Gabe?”
“Did you love him?”
“What?” I take a step back until I’m met with the brick wall behind me. He closes the space, bracing a hand above my head.
“That fucker in the suit. Did you love him?”
“Of course I did. Why would I marry him if I didn’t?”
His jaw clenches, and he eyes me closely.
“It wasn’t like us, though.” He bites his lip, his eyes flicking down to my mouth and back up. “Was it?”
“Gabe, get a grip.” When I try to sidestep him, he moves, blocking me. “I moved on, and so did you. Let’s not play this game.”
“And what game would that be? You know as well as I do that, we”—he gestures between us—“will never move on from this.”
“I don’t know shit. You never loved me anyway. Remember, or did you get amnesia?”
He scoffs. “You don’t really think that, do you?”
“It’s literally what you said. So, yeah, I do think that.”
He nods a few times, running his tongue over his top teeth. “I know what I said.” His throat bobs, and his eyes burn into mine. With each inhale, my chest brushes his.
Before I can say anything, his hand moves to my neck and slides up the back of my head into my hair.
My breath hitches. “What are you doing?”
My eyes snag on his mouth. His tongue darts out over his bottom lip, and his face moves closer to mine. He stops just shy of our lips touching.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispers.
