“No fucking way,” Parker wheezes.
During our training freshman year—training in the loose sense of the term meaning we went to the gun range, had some kickboxing, and spent time in each other’s pockets so that we could work together as a team—Parker and I werealways paired up. It was the two of us fighting each other, the two of us as lookouts, the two of us trauma bonding over the loss of a family member. Parker might be more deft with a weapon, but I can still knock him on his ass with a single blow.
The fridge is half empty since we haven’t gone shopping in probably a few weeks. Means it’s my turn. Because sometimes I’m the only one that drags themself to the store, even though Jacob is the one more apt to cook. Shit, they’re all jerks. I spend a few moments tossing a sandwich together and grab the bag of chips I keep hidden in the cabinet over the fridge. Parker squawks behind me when he realizes what I've hidden.None of them can reach up there without a chair, so it’s where I hide all the good junk food.
“You fucking dirtbag! You seriously hid the sour cream and onion over the fridge?”
I lift a chip to my mouth and crunch it slowly as Parker glowers at me. I toss myself down onto the kitchen table to eat my snack. Parker tosses himself down in the chair opposite me with an agonized huff. I flick the bag across the table so that he can have a few, which seems to instantly mollify him. Nice.
“Reid found out I’ve been doing some friendly stalking,” I admit, pushing the remainder of my sandwich across the table for Parker to eat.
He takes a grateful bite, eyes narrowed my way. “What’s your obsession with this dude?”
I shrug because I really don’t know the answer to that. He’s hot, yeah, but I could easily find a hookup. Seeing someone so reckless with their own safety has always turned on my own protective instincts. There’s this obvious pain hidden deep in Reid’s eyes that begs for someone to keep himsafe. He might’ve caught me, but Parker can keep him safe when I can’t be there. For now.
“I’ll cover him tonight. He lives like two minutes down the street.”
“I know.”
Then I flee to my bedroom because I’m suddenly out of words. I’ve never been much for talking, actions say more than words ever can. Thankfully, the guys mostly leave me alone when they realize I’ve reached my quota for the day. I finish up my homework in the shelter of my bedroom, take a long shower while doing my best to not think about Reid, and end up in bed before nine in the evening. A perfect night.
I must’ve fallen asleep early because the loud vibrating of my watch wakes me up. Fuck. Usually I take it off before falling asleep so alerts don’t disturb me. But Parker’s caller ID in my phone makes me bolt upright in bed. Double fuck.
“Yeah?”
“Hey, so I have a little problem,” Parker says, voice oddly high-pitched.
“What?”
“Can you come to the Double Up on the other side of town?”
I freeze while tugging a shirt over my head. The Double Up? What the fuck is Parker doing at a gay bar when he’s not gay. Wait.
“Reid is at the Double Up?” I screech into the phone.
Parker wheezes slightly. “Yeah. Please hurry.”
The night is dark when I peel out of the basement garage on my bike. Everything blurs around me. I don’t even know if I stop for red lights. By the time I arrive at the Double Up my heart is racing and my tongue is thick in my mouth. A linestill curves around the corner of the loud, thumping club, but I bypass it and head straight for the bouncer.
One hard stare from me has Tony letting me through with a bite of his lip. Easy. The hallway is dark and the smell of sex and alcohol permeates the air. Jesus. Clenching and unclenching my fists at my side only helps so much since I’m about ready to pummel the shit out of someone. Couples are hidden in the corners when I finally break into the main part of the club. Full dance floor, too-loud music, and my eyes flick over the crowd in hopes of finding Parker. But his ruffled dark hair and broad shoulders are absent from the dance floor.
I push through the swaying crowd, already irritated with the idea of having to sort this mess out. People try to tug me into a dance but I shrug everyone off, too eager to find Parker. Also, Reid. My blood boils at the idea of him at the Double Up, with someone in the bathroom, bent over the sinks with his hands pressed to the mirror.
I’m going to commit a felony.
Finally at the other side of the dance floor, I work my way into the hallway that leads to the bathroom. My heart pounds at the idea of what I might find. But thankfully, I spot Parker pretty fast. He’s tucked into a shadowy corner, lean body pressed hard against the wall, with Reid leaning against him, hand tucked against Parker’s side under his shirt. Rage like I’ve never felt before simmers under my skin. I suddenly know what they mean when someone says they saw red, because my entire vision shimmers crimson at the idea of Reid’s bare skin touching Parker.
“I gave youonefucking order,” I growl at Parker as I carefully shove Reid off of him, curling my fingers tightly around Reid’s slim arm.
“Told you,” Parker murmurs.
“What?” I ask, gaze flicking between them.
Reid breathes in slowly, eyes going from annoyed to irate. Oh no. I slowly slide my gaze back to Parker with trembling lips.
“You could’ve given me a heads-up that this was an ambush.”
Parker shrugs and weasels his way away from the wall to slip back toward the dance floor. “This is between you two. I’m going to get a drink and see if any hotties will flirt with me.”
