Holt pulled back, his inquisitive gaze seeking as it bounced over his face.
“Can you do that?” Rafe asked when Holt didn’t respond.
Holt nodded. “All fucking night.”
Rafe had no business remembering his time with Holt, but the past three days had been filled with memories of their time together. Not only that one incredible night but all the nights that had led up to it. But whenever he thought about Holt, he thought about Bailey. Truth was, he had changed in so many ways since that night with Holt. Even if he were capable of committing to anyone, he knew he couldn’t be with either of them because it would mean being without the other. At this point, Rafe was emotionally invested in both of them. It wouldn’t be fair to his heart to have to pick only one.
Because Bailey hadn’t yet confronted him, Rafe had to assume Holt hadn’t told her about their history together. She would’ve wanted to know more. Of that, Rafe was certain.
They were friends, and while he hadn’t opened up about everything, Rafe had shared some things with her. And vice versa. He missed that. He missed the long conversations they’d had over the years. But after everything that had happened, Rafe didn’t know how to resume his friendship with Bailey. He wanted to. God, he fucking wanted to. And for once in his life, the risk would be worth the reward, but Rafe wasn’t sure he could keep his distance if they got close again.
But until Bailey made the first move to talk to him, Rafe was going to steer clear.
For her benefit.
***
“Can we get our food to go?”
Holt peered down at Bailey and frowned. “We could. But why would you want to?”
She shrugged. “Everyone’s lookin’ at us.”
He chuckled. They weren’t, but she wouldn’t know that because she still had her chin tucked against her chest, as though the silky fall of her hair would make her invisible.
“They’re looking atme,” he said, keeping his voice low. “They’re wondering how the fuck I got so lucky to be out on a date with you.”
Bailey lifted her head and met his gaze.
Gone was her exuberant smile. It had disappeared the moment Rafe walked through the door. At the same time that she’d pulled her hand away from him. He’d instantly seen the guilt on her face. It was then that he realized there was more between Rafe and Bailey than either of them was letting on. Sure, he’d known Rafe had a thing for her. A man didn’t look at a woman the way Rafe did if he didn’t have feelings for her.
Holt hadn’t realized their feelings were so recent. He’d sensed something at the park the night of the concert when they’d seen Rafe with Ivy, but Bailey had played it off well. Enough that Holt had thought perhaps what they had was in the past.
That definitely wasn’t the case. At least not far enough behind them to move forward without feeling guilty.
“I’m sorry about my reaction,” Bailey said, her eyes sheened with unshed tears. “You know, when Rafe walked in.”
Holt let his gaze skim her face momentarily before he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Just a light brushing against them to let her know he had no interest in backing off.
A better man would’ve told her he didn’t want to come between her and happiness if she thought she might find that with Rafe, but Holt wasn’t a better man. If he were, he wouldn’t be harboring feelings for Rafe. And he wouldn’t be quickly falling in love with a woman Rafe clearly had feelings for.
What they had here was a convoluted love triangle.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Holt told Bailey, and he realized how true that statement was.
She studied his face, her eyes reflecting her skepticism. “You don’t care that I have feelings for another man?”
“I didn’t saythat.” Another man he would have a problem with. But it was only fair that she had feelings for Rafe since he did too.
A small smile curved Bailey’s lips. “Then whatareyou sayin’? Because it’s startin’ to sound like a riddle.”
At the very least, he got her to focus less on their surroundings and more on him.
“What do you say we table this discussion untilafterdinner?” he said softly as the waitress approached.
Bailey pulled back as though surprised, then shifted in her seat, putting a little space between them. Before she could get out to switch to the other side of the table, he put his hand on her leg.
“Stay. I like having you close.”
