I pull my jacket closer so I can zip it up. “It’s fine, Tris. Just . . . don’t tell anyone else. As you may have noticed, Marcus is still figuring some stuff out.”
He snickers. “I noticed. Straight Marcus is so grumpy. Do you think gay Marcus will be more agreeable?”
“I’m right here, asshole,” Marcus growls from behind us, and we both giggle.
When we reach our usual bar, Marion is already standing outside, waiting for us. Her short blonde hair is swept back from her face, her cheeks are flushed from the cold, and she’s wearing an adorable pair of overalls.
I lean in and kiss her cheek. “Where’s your coat, babe?”
She smiles. “I was so excited to meet you that I left it at home.” I give her a look and shake my head. “What? It’s only a couple blocks from my place.”
I glance at Marcus, who’s staring at Marion with narrowed eyes.
The fuck is his problem? I mean, besides the fact that his secret issomewhat out.
We get a table quickly, and I’m surprised when Marcus slides into the booth next to me and places a hand on my thigh, squeezing it possessively. I glance down and then at him, but he’s still watching Marion.
The waitress takes our drink orders, and I order a plate of fries for the table. When my vodka cranberry arrives, I down it quickly and order another because this really isn’t how I wanted to spend my evening.
Marcus gives me a warning look when my second drink arrives, but I just stare at him like a brat while I take a large gulp.
Marion snorts a laugh. “So tell me more about this little secret situation.”
I shrug. “There’s not much to tell.”
“There’s not?” Marcus says sharply. “I wouldn’t call what we’ve been doing nothing.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask skeptically.
“Yeah,” he says, squeezing my thigh again so hard it hurts, and I take another sip to keep from moaning because it’s kind of turning me on. “Jeremy and I are sort of serious. He’s my boyfriend.” His tone has a weird edge to it that I don’t recognize.
I turn and squint at him. “Are you high? I know you’re not drunk yet.”
Marion bursts out laughing, and I look at her curiously. “Are you jealous, Brawny Man? Think I have a thing for J?”
“Jealous?” I scoff, and Marcus says, “Absolutely not.”
I turn to look at him sharply.
“Methinks he doth protest too much,” Tris stage-whispers.
“You know, there was this one time—” Marion starts, and I kick her under the table.
“What time?” Marcus asks, then looks at me. “What time, Jer?”
I sigh. “We hooked up once during a Halloween party in college.”
“You fucked her? I knew it!”
Marion loses it, laughing so hard that she almost falls out of the booth. “We didn’t fuck,” Marion says between giggles. “He just ate me out.”
“Oral sex is still sex,” Marcus parrots back Tris’s comment from earlier.
“Wise words,” Tristan quips. “And why don’t I know this story?”
“I’m not sure details are necessary,” Marcus starts.
“We were dressed as Robin Hood and Maid Marion,” Marion says with a grin. “Our hookup was inevitable.”
