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I whirl to find Jake standing behind me, and I groan. “How did you find me?”
“I had a little help.” He nods to Ian.
So Ian called Jake on me? Traitor.
Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised Jake has been looking for me. I’ve been avoiding his calls and texts since I left him here last night without explanation.
“What’s going on, man? You haven’t been yourself since you got that call late last night.”
“It wasn’t important,” I lie.
Jake is too smart to fall for that. “It was important enough for you to turn down a night of sex.”
“I wasn’t in the mood.”
“You, not in the mood? You’re never not in the mood.”
Why does he fucking have to throw that in my face? “I took the phone call as a sign that I needed a break.”
“From sex? Right.” Clearly, Jake doesn’t believe me.
I wouldn’t believe me, either.
Last night was a complete disaster. Instead of getting horizontal with someone perfectly acceptable, I found myself pining for the unforgettable brunette with the sweet voice. The woman who lights my body on fire. The lover who consumes my mind twenty-four seven. This past week, I’ve done everything to avoid her, yet I’ve spent every waking hour thinking about her.
She’s turned me inside out.
“And now you’re going to sit there and get shitfaced?” he demands.
“Pretty much.”
He studies me, concern all over his face. “The last time you were this self-destructive, you’d just broken up with Amber.”
I scowl, sloughing off his assertion. “People get drunk all the time.”
“Sure, but the reason matters.” He slides onto the stool next to me and gestures to Ian. “I’ll take a light beer—whatever you’ve got in a bottle—and J will have some agua.”
I shake my head. “I’m happy with my drink, thanks. Kind of on a roll.”
With a smirk, Ian hands him a pale ale and me a bottle of water. I glower at them both.
“Too bad. You’re going to hydrate and sober up,” Jake insists.
“Fuck you.”
“Love you, too, bro.” He studies me as I gulp the water, and I know he sees too much. “What’s going on, J? Really?”
The last thing I feel like doing is talk about my feelings. Instead, I swallow the cool, clear liquid and shake my head. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” He pauses. “Is this about Kiera?”
I don’t say a word. I don’t dare. I’ve owed him the truth, and I didn’t give it to him sooner. I put it off and made excuses. Now it’s going to bite me in the ass. And I deserve every bit of shit he heaps on me.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say something’s going on between the two of you,” he drawls. “And it’s serious.”
Shit, it’s like he’s reading my mind. “Jake…”
“You’ve been disappearing lately. You’ve turned down sex with other women. And you’ve stared at Ms. Young like you’re starving and she’s a buffet. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess there’s more to your relationship than two people attending a wedding for the sake of a business deal.”
