“Seriously. You have a kitchen and a lounge.” Jayden swayed, looking around the space with squinty eyes. “Why are there so many doors? Sutton,” he hollered, making me cringe. “Am I seeing double, or are there more doors?”
I sighed and headed to the lounge area, actively avoiding looking at the small kitchen area and the high stool where I’d finally had my mouth on Nate’s. “It’s a suite, and I organized it because of Nate.” I plopped down on the sofa, eyeing both of the men as they followed suit.
“Oh yeah. Where is Natey boy?” Jayden asked, kicking his feet up and stretching out. Sutton knocked Jayden’s feet off his lap, causing Jayden to start grumbling.
“Bed, I think,” I answered, hoping like hell I sounded casual.
“Huh. It’s early.” Jayden grinned and bounced his eyebrows up and down. “Has he got someone with him? He’s into dudes, right? I saw a couple of guys flirting with him at the bar. Is he checking out the American wildlife?” Jayden laughed at himself while I froze all over.
I didn’t even know where to start with any of that. Nate was out, even though we’d only skimmed the surface of that conversation, but his sexuality was nothing to do with anyone. Then was the fact that he’d been flirted with. When the fuck did that happen, and how did I not notice? I didn’t like that thought one bit.
“It’s almost midnight,” I snapped, going with the only response I could handle. “It’s not early,” I added a little lamely, the heat disappearing from my words.
“What’s wrong with you?” Sutton narrowed his assessing eyes at me. I swore to God the man was far too perceptive for his own good. “You’re all wired, on edge or something.” His gaze widened a second later. “Shit,hasNate brought someone back with him?” A frown followed, and I didn’t have the chance to respond before he continued, “Nah, no chance of that. Not when he was eye-fucking you all night.”
Blood rushed into my head. The pulse in my temples beat so fast and loud, it took all my ability to think straight, let alone take a breath.
“Fuck.” Jayden cut through the loud noise in my brain. “He looks like he’s going to pass out.”
“What?” The voice didn’t sound like my own. “I’m fine, and you’re full of shit.”
Jayden seemed a lot more sober when he sat upright, his concerned gaze settling on me. “Full of shit about what?”
I pursed my lips, not knowing how to answer.
“Nate’s definitely into you, but the question is…” He angled his head, examining me.
I wanted to bolt, to get the hell out of this room, rewind five minutes and go back to my hand on Nate’s cock and not answering the door. I could be kissing his dick right now rather than dealing with a racing heart and deliberating what to do, say, or how to react.
“…are you into him?”
I huffed out a panicked laugh and brought my hand to my mouth, bit the nail of my thumb, and shook my head. The forced smile on my face was painful. “The fuck you talking about? Course not. He’s just Nate. He’s just being friendly. Just because he’s into guys doesn’t mean he wants to fuck every man he’s nice to.”
“No shit, Broadwater. I’m not a dickhead and don’t think that either.”
“Good, ’cause he’s not like that. He’s a good guy.”
Jayden bobbed his head, and I flicked a glance at Sutton, who remained eerily quiet at his side. “You know if you’re interested in him, that’s okay, right?” Jayden continued.
My stomach bottomed out, and I felt the color drain from my face. Wasn’t this everything I hoped to hear, wanted to know from my friends that I had their support? I gaped at them, willing the words to spill out, desperate to share my truth with them. “I—” I snapped my mouth shut, nausea swirling in my gut.
I couldn’t be out. I couldn’t be at the center of so much fucking attention that would come my way.
I shook my head and straightened. It wasn’t the time. My courage evaded me, ran, and dodged my grasp. “No. You’re being ridiculous. Nate’s my friend, and that’s all he’ll ever be.” The words tasted bitter in my mouth.
Sutton’s gaze shifting caught my attention. I didn’t want to follow, didn’t want to see what I already expected to find. Pain punctured through my heart when I looked. Nate’s expression was shuttered, his attention on me for the barest of moments before he tore it away, focusing on Sutton.
“Hey.” The tight smile was unnatural, forced, and shit if that didn’t have my knees shaking and wanting to stand up, beg him to listen.
I swallowed back the desire to do just that, knowing the fact I would be asking him to listen rather than taking my words back meant I didn’t deserve a single thing from Nate.
“I was just coming to say goodnight and remind you to ice your ankle… so, night.” He gave a chin lift and went back to his room.
The sound of the lock engaging hit hard. My teeth clamped the inside of my cheeks.
“Shit, sorry, Broadwater, you think he heard us? I didn’t mean anything by it.” Jayden’s voice was finally low, genuine concern evident.
“I’m sure he’s fine, just tired,” I lied. “Why are you guys here anyway?”
