As if he hears my thoughts, his hazel eyes meet mine. Still nothing. No emotion other than casual friendliness.
“And now here you are lunching with my girl,” Gray says to Jaden.
“Naw,” Jaden answers easily before slinging an arm over my shoulders to give me a friendly squeeze. “I’m lunching with mygirl, Fiona.”
Great. Lovely. Perfect.
If looks could kill, I’d be dead. Speared through the heart by Gray’s glare.
I force a laugh and give Jaden a light shove. “Then you can pick up the check.”
He sets his attention back on Gray and Dex, both of whom I’m ignoring in favor ofpatatas bravas.
“I got a poker game going tonight,” Jaden tells Gray. “Dean, Jamal and Monroe will be there. Even pretty boy James is in.You coming?”
Gray doesn’t even blink. “No way. I’m staying at home and sleeping if I can.”
“That’s right. I forgot you’re on baby duty. How’s the little man?”
I drift away from the conversation and glance at Dex. He’s focused on Jaden and Gray, his profile to me. The slant of hisnose and the jut of his chin are like the stamp of a Roman coin. I could totally see him as a centurion, slashing his waythrough armies.
I really have to stop crushing on him. I know myself. I’m not good at flings. One-night hookups I can walk away from withouta problem. But if I start to like the guy, I need more. I’m not going to get more with Dex.
His deep voice breaks me out of my fog. “Yeah, sure, I’ll go,” he says to Jaden.
I’m guessing he’s in for poker.
“Cool.” Jaden makes as if to rise. “It starts up in an hour. Why don’t you come with me now?”
“Sure.”
Dex is leaving. Never once having said a word to me. He stands, his chair legs scraping over the floorboards. And a senseof loss plummets to my stomach.
I want to apologize. I want to yell at him for ignoring me.
I say nothing. Dex and Jaden exchange goodbyes with Ivy and Gray. I get a kiss on the cheek from Jaden.
“Good to meet you, Fiona.” His dark eyes twinkle. “If you want to hang, give me a call. Gray’s got my number.”
I give him a tight smile. But my attention is on Dex. “That’s sweet, but I’m spending my time with Ivy and Gray and Dex.”
At the mention of his name, Dex finally looks my way. “Night, Fi.” That’s all.
I manage a nod, determined not to let this bother me anymore. We weren’t meant to be anyway. But then, as he walks past mychair, the tips of his fingers run along the back of my neck.
A shiver goes through me, a smile tugging at my lips. And then he’s gone.
The moment Dex is out of the restaurant, Gray turns on me. “What the hell was that, Fi?”
“Oh, would you relax,” I snap. “It was just a joke.”
“I guess I missed the punch line.” Gray scowls at me before stealing my water and taking a drink—while glaring over the rimof the glass.
“A pap took a picture of Jaden kissing my cheek,” Ivy explains. “Fi and Jaden were just giving him something else to gossipabout.”
“I guess.” Gray shrugs, but then gives me another hard look. “Still, Fi, that was not cool. Dex likes you and—” He flinches,rearing back as an olive bounces off his forehead. “Did you just ping me with that?”
“Did you miss the part where I threw it at your big head?” I ask sweetly before frowning. “Do not lecture me like I’m an idiot,Gray. I had no idea you guys were coming here.” I give Ivy a pointed look because she could have warned me. “And I feel shittyenough as it is.”
