Page 18 of Best Served Cold

I listened as the guys discussed whether he really did have a reason to leave. I knew next to nothing about Noah’s home life. I assumed he was single based on the things he said and how he acted when we were out, but he’d never actually said if he was.

He flirted and teased, and women ate it up, but I hadn’t heard about him hooking up. In fact, Chanel, and most of the girls in our friend group, lamented how he never made a move on anyone.

Did he have a girlfriend? Had he cheated on her with me, even if it was only a dumb dare?

That would explain his reaction. If he was with someone, then a kiss lacking any sort of emotion or a physical response could be argued away as not meaning anything. But him getting hard for me changed everything.

I should feel bad, but I didn’t. If anything, a curl of something ugly and unsettling snaked through me at the thought of him going home to his girlfriend and telling her what happened.

Would he kiss her too? Maybe he’d hold her and assure her that it had meant nothing. Maybe he was heading home right now to prove to her that I meant nothing and he only wanted her.

A hand on the small of my back brought me back from…whatever my brain had been doing just then. I glanced over at my brother in thanks for breaking me free of my spiral. He knew. His face was clouded with concern.

I accepted the beer Gray handed me. Thankfully Tiny had talked Bubbles out of getting shots, and the conversation settled on the Seahawks and the start of their season.

I sipped my beer, pacing myself so I didn’t have to worry about driving with a buzz, and listened to the conversation with half an ear. Everyone was so used to my silence that no one gave it a second thought.

By the time I finished my drink, River and Gray were ready to head out.

“You good?” Gray asked Tiny, hooking his thumb at Bubbles.

Tiny nodded. He’d followed Bubbles home after work so he could drop off his car. Bubbles might be a drunk, but he was a responsible one, and no one on the crew would ever let him get behind the wheel after a few.

“Later, Shortstack.” River patted Bubbles on the head.

“Shut it, giant Smiley.” Bubbles swatted River’s hand away, his words slurring together.

We said our goodbyes.

“That was…something,” Gray noted once we got to the parking lot.

“Not really.” I held out my hand. River slapped the keys into my palm.

Both men knew I was ace so, thankfully, they didn’t ask about the dare or Noah’s reaction.

Gray’s look said he didn’t believe me, though. “If you say so.”

I shrugged, knowing my silence would make him drop it.

He took the hint. “See you guys tomorrow.”

River upnodded him. “See ya.”

I did the same.

“Need to talk about it?” River asked as I started the car.

“No.”

“Are you gonna tell me what really happened?”

I paused. My brother and I didn’t have secrets. We shared everything, and that meant everything. A part of me didn’t feel right telling him, but this was my twin, my other half. I couldn’t keep it from him.

“He liked it,” I said, checking behind me as I put the car in reverse.

“Liked it like he got happy in the pants?”

“A bit. I think the stud is extra sensitive or something.” I felt as lame as I sounded.

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