Page 129 of Make Me Dream of You

Everyone is quiet.

There’s an energy in everyone’s silence. A buzzing just under the surface.

Bex is sort of bouncing as her eyes shift between Spencer and Jake. Then to Noah.

I fist the thick cloth napkin on my lap.

Noah catches me looking, our eyes meeting for the quickest of seconds. I hate that I can see the longing in his face. I hate that I’m sure it’s mirroring mine.

I turn away.

Macy looks at Wood’s almost empty mojito while her glass of wine sits full.

Here goes. I’m going to do it. I’m going to tell Noah I found out about him and Bex. Then I’ll have to beg her for forgiveness and hope she doesn’t hate me.

I take a sip of water first, heart pounding, hand shaking, fingers threatening to drop the slippery glass again.

Jake loudly clears his throat. “I have something to tell you all,” he says, straightening. He nods toward Spencer. “It was my brother’s idea to come out tonight to celebrate me getting selected for a prestigious position in the oncology department at the hospital. It’s been several grueling weeks of interviews and panels.”

Spencer raises his wine glass and gives a curt smile.

“But I have another exciting thing to share,” he takes a deep breath before he continues. “When I arrived in town, Spencer let me stay with him while I was in limbo, looking for a permanent place. He also specifically said to stay away from this one.” Jake points a thumb at Bex who smiles back at him. “So much so, that he said he’d kick me out on my ass if he caught me messing around with her.”

“Christ,” Spencer mutters under his breath.

“He knows I have a weakness for blondes.” Jake beams at Bex, almost blushing.

What is going on?

“Well, I’m sorry, Spence, but I didn’t stay away.”

What. The. Fuck?

“What?” Spencer’s expression is unreadable, though his lips look thinner than normal and he hasn’t blinked this whole time.

Macy’s face is contorted in confusion.

Noah doesn’t seem fazed at all.

Wood stirs his mojito with his straw.

“Anyway,” Jake continues, putting his arm around Bex’s shoulders. She leans into him. “Now that I have a secure, permanent job and I’m getting my own place, we can finally tell you all that?—”

Bex bounces with a giant grin and cuts in, “We’re in love and we’re going to move in together!”

Spencer’s nostrils flare, but he doesn’t say anything.

Wood shouts, “Congrats!” then slurps the rest of his drink.

Spencer stands, throwing his napkin to the table. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Wait—what?” Macy tilts her head, her mouth hanging open.

“I know”—Bex makes a cute little cringey face—“I won’t be going in on the apartment with you guys.” She looks at me apologetically, but I still haven’t processed half of what’s going on.

“No.” Macy shakes her head. “I mean, I thought you were hooking up with Noah.”

Jake turns to Bex. “What?”

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