Page 106 of The Wildcard

Luke scoffed from beside him, not having believed Jack’s blabber about Angel hooking up with someone last night. He didn’t know if he should be insulted or grateful.

“Quit playing dumb,” Jack sang and rolled his head to look at Christina who was munching on a toast, “I’mtellingyou I saw him with someone.”

“You were wasted.”

Mia’s deadpan voice echoed through the empty dining area, “And I doubt Angel hooked up with anyone.”

Again. Didn’t know if he should be insulted or grateful.

A hint of doubt crept up on Jack’s face, his brows furrowing as he squinted his brown green eyes in Angel’s direction, “I’msureyou were with someone. You even growled at me to get out.”

“Firstly,” Angel responded, already exasperated. He really couldn’t haveanyone of them knowing about Raylene, “I don’tgrowl.I’m not an animal. Secondly, I was sound asleep when you banged open my doors and woke me up.”

Jack’s brows furrowed further, and Angel let the lie slip further, “So forgive me if I threw you out immediately.” He said warily.

Come on. Buy it.

Jack hummed and Luke rubbed a hand down his face, “Youwerewasted,” he pointed out and inclined his head in Angel’s direction, “And this one hasn’t had the time or the balls to go after any girl.”

Definitely an insult.

“The fuck?” Angel snapped and saw a smirk tug at Luke’s lips. His words weren’t wrong, but they were also completely overexaggerated. Angel had had his fair of hookups here and there. Sometimes at the clubs to get the edge off or just some girls who were looking for a good time. Of course he didn’t have the greatest track record of long-term relationships, but he’d–

Whatever.

“I’m just saying you should go out more. Meet some girls,” Luke started, his expression completely innocent as Christina interjected,

“Orboys,if that’s what you prefer.”

Angel shot her a wary look. Christina just smiled sweetly in response.

“Orboys,”Luke amending, earning himself a scalding glare as well, “Just go date around. Meet someone, they’ll be good for you and your…”

“Broodiness.” Mia completed. Luke nodded solemnly.

Angel scoffed, “Yeah, I’m nottaking advice from a guy who spent half his life in a one-sided relationship,” a frown from Luke, “A wide-eyed idiot who liked ajackass.” A glare from Christina, “A guy who’s made it his life mission to flirt with every living thing,” Jack blew him a kiss, “Andher.”Mia scowled at him, but Christina patted her shoulder. Solemnly agreeing completely.

“I didnotlike a jackass.”She snapped back though, and Angel’s wary gaze zeroed on hers.

“Last year. Nevan fucking Caras.”

Christina blinked as Jack shuddered beside her, “Remember when he screwed up one of his projects and blamed it on Chris?” he said to Angel and Luke rolled his eyes beside him,

“Remember when Chris decided to date him anyway?”

They all turned to look at her. Christina smiled sheepishly but chose to change the topic completely, “Right,”she said and laughed nervously, “Why don’t we turn to the guy who was stuck in a one sided love for half his life?”

Jack scoffed just as a female voice drawled from behind them all.

“Who, dare I ask is this person?”

Angel started, turning over his shoulder to see a glint of back hair as Verana Smith walked into the dining room. Following her came Kyle and Ira.But no sign of Raylene.He frowned. And then frowned at himself for frowning in the first place.

Losing his fucking mind.

Luke’s head flopped back against his chair, his lips edging into a soft smirk as he responded calmly, “Why Verana? Jealous?”

Angel turned back to peer at Jack, who was eyeing Luke and Verana with an odd look in his eyes. Before Verana could respond, he decided to interject, “Did I come intoyourroom last night?”

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