Page 13 of Best Friends

Chapter Three

As dinner neared an end, Adam and Clay were ignoring each other from opposite sides of the table, and pretty much ignoring everyone else, too. Apparently they both felt compelled to stay, for some reason. What that was, Jesse had no idea. Delilah was stuck between unapologetically fondling Hayden under the table, glaring at Jesse, and drinking too much wine. Benji and Mac were deep in conversation, and had been most of the night.

Jesse sat in the middle of it all, feeling like a seventh wheel. He’d tried to start a conversation between Adam and Clay numerous times, but between one-word answers and grunting, he’d basically given up.

Since Benji and Hay were preoccupied themselves, he had zero assistance in trying to get the pair to talk.

This was a great idea.

Jesse lifted a hand, asking for the check. He was all too eager to get the hell out of there. After the night they’d already had, he wasn’t even in the mood to go head down to Jackson Street, but he was the reason they were all there. Jesse would have to give it a go, for at least a little while. He glanced across the table at his usual wingman.

No… I’m usually his wingman.

Hayden suddenly turned his gaze and met Jesse’s stare.

Jesse paused, seeing something in it he didn’t recognize—but it was gone before he could figure it out. Whatever it was, it twisted in a knot in his stomach. Hay faced Delilah and the pair began eating each other’s faces again, making that knot turn into straight out nausea.

The check arrived, and he grabbed it before fishing out his wallet. The waitress also left a pile of fortune cookies on the table before he handed her cash and the check.

“The rest is for you,” he murmured.

She grinned and glanced around the table. “Have a great night, gentlemen! Thanks for dining with us tonight.”

Jesse reached into the pile of fortune cookies and tossed one to each person at the table. “Let’s see what our future holds.”

“You know the rule about fortune cookies, right?” Delilah said, a smug smile on her face as she opened one. “You have to add in bed to the end of your fortune.” She turned to wink at Hayden before cracking open her cookie.

Gag me. Jesse opened his and pulled out the tiny slip of paper.

Old friends make best friends.

Delilah’s comment slipped into his mind. Old friends make best friends.In bed.

His stare lifted off the scrap of paper, and he saw Hayden staring at him. There was darkness in that stare, and Jesse held it, his heart beating a little faster.

“So what’s it say?” Hayden asked, his voice low.

Jesse felt heat filling his face. “Nothing,” he answered before shoving the paper into his pocket. “What about yours?”

“Nah,” Hayden said, tucking his into his pocket. “You won’t tell me yours, you don’t get to he—”

“Mine says Love will lead the way—in bed,” Delilah said loudly, interrupting Hayden’s answer. She grabbed the back of Hayden’s head and planted a kiss on his lips.

Jesse stared at them… a sense of disgust filling him. He jumped to his feet. “So are we going?”

“I think I’m bailing,” Clay murmured.

“Me, too,” Adam said, tossing his napkin to the table and rising.

“No!” Jesse said. “You two are the reason why we’re here tonight.”

Clay frowned at him. When he turned to look at Adam, the guy wore a similar expression.

“Why’s that?” Adam asked.

“We all know something is up with you two. Whatever fight you had… you need to face each other and get over it.”

“What Jesse said,” Benji added. “We’ve all been friends for too long for the two of you to stay pissed at one another.”

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