Page 256 of Worthy

“I don’t care if she gets with anyone else.”

He shifts, aiming his body toward me as his shoulder rests against the house. “If that’s the case, why do you look so bothered?”

“I don’t,” I say with a bite, focusing back on my phone.

“That’s good, considering you were flirting with that girl inside. It would be a little hypocritical of you.”

“Look, Vic and I have an understanding. Our relationship is what it is. I can talk to whoever I want, as can she. I’m not being a hypocrite, and why are you watching me so closely?” I question, standing up straight as my voice gets louder.

He doesn’t look bothered by anger, remaining relaxed. “I told you earlier,” he says, his eyes dropping to my mouth.

“Told me what?”

“You know what,” he says with smug confidence. “It was shortly before you rushed to your room to…release some tension?” He forms it like a question, an arched eyebrow aimed at me.

My embarrassment ignites a fire in my cheeks, warming them up to an alarming degree. I’m glad it’s dark out here, otherwise the redness would be obvious.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie. “But if you’re saying that just because we kind of touched during a threesome—”

“And made out in the bathroom,” he pipes in.

I clench my jaw. “You don’t get to be jealous that I’m talking to anyone else.”

“Sure I can,” he says.

“What?”

“Jealousy is being envious of someone else, and I’m envious of anyone that you give your attention to.”

His honesty shocks me silent. Typically people don’t admit to being jealous, but here he is laying the truth out for me.

“Why?”

He watches me for several seconds before releasing a breath. “I knew who you were, Aiden. Before Vic approached me that night at the bar, I knew about you. I watched you play soccer, because my friend was also on the team. I saw you occasionally on campus, but just in passing.

“I knew Vic through a friend of a friend, so it’s not like we were complete strangers, we just didn’t run in the same circles. When she brought up the threesome with you, there was no way I was going to turn down the opportunity.”

I swallow, unsure how to respond. “Um. Okay.”

He chuckles, pushing away from the wall. “I know you’re having a hard time coming to terms withsomething, but I think we both know you’re at least somewhat interested in me. You don’t kiss someone you’re not attracted to. You don’t get hard if you’re not into it. And you don’t jack off right after an interaction with someone who admits to thinking about being with you again.”

“I—”

He holds up a hand. “I’ve done it several times since our threesome. I’m not judging.” He slips his hands in his pockets. “So, yeah, I’m envious, because I want what you’re offering that girl. It’s not an abnormal feeling to have, but I’m also not going to be pushy. You know where to find me.”

With that, he walks away and back into the house, leaving me a confused mess.

Chapter Seven

For the remainder of the party, I’m in my head way too much. I play a game of flip cup, take a couple shots, talk to some friends, but I can’t stop thinking about what Oliver said. He doesn’t seem to watch me anymore, and I sort of miss finding his eyes on me.

Christie sticks near my side for a while, probably wanting me to invite her to my room, but I do my best to appear locked in to whatever’s going on around me. I can’t go to the room with her if I’m an integral player in whatever game we’re playing.

People start to leave around two, and Victoria is one of them.

“I’m gonna head out.”

“How’d things go with Jacoby?”

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