Page 151 of Messy Strokes (Wrecked Roommates)

Fucked.

Again, I rub at my chest, the tightness spreading as the comforting numbness I’d been searching for stays barely out of reach. I need some air. I need to breathe. To think clearly. I need––

“What the hell are you doing, Eve?” a guy grits out beside me.

Shit. I’d almost forgotten Jake and this girl are here.

The blonde tears her lips from Jake’s and peeks up at the cocky prep boy and his little crew who’s interrupted her dry humping session with Jake.

“Troy?” Her cheeks are flushed as she looks back at the guy. “What are you doing here?”

“I saw you come in. Who’s this?” Troy motions to Jake, who looks as confused as I am.

“This is Jake,” she answers, her light blue gaze flicking over her shoulder at him. “My boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?” I interject.

I’m bombed, but I’m notthatbombed.

What the hell’s going on?

“He didn’t tell you?” Eve asks, not missing a beat as she turns back to Jake and runs her fingers through his mussed hair. “I mean, I guess itiskind of new. Jake, this is Troy.” She motions to the preppy boy-toy, who looks like he has a stick up his ass. “My ex. And this is Henry, my brother.”

Jake clears his throat and offers his hand for them to shake. “Hey, man. Heard a lot about you.”

“Funny. I haven’t heard a thing about you,” Troy counters, his upper lip curling as he stares at Jake’s hand, refusing to take it.

So that’s how we’re gonna play this.

I clench my fists, desperate for a fight. For either of these assholes to say something to piss me off. Anything to distract me from the pain coursing through my veins.

But the other guy grabs Jake’s hand and shakes it once, ignoring the asshole beside him.

“Hey, man. Nice to meet you. Like my little sister said, I’m Henry.”

Troy lets out a huff, sauntering off toward the empty stage at the back of the bar.

“Eve?” her brother adds, watching his friend walk away. He clears his throat and turns back to his sister. “Mind if we talk for a sec?”

“Can we do it later, please?” she returns. “As you can see, I’m a little busy.”

“Yeah, I do see,” he mutters. “You think Dad would appreciate the PDA, though? Especially when you just broke up with Troy?”

“We broke up three months ago, Henry. I’m allowed to move on.”

Henry squeezes the back of his neck, his attention shifting over to Jake but returning to Eve quickly. “We’ll talk later––”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” the blonde argues.

“And I think there is.” He lifts his chin at Jake. “Nice to meet you, man.” Then, he looks at me. “You too.”

Henry strides over to his frat brother without another backward glance as the air from Eve’s lungs whooshes out of her. Once they’re out of earshot, she climbs off Jake’s lap and pats his chest, smoothing down his rumpled shirt. “Thanks. I owe ya.”

“Glad I could be of service.” Jake grins, casually eye-screwing her as he leans his elbows onto the bartop.

As if my world isn’t spinning apart. As if he has all the time in the world to fix her problems instead of helping me understand mine.

“I’m going to go use the ladies’ room. See you around, Jake.” She wiggles her fingers back and forth and walks away, her hips swaying.

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