Page 22 of Haven

“No way,” Jules answers.

“Until recently, he was engaged to the team’s physical therapist, who is very much a man,” Scarlet tells her. “And a gorgeous one at that.”

“He could be into men and women,” Jules argues, and I start looking for another waiter, so I can stuff my face with more food and attempt to get out of this conversation completely.

“He could,” Scarlet says smoothly. “But he’s not. We’ve been at functions together before, and that man only dates men. Trust me.” She turns to find me about to bite into a spring roll and cocks a brow. “No bathroom sex for you tonight, Mommy Dearest.”

I hold my spring roll up and point it at my band of merry morons. “I was never having bathroom sex. Not tonight. Not tomorrow night. Probably not ever. Now can we move on to embarrassing someone else?Please?”

A wicked smile spreads across Lenny’s face. “Sure. How about we talk about the fact that Brandon Dixon just walked through the door with Chloe Ryan on his arm?”

And there he is.

The entire reason I agreed to go on a date tonight, wrapped up in a perfectly tailored tux showcasing his delectable muscles. He might as well have a shiny red ribbon on top of his head, just begging someone to unwrap him. Someone like Chloe.

Someone single with no baggage.

Someone gorgeous and adventurous.

Someone perfect for him.

Fuck this night, and fuck my life, and fuck my shitty, nonexistent sex life.

Fuck. It. All.

I stop the waiter walking by with lemon raspberry petit fours and take two.

I may have officially crossed over into the eating my feelings portion of the evening, but ask me if I care? Nope. The answer is hell no, I don’t. Especially as the band switches to a slower song and Becket and Travis make their way back over to our growing group. Travis holds his hand out to me. “May I have this dance?”

I place my tiny desserts on the high-top table and look at them longingly before I slide my palm in his. We take two steps before I make the mistake of looking over Travis’s shoulder at Brandon and Chloe. He’s leaning into her, whispering something in her ear as she laughs. Lucky girl.

As we step onto the dance floor, Travis wraps me in his arms. His palm splays flat against my bare back between my shoulder blades, and I don’t feel so much as a tiny flicker of anticipation. No spark at all. Maybe I’m broken.

More broken than I even realize.

I lean my head on his shoulder and silently sigh. “Scarlet told me you recently called off an engagement.” Travis stiffens, and I look around the ballroom, things suddenly beginning to click. “Wait, is he here?”

Travis groans and spins us around. The man is an incredible dancer. “See him over there in the gray suit? Blond hair, standing next to the mayor?”

“Oh my. He’s handsome.” And he really is. “The two of you together probably make a striking pair.”

I’m spun again, and his hand slides lower on my back. “I should’ve told you that before I asked you out, shouldn’t I?”

“Letting me know my purpose tonight was to make your ex jealous would have been nice. But I understand. I actually feel better knowing. The question is, are you still in love with him?”

“Yes,” Travis answers without hesitation.

“Can I give you a piece of advice?” I ask, maybe a little too pushy. But I’m not sure I’ve got anything to lose.

He nods and pulls me closer to him.

I feel eyes on me again, only this time I’m not so sure they’re Travis’s ex’s eyes, but I don’t dare look back and officially embrace my coward status as I tell someone else to seize the day. “Don’t give up if you aren’t sure. Living with regret is a bitch.”

I’m pretty sure every move this man forces is an attempt to make his ex jealous, but when I look over to where Brandon is sitting, I know I’m doing the same thing. And maybe, just maybe it’s working, because Chloe is nowhere to be seen, and his eyes are on me.

* * *

Brandon

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