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The pizza came in record time, and we all crowded around the living room, eating off of paper plates and drinking the cheap beer. I was seated next to Julian, who kept accidentally touching my hip with his.
I glanced over at Julian, and he smiled, taking another sip of his beer. Maybe not accidental?
“So, yeah, it’s been a week,” Piper said with a sigh.
“What did I miss?” I asked. Julian had completely broken my concentration.
“Peter and Jeremy broke up,” Piper said.
I frowned. “Oh no! What happened?”
Peter was Piper’s twin brother. He and Jeremy had been dating for a long time. I didn’t even know how long. They’d been inseparable.
She shook her head. “I have no idea. He won’t talk about it.”
“But he’s distraught,” Blaire added. “He was here last night and cried the whole time. We don’t know what to do for him anymore.”
“Fuck,” Hollin said eloquently.
“I know that feeling,” Chester agreed. “I just went through a rough breakup. Two years, and then it ended.”
“Maybe you could talk to him!” Blaire suggested. “I mean…if you’re okay to talk about it.”
“Yeah. It was the right time for my relationship, but it still hurts.”
I stared at my brother. He hadn’t spoken one word about Margaret since the breakup. He hadn’t even told me himself. I was surprised he was volunteering this information.
“Well, why don’t we go out tonight?” Julian suggested. “We could get Peter out of the house. Might help.”
“Yes!” Annie cried. “I’ll drag Jordan out, too.”
“I’m down,” Blaire agreed.
“I’ll try anything,” Piper said.
Chester and Hollin both agreed to go out. All eyes swung to me. I was still distracted by Julian. Now, his hip wasn’t the only thing pressed against mine. Half of his leg was also touching. And fire was running down my entire body at the contact.
I looked up at him again. The last time we’d gone out together, I’d gotten wasted, and we’d hooked up. Was going out a good idea if we were keeping this…casual?
He smirked. “Well, Dreamsicle?”
I flushed at the nickname. “I’m in.”
18
Julian
Desire had simmered in Jennifer’s eyes when I suggested we all go out tonight. It had been pointed. The whole damn day had been. Helping her with the cats and moving and feeling her pressed against me while eating. It was all because I couldn’t keep myself from being close to her, and I wanted her to feel that, too. I wasn’t sure that she had until I called her Dreamsicle. Then our entire night at graduation flashed in her eyes. And she’d agreed to come out.
Saying we were casual and just having fun was one thing when I was trying to get her not to destroy what we’d built that weekend. But when she was around me, it didn’t feel casual at all. I didn’t want to scare her. Sometimes, she was as skittish as Avocado.
“How did I get forced into this?” Jordan asked as he came to stand before me and Hollin inside Walkers, a coffee shop by day and pub by night.
I leaned back against the bar and took a sip of my Jack and Coke. “You’re whipped.”
Jordan snorted. “Sure, that’s it. Not that I want to please the love of my life.”
“I’m sure you could do that a thousand other ways,” Hollin said with a suggestive shift of his belt.
“Subtle,” Jordan drawled.
“Why are you here without Annie anyway?” I asked.
“She wanted to help Jennifer get ready.” His eyes slid to mine. As if he already knew exactly what had transpired between me and Jen. “Were you going to tell me that you were dating our photographer?” He flagged down the bartender and ordered a drink.
Hollin crowed, “Good luck nailing him down on that.”
“We’re not dating.”
“Fake dating,” Jordan said. “Whatever.”
“Don’t big-brother me,” I said, bumping his shoulder. “You friends-with-benefitted Annie.”
“She was leaving,” he growled. “It was different.”
I didn’t want to get a lecture from my overprotective, older brother. I loved Jor. I just didn’t need it today.
“And what about Hollin? He managed to carry on an entire conversation with Piper without either of them biting each other’s heads off.”
Hollin scoffed, “We didn’t make it that long. You missed the cutdown every time I passed her while we were moving.”
“What is with you two?” Jordan asked.
Hollin shrugged. “Fuck if I know. She hates everything that comes out of my mouth.”
“And you love baiting her,” I added.
“How could you not enjoy baiting someone who reacts like she does?” he asked with a chuckle.
“So, are you going to three-date-rule her?”
Hollin punched me in the shoulder. “That is not what I said.”
“What the fuck is a three-date rule?” Jordan asked, grabbing his drink off the bar.
“It’s nothing. Julian is making shit up,” Hollin grumbled at me. “And I’m not dating Piper. I’m not dating anyone. I’m too busy, living up the bachelor life.”
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Jordan said with a laugh.
