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But I don’t have the excuse of too much alcohol or letting loose in Vegas tonight. I’m here to clean up those consequences, not complicate everything.
Andcoming herecomplicated everything, I’m realizing. It was supposed to be stilted and uncomfortable, two strangers who are polite and distant. It wasn’t supposed to be the best night I’ve had in a long time. And this moment—the staring into her eyes and thinking about how she looked naked—was never supposed to happen.
It’s here, though, and I have to decide how to react.
“No.” I finally answer her question.
“So…you just came over here to chase him off?”
Two fingers slip beneath the hem of her t-shirt, grazing her lower back. It’s the barest of brushes, but Hannah shivers, goosebumps raising on her skin.
I’m playing with fire, but I don’t want to stop.
“You left me with your brother so you could flirt with some guy?”
She tilts her chin. Even in sandals, she’s tall, easily meeting my eyes. “If you’d taken a little longer to come over here, we’d probably be fucking in the bathroom by now.”
My inhale is sharp, like she just landed a blow.
“You could watch, if you want.”
She’s pushing me, and I can’t figure out why. I shouldn’t care. The whole point of this visit was to show off our incompatibility to her family. And instead, we’re ignoring her siblings, ensconced in what feels a lot like sexual tension.
I drop my hand and step away, immediately missing the warmth of her skin. I stuff my hands in my pockets, so I’m not tempted to touch her again.
“What? Infidelity bothers you?” There’s an exaggerated note of surprise in her voice, so I know exactly what she’s referring to.
It’s like a bucket of ice water. I’ve heard enough about my sins from my father, and sharing one of them with Hannah was clearly a massive mistake.
I swallow the hurt, the same way I stuff away everything else. Shake my head—stiffly—until it turns natural. “Doesn’t bother me at all. If you really hit it off with someone, just text me and I’ll go to a hotel.”
I force an indifferent smile, then turn and walk back toward the table.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
HANNAH
“So six a.m.?” Eddie says, as we walk through the parking lot.
Oliver winces, but it’s infinitesimal. I don’t think anyone else notices. Or has registered that it’s already the middle of the night for him. “Yep,” he replies. “See you then.”
“Awesome. Night, man.” As an afterthought, Eddie calls out a goodbye to me too. April and Rachel wave before heading for the car. Since Rachel lives closer to them than to me, they’re driving her home.
My brother has tons of friends. One of the bonuses of growing up in southern California is people tend to stay here. Most of my friends from elementary, middle, and high school still live locally, and the same is true for Eddie. He’s not desperate for male company. And he’s never made an effort to hang out with any guy I’ve dated beyond polite chitchat before.
I assumed my mom and Rachel would be friendly toward Oliver. April too. But I thought my dad and Eddie would be reticent. Instead, my brother is making private plans and my dad invited Oliver to a baseball game. In the year I dated Declan, he didn’t get a single invite outside the events I brought him to.
“What’s happening at six?” I ask.
“He invited me surfing.” Oliver doesn’t look at me as he responds. Hehasn’tlooked at me since I suggested he watch me have sex with someone else and then shoved a secret he trusted me with back in his face.
“You surf?”
“No.”
“Eddie’s a good teacher. He taught me.”
“Great.” His tone is flat as he climbs into the passenger seat.
