“Ah, Elena. I thought it was you. I’ve been trying to find you for an hour, hoping you’d save one dance for me.” Elías’s voice gains my attention.
“Elena needs to stay by my side this evening. Maybe you can try again—I don’t know—never?” Jax shoos him with his hand, conveniently extending his middle finger.
“He’s joking. Ignore him.” My eyes narrow at Jax.
“Good. I’m going to ask the DJ to play one of your favorites. I’ll be back.” Elías shoots me a secretive smile.
“Stop leading him on.” Jax’s growl of a voice makes my blood run hot in my veins.
“It’s one dance with a friend. Stop making such a big deal of things.”
Jax’s jaw clenches, the shadows lingering where the chandeliers don’t shine. “Friend?”
“It might seem like a foreign concept to you, but men and women can be friends without having sex.”
“That’s bullshit. Liam and Sophie are a perfect example of what happens between two friends.”
I roll my eyes. “Elías and I have known each other for years. It’s not like that between us.”
“I didn’t ask for an explanation. Do whatever you want.” He walks away, dismissing me.
I ignore my budding annoyance as I search for my friend. Elías is easy to spot near the DJ booth, striking up a conversation with the man working the turntables. He shyly smiles at the DJ as he walks away.
He pulls me out onto the dance floor, spinning me in a circle to “La Bicicleta.”
“So, you and the DJ?” I waggle my brows.
He shakes his head. “You know how it is.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine how you feel.”
“It’s hard in a sport like this. I don’t want to be the first…you know.”
No time will ever feel right for Elías to come out to the world. With his career, he remains secretive about his sexuality despite how much it pains him to hide a major part of himself.
“I’m sure that’s scary, but times have changed.”
Elías’s voice drops to a whisper I struggle to hear over the music. “I don’t know about that. I hate when guys assume I’m going to hit on them because they have a dick and a good ass.”
“I would hope in today’s day and age, people would be more accepting.”
“I don’t want to be the one to test it out. At least not yet. Definitely not now after scoring a contract with a top team.”
“Whenever you’re ready, you let me know, and I’ll help you.”
Elías smiles. “What would Jax and I do without you?”
“While you may forget your answers to questions during a press conference, Jax might end up as the next trending Twitter hashtag. And not for a good reason.”
“You’ve got to admit, hashtag JaxAttack is pretty damn catchy.”
“Almost as catchy as the STD he’s bound to get from whatever woman he hooks up with at the club.”
Elías’s chest shakes as he laughs. “Say what you will, but he brings out a fire in you I haven’t seen in a while. I was getting worried, you know, but I didn’t want to say anything last year. You looked tired and sad, and I wasn’t sure if you were stressed or if it was because of other stuff with your grandma…”
“I don’t want you worrying about me. Especially not about the other stuff.” My eyes scan our surroundings.
“Someone has to. How’s her new facility working out?”