“No,” I scoff. “He’s annoying.”
“I thought Cade was annoying at first, and look at us now,” Rae reasons, smiling at her boyfriend.
“That’s different.”
“How?” she probes.
Because I like Jace, but he left me naked and alone, shaking from the best orgasm of my life.
“It just is,” I say instead.
She blows out a puff of air, clearly frustrated with me.
“Why don’t you go out on one date with him?” she pesters. “One date won’t hurt anything.”
My face scrunches up in complete disgust. “I don’t want to go on a date with him. I don’t like him. Let it go.”
Rae’s eyes flash with hurt but she nods. “I’m sorry.” I’m surprised she apologized but I nod in thanks. “I just love you, and I want you to be happy.”
“What makes you think I’m not?”
She raises a brow like that’s a stupid question. “You seem completely unhappy most of the time. You’re quiet, and sullen, and withdrawn. I worry about you. I’ve been in a bad place before, a really bad place, and sometimes I still go there, but I want you to know I’m here for you and it does get better.”
“Thanks,” I mumble.
I’m saved from her getting any deeper by some of the NFL guys coming into the lobby. It’s obvious who they are by their sheer size and the way they carry themselves. They’re dressed in suits and ties and look incredibly nice. Probably going for some sort of interview or something. I’ll be honest, football isn’t my thing. No sport is. So, my knowledge is limited.
I scan the guys, looking for Xander. Normally, it’s easy to pick him out of a crowd—the guy is a giant—but these guys are all tall too. It’s just a sea of giant men.
Thea must spot him, though, because she hops up from her hiding place and runs, jumping onto the back of who I hope is Xander.
We hear him cry out in surprise at being “attacked” and then his surprised exclamation of, “Thea?” can be heard.
The other guys head out of the hotel and one claps Xander on the shoulder before he leaves.
Rae, Cade, and I go to join Thea.
“Surprise!” Thea dances excitedly in front of her husband.
“Wow.” Xander shakes his head. “You’re all here. This is crazy. I didn’t expect this.”
We were all supposed to have dinner earlier in the week but Xander ended up having to leave early, so I haven’t seen him since the wedding.
“We couldn’t miss your first game man,” Cade says, going to hug his best friend.
“Your parents and sister are here too,” Thea tells him. “Xavier might make it but … Yale,” she says like that’s explanation enough for his brother’s absence. “Jace is here too,” Thea continues. “But we lost him.”
“Lost him?” Xander asks, placing his hands on Thea’s waist and pulling her into him. She smiles up at him, completely in love.
My heart pangs with … it’s not jealousy, but a longing for that.
I thought I was over wanting to be in love, that I’d been through enough, but I was wrong.
Thea shrugs. “You know Jace. He disappears but he always returns like a loyal yard dog.”
I press my lips together to hold in my laugh.
Only Thea.