As far as I knew, Jules didn’t party. I’d never heard of him going to one, but then again, we’d avoided each other like the plague the past three years. Maybe he was a secret party animal, and I just didn’t know it.
“Because Dec told me to. And Elle asked.”
“Dec? Is that your Canadian friend?”
“Yeah.” He sounded surprised I knew that.
I adjusted my arms around him but didn’t ease my hold.
He melted against me and nuzzled my chest.
“You really are a kitten, you know that, right?”
“Shut up,” he huffed out, amusement tinging his voice as he kept on nuzzling me. “You smell good.”
“I didn’t know you were friends with Elle.”
“You know her?”
“Yeah. She and her sorority sisters end up at a lot of the parties I go to.”
“Do you know her… like that?”
“Why?” My voice was teasing and mild, amused.
“No reason.”
“Awww, is my little kitten jealous?”
“Shut up.” He pressed his face in my neck and breathed in.
“To answer your question, no. I never hooked up with Elle. She’s a sweetheart, but I don’t like her like that.”
“But you and Genesis…”
“We had a bit of a thing last year. We hooked up a few times, but she started getting clingy and serious, so I ended it.”
“Elle said you’re getting back together.”
“We were never together. And no. She’s a nice girl but too much drama. She’s looking for something I can’t give her.”
He snorted and turned his face so his cheek was pressed against my chest.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re complaining about her being clingy, and I’m literally clinging to you.”
I chuckled and held him tighter. “I guess I don’t mind clingy Jules.”
“Am I talking to nice Ash?” he asked after a moment. “Like, are you going to go back to being an asshole, and this is only temporary because I’m a mess and you feel sorry for me?”
“I… I don’t know,” I said honestly, although I had no idea why.
I didn’t do heart-to-hearts. I wasn’t a talker like Jules, but he made me want to open up. It made zero sense, but I went with it.
I’d seen him vulnerable more than once. The least I could do was be vulnerable back.
“I don’t hate you,” he said softly.