“Is it hard to see them together?”
He blinked, surprise flickering in his eyes. “No. Not anymore. It took me a while to get to this point, but I’m happy for them. Hannah and I work much better as friends. Maybe always did.”
Really? That was a pretty big change from how he’d felt that day in the tent. It was good to know he’d finally given up chasing the ghost.
What had changed?
“On another note, I believe you.” James glanced away and started flipping the burgers. “About not sleeping with Ryan.”
She didn’t want to be relieved, but it was another weight lifted off her chest.
“Good.” She sighed. “There is zero interest on my side. Not only is he a little sleazy—sorry, I know he’s your cousin and all—but he’s not my type.”
“He’s absolutely sleazy.” He paused. “So you have a type?”
Tori paused, thinking about her Aidan from Comic Con. How much fun he was and the day they’d had. Her whole body warmed and her lips lifted in a soft smile.
“Yeah, I think I do.”
“Are you seeing someone?” His words were casual, but she didn’t miss the way his grip tightened on the spatula.
Did the idea of her dating someone else bother him?
“No. I mean, I met someone recently, but it didn’t really work out.” She shook Aidan free from her thoughts. “What about you? I see you brought someone to your party?”
“Oh. Right. Theresa. She’s a friend from law school.”
Her stomach tightened, and she tried to keep her tone light. “Just a friend?”
He shrugged. “Potential for more is there. We’ll see.”
Nope.
She didn’t want to have this conversation. Because, with that littlewe’ll see, she realized it did bug her to think of him dating someone else.
“Cool.” Tori nodded. “Well, I should go find Kris, because she put me on potato salad duty.”
“Lucky you.”
She’d taken two steps when he called her name.
“Hey, Tori?”
With an inner sigh, she turned around to face him again.
“If Ryan ever causes you trouble or makes you uncomfortable, you can come to me.”
“Oh, sure. Thanks, James.”
“I mean it, okay?” His gaze was solemn, full of the promise of protection.
“Okay.” She bit her bottom lip. “Thank you.”
The idea of James feeling protective of her left her a bit weak in the knees.
She hated it.
With a curse at the unwanted reaction, she hustled her ass back into the house to find Kristen.