“Can I talk to you for a moment?” he asked quietly in my ear.
I jolted underneath his hand, moving quickly so my shoulder was no longer in his grip. My panicked eyes swiveled quickly to Elden who was watching with an impassive face from his spot by the bar.
My breath hitched, hoping that this wouldn’t count as the kind of touch that would get Bennett hurt. He was here because of me and because he was a nice guy; he did not deserve to be punished for that.
“Sure!” I said in a tone that was much too high.
Colby snickered beside me, so I poked my tongue out at him before quickly standing to face Bennett.
His face was blank, not angry but no longer warm and inviting as it had been when we arrived.
Shit, he was mad.
Who wouldn’t be?
“Let’s go…” I looked around the crowded room, everyone congregating in little groups.
There was no corner to sit and talk privately, plus, all of the men here were worse gossips than the women.
“You can talk in my room if you’d like,” Colby offered.
I scowled at him. “We’ll go outside, thank you,” I snapped at him before refocusing my gaze on Bennett who was looking between Colby and I quizzically.
As we walked through the room silently, I smiled tightly at everyone we passed until we made it outside to the crisp air.
I rubbed my exposed arms, cursing my forgotten coat.
Bennett didn’t hesitate in handing me his. I hadn’t even realized he’d taken it with him.
Though I shouldn’t have accepted such a thoughtful act of chivalry considering what I’d just done, I took the coat gratefully. It didn’t warm me as it should’ve because it smelled of him, reminding me of what an asshole I was.
Luckily, none of the smokers had ventured outside, and the parking lot was desolate. I wished for someone to come and interrupt us so I didn’t have to have this conversation.
But no one came to save the respectable boy from the girl with questionable morals and a thing for much older, dangerous men.
Well, just one much older, dangerous man.
I opened my mouth to say what, I didn’t know, but Bennett spoke first.
“You and him, you’re a thing, aren’t you?” Bennett nodded to the door leading back into the clubhouse.
I froze. If Bennett saw that, barely knowing me, then other people definitely saw it. Or it was only a matter of time before they saw it.
“I-I, um.” I was unable to lie when I was this shocked but unwilling to tell the truth.
He smiled sadly, without the malice I might’ve expected. “It’s okay, I get it. This life…” He looked up at the Sons of Templar insignia painted on the building without distaste, just curiosity and wonder.
“I didn’t really know a life like this existed,” he shrugged, looking back at me. “Or at least I was conditioned to think the reality was much different than what it really is.” He sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. “I understand why you want him. This life is nothing like what I could ever give you, and I think you’d be deeply unhappy with whatever life you’d have with me.”
I gaped at him, unable to fathom just how clearly he’d seen me. Just how calm he was. No resentment or anger toward me.
“He seems … nice,” he offered, gesturing toward inside.
I continued gaping. He’d had a very intense altercation with Elden. He may have been polite, but no way would anyone be able to describe him asnicewith a straight face.
“And you seem at ease around him, playful,” he continued.
I screwed up my nose in confusion. I was a lot of things around Elden... Unnerved. Alive. Passionate. Nervous and confident at the same time. But notplayful.