Page 36 of Save Me
“Sliders. Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” Connor charges away, leaving Ronan and me alone.
“He seems very food motivated,” I note as we watch him carve a path through people.
“Yeah, I had a golden retriever just like him when I was a kid. His name was Pickles. You couldn’t trust him with food on the counter, and he humped a lot of legs.” Ronan shifts his stance to face me. “You seem on edge tonight.”
“Do I?” I shouldn’t be surprised. I have a lot going on—this surprise pregnancy, crashing my archenemy’s dinner party, dating a guy who enjoys casual threesomeswith his best friend. “Wouldn’t you be if you were about to meet Henry Wolf for the first time?”
He studies me for a few beats. “You sure that’s all it is?” Ronan is too perceptive, far more than I expected. But I should have. I’ve had him pegged all wrong since the moment he stepped into the Sea Witch.
I decide to flip it around. “Why? What do you think I’m on edge about?”
He steps in closer, his fingertips toying with the gauzy material in my dress. “Does Connor make you uncomfortable?”
“No.” The truth is he doesn’t, despite his boisterous personality and invasion of personal space. There is something oddly comfortable about being around them.
“Is it because of what I told you about Connor yesterday?”
“You mean your penchant for threesomes?” No point being vague.
A hint of a smile curves his lips. “I don’t know if I’d call it a penchant.”
“What would you call it, then?”
“More like a drunken ‘sure, fuck it, why not’ situation.”
“Funny, my drunken ‘sure, fuck it, why not’ situations usually involve ordering extra meat on my pizza.”
“Doesn’t sound too different.” Ronan smirks.
“Oh my God.” My face flushes as we both share a laugh at the double entendre I didn’t intend.
But I can’t let it go yet. “And how often do you find yourself in that sort of situation?” Because I need to knowwhat I’m getting myself into, if I’m setting myself up for a guy who’s not ready to give up that lifestyle.
His humor slides off as a somberness takes over. “Over a year now. Since Abbi and Henry’s wedding.”
“At awedding? I mean, how’d it happen?” How do these two friends end up in these compromising positions?
“You want details?” he asks skeptically.
“I don’t know,” I giggle nervously. “Maybe?” Is it curiosity about this man or a need to prepare for pitfalls, because I’m quickly seeing how a few drinks around them could lead to all kinds of unexpected things.
Ronan falters. “I don’t share specifics. It feels wrong.”
“Oh, right. Of course.” Ryan did warn that Ronan doesn’t kiss and tell. Still, an unexpected wave of disappointment washes over me that he won’t be open with me.
Ronan cocks his head as he studies me for a few beats. “But you’re the type that needs to know, aren’t you?”
I swallow. “Yeah, I think I am.”
He pauses, his lips pursed. “It wasn’t a?—”
“Hello, hello! Fancy meeting you here,” a familiar voice cuts in.
I spin on my heels and find Jeremy in a peach-colored button-down and beige dress pants, holding a tray of champagne flutes.
“Hey!” My smile is genuine, even if his timing is lousy.
Jeremy nods at Ronan. “Sir, good to see you again.”
