Page 87 of Sweet Vengeance
“No shit about that too. Like we don’t all see that shit. It’s nice seeing you happy. Like I said before, he’s good for you.”
“He’s good for you too.” I nudge his arm, then look down at the gray-and-black rug beneath us.
“Yeah. I know.” Rory’s red, wild hair sticks up even more when he slides his fingers through it, his leg bouncing. “It’s kinda fucked when you think about it. I’m not in love with you. I don’t want to be with you, but like I said, I miss whatwe used to do. I had this threesome a few weeks ago, and it wasn’t the same. With you and someone else…it’s one of the only times I really feel something…well, then and when I have the adrenaline rush from doing shit we’re not supposed to do.”
I watch him, try to work out what’s going on inside Rory’s head. Usually, I’m pretty good at it, but right now all the pieces aren’t connecting.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing. I don’t fuckin’ know. I don’t want you to think this means something it doesn’t. I don’t want you to think I don’t want you with him or that I don’t get why it probably won’t happen again. The watching is a fun consolation prize, though.”
Is Rory spiraling? Is he needing those moments we used to have, sharing someone between us? Last time we talked, and now too, he said he understood if it didn’t happen, but there’s something more frazzled and almost sad about him tonight.
“He cares about you.”
“Yeah, it’s fuckin’ weird, right? Because I know he does, and even though he’s yours, like I said before, it feels like he’s mine too.”
Just like I told Ollie that night, there’s not an ounce of jealousy when it comes to Rory. Hearing him say that just fills me up with all these good feelings even more. “That’s partly because of us. Because we’re…whatever the hell we are. And partly it’s because of Ollie. There’s just something about him. I played the piano the other night, man.”
Rory’s head shoots up, blue eyes wide in surprise. “Are you shitting me?”
“No. It felt good.” Better than good.
“It used to calm me down. You remember that? I’d be doing something wild, tearing up shit or whatever the fuck,and you’d play and it would help.”
I do remember. It always made me feel like I was something, giving Rory that. “I’ll play for you. I want to play for you. I’m not ready for everyone else to know yet, but when it’s just us…or me, you, and Ollie…let me play for you.”
“You better fucking play for me.”
Before I can reply, a couple of guys come stumbling over. They’re loud, one of them tripping, beer sloshing all over the place. His friend laughs, shoves him playfully, and the guy hits my piano.
Before I know what I’m doing, I’m on my feet, forearm pressed onto the drunk asshole’s neck, his body against the wall. “Watch. What the fuck. You’re doing,” I warn.
“It wasn’t my fault! He pushed me.” He claws at my arm, but I don’t let go.
“Did you push him into my brother’s piano?” I hear Rory ask, his voice even and cold.
“I didn’t…it was an accident.”
“Not what I asked.” I glance over my shoulder to see Rory stand. “I asked if you pushed him into my brother’s piano.”
“I’m sorry,” the guy says.
I look at the one beneath my arm, who’s trying to pull free. “I’m sorry too,” he says.
“I can’t hear you.”
“I’m sorry too!” He does his best to yell with pressure against his throat.
I pull back, straighten his shirt. “Good. That’s all we want to hear. Now get the fuck out of my house.”
They scramble away, tripping over their feet as they go.
Rory laughs, and I wrap an arm around his shoulder, joining in the pleasure of this moment with my best friend. When I look up, Ollie is standing there with Aislin, watching.
“Bunny! We missed you!” Rory shouts, breaking the ice.He slips out from under my arm, walks over to Ollie, and hugs him. “I thought you were gonna stay in your room all night. It’s not a party without you.”
He rolls his eyes. “It is absolutely a party without me.”
