Page 22 of Play Fake
I’d watched her face fall as he thanked her for the beer, one she’d clearly set aside for him, and then took off with his usual choice of rail thin blonde. He had a type, and it wasn’t her fault she didn’t fit it. And I, in my drunken state, felt she needed that information. That maybe if she knew, it would make her a little less disappointed. Soothe the burn of rejection to know it wasn’t personal.
The bartender slides the drinks in front of me, and I slide the cash across the bar top back to him before I head her way, where she’s still laughing and smiling. Apparently, this guy should have a career in stand-up.
“Hey,” I say softly, dropping the drink into her hand before I slide in behind her, standing a little extra close so Mr. Comedian gets a better idea of our situation.
“Hey. Oh! Thanks. I probably shouldn’t, but hey what’s one more, right?” She lets out a little laugh, and her eyes go back to her friend, who is currently sizing me and our relationship up, as she takes a drink. His smile faltering at our proximity.
“Oh shoot. I should introduce you!” She stops abruptly and points back and forth between us.
“Waylon, this is Jay. He’s a friend of Ezra’s. And Jay, this is Waylon, he’s - “
“Her boyfriend,” I cut her off and extend my hand.
His smile drops, but he shakes my hand in return, his eyes bouncing between us.
“Boyfriend? Wow. I didn’t realize. I mean, it’s what, only been a few weeks since…” he trails off once he realizes what he’s bringing attention to.
I look down to see her reaction, and any laughter has faded, and her eyes are distant, traveling across the room as if she wishes she could disappear. She’s brave for even being here tonight because if the situation was reversed, I don’t think I could, even with an upgrade at my side. But then I also don’t do relationships because they only lead to disappointment and distraction.
“Yeah, well, the second I found out he was stupid enough to make her single.” I shrug as if it’s self-explanatory. Because it should be to him, since he was so clearly ready to jump on his friend’s girl the second she was free. Which is a dick move, and one that makes me wary of his intentions toward her. It’s part of the reason I’m eager to let him know she’s not available, and definitely not to him.
“Right.” He gives me a tight smile I reflect back.
“Jay!! My man!!” a loud male voice yells, interrupting our little threesome and we all look up to see who it is.
Ezra. The man of the hour.
I feel Mac take a step backward, straight into me as though she’s ready to flee the scene, and I can’t blame her. I wrap my arm around her, splaying my hand over her waist so she knows I’m here for whatever she needs, and then let her go again.
I watch Ezra greet his friend while covertly looking at Mac over his shoulder, whom he doesn’t seem surprised to see there. Clearly using his friend as an excuse to talk to her.
“Hey Ez. You guys were fan-fucking-tastic man. One of your best sets yet.” Jay slaps him on the back in congratulations.
“Yeah? Well, I appreciate you coming out.” He doesn’t look all that appreciative though, and I wonder if he knows this guy has had a hard-on for his ex for a while.
Then I watch him turn to us, and feign surprise that Mac is there.
“Zie, I didn’t think you’d make it. Thanks so much for coming.” He opens his arms to hug her, and she begrudgingly reciprocates the gesture.
“I promised Ally I would be here,” she mumbles over his shoulder.
He looks up at me, gives me a curt nod, and I can see him assessing me from behind curiously jealous eyes. I nod back, not wanting to be rude even though I’d rather tell this guy to go fuck himself. Also, Zie? The man calls her fucking Zie? I’d never paid close enough attention to notice it before, but I hated it.
I glance down at her, to see she’s practically vibrating with tension. So, I slip my hand around her waist again and pull her back into me. Jay and Ezra are discussing something, so I take the opening to lean down and whisper to her.
“You’re fucking gorgeous and he’s an idiot. He knows he fucked up because he just gave me the square up.”
She lets out a little laugh and leans back into me, her body relaxing ever so slightly as she does it. I brush her hair back from one side of her neck, planting a quick soft kiss against the skin there. It doesn’t go unnoticed because Ezra’s eyes flick to mine even as he talks.
I smirk. That’s right, asshole. You were stupid enough to let her go, and I’m going to do my best to make her forget you exist.
Her hand slides over my palm, and she laces her fingers with mine. The ease with which she does it surprises me, but I give her a little reassuring squeeze in response. She turns around then, staying so close I can feel her breasts brush against my chest, and she looks up at me, her eyelashes lifting slowly before her eyes meet mine.
“You ready to go back to my place?”
Her tone and the way she looks at me is an unmistakable invitation. One so fucking sexy it’s like she’s lit a match on my skin, heat radiating out from where her body meets mine, and I have to remind myself it’s a game we’re playing.
“Anytime you are.”
