He shakes his head like he doesn’t want to talk about it, but the way he pushes the half-drank beer to the middle of the table says he’s worried about his brother.
I don’t know much about his brother, other than that he disappears now and then. I think it has something to do with drinking or drugs. Seth only mentions it in passing and every time he does, he brushes the topic away before we can really talk about it.
The door to the apartment opens and we both look over.
“The girl put her finger in my petroleum jelly container and smeared it on her lips,” Dylan says.
“Fuck, I’m guessing you gave it to her?” Jax asks.
“Yeah, but I charged her for it. I mean, use some common sense. Do you want an infection?”
I stare dumbfounded as the two of them walk in like they’re best friends. Even Seth’s eyes are bouncing between me and them.
“Shit, those steaks look good,” Seth says, his eyes wide like one of those cartoons where the ribeye is hanging off a fork in front of the dog.
“Thanks. Want to join us? I got plenty.” Jax places the plate in the middle of the table.
“Nope. Seth has to get home to Knox. This is a roommate-only dinner,” I say.
Dylan slides the asparagus onto the table and picks up a stalk, chomping down. “Sorry, dude, I’ll leave the scraps at your door.” He winks.
Seth sighs, stands from the chair, leaving his beer behind. “No need. I’m gonna convince Knox to get his dick out of Leilani long enough to go to dinner. You realize I’m the only single one now besides all of you, right?” His shoulders slouch and he exaggerates walking to the door like a child.
Dylan and Jax glance at me. I hadn’t really thought about that. Blanca and Ethan, Sierra and Adrian, Knox and Leilani. Seth shoots a pair of pathetic eyes over his shoulder one last time when he reaches the door.
“Jesus,” Dylan says.
“Let the guy stay, Rian,” Jax says.
“Fine. But you’re not to talk.”
Seth straightens and smiles, walking back over and picking his beer up off the table. “I feel like I should’ve contributed something.” He digs his hand in his pocket and pulls out some business cards. “Here. Free bagel for everyone.”
The cards are for Andrews Bagels. He passes them out like a grandpa does butterscotch candies.
“Jeez, thanks. I’ll add this to the stack in my room.” Dylan pockets it.
I shove mine in the drawer with the others we’ve gotten in the past.
Jax examines it. “This is your place?”
Seth swallows his sip of beer. “My parents.”
“I was at the Bagel Place this morning. They have a hot girl working there. Is there a hot girl at Andrews Bagels? You might be able to convince me to switch.”
Dylan looks over his beer bottle at me and we share a look. The Ericksons own the Bagel Place. They’re pretty much the Andrews’ archenemies, which means Seth Andrews can never entertain the idea of Evan Erickson. Some of us think that upsets him to a degree, but we let him pretend the only thing he feels for her is hate.
Seth cuts his steak and the knife screeches across the plate. “Long dark curly hair?”
Jax’s eyes light up. “Yeah. When she bent over to get me a bagel…” He sticks his bent finger in his mouth and bites the knuckle.
Dylan and I share another look. I want him to be prepared to act in case Seth’s knife dives toward Jax’s throat.
“The two bagel places are competitors,” I say in the hopes that Jax will read between lines.
His eyes only light up further. “Oh, I get it. So she’s like an enemy of yours.”
Seth shrugs, sawing into the steak again. “Andrews’ bagels are better anyway.”
Jax finally looks at Dylan and me and quirks an eyebrow. I don’t know anything about Dylan and Jax’s relationship, but they obviously have some sort of non-verbal conversation. Jax nods as if he’s in the loop now.
“She’s your Juliet?” Jax asks Seth.
“Owens.” Dylan shakes his head.
Seth’s gaze flies to Jax. “No. It’s not like that.”
“If you say so. You’re cool if I hit on her then?” He winks at me.
Dylan growls over his forkful of salad.
“Why would I care?” Seth picks up the salad dressing and douses his salad with it. Not one piece of lettuce isn’t covered with dressing.
“Cool.” Jax nods, stabs the piece of meat he cut, and leans back in his chair while he chews, amused.
Dylan continues to shake his head.
“So, Jax, Knox says you’re pretty famous?” Seth asks.
Dylan grunts again, stabbing at his lettuce.
“I wouldn’t say famous, but I’ve made a name for myself.”
“You’re modest. Knox showed me all your Instagram followers.”
“Really?” I pull out my phone and look him up on Instagram. “OMG, you’re friends with all these celebrities?” I show Seth then Dylan.
Dylan never bothers to look up. Does he feel competitive with Jax? Duh, Rian. Of course he does. How do I feel about Johann? I place my phone screen-side down and pick my fork back up.
“We’re acquaintances. None of them would take a bullet for me or anything.” Jax eyes Dylan, who rolls his eyes.
“Super impressive,” Seth says. “Maybe I’ll go to you for my next piece.”
He and Jax share a laugh since Dylan has yet to pick his head up from his plate. Dylan has done all three of Seth’s tattoos.
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to get one.” I play along with the joke.
But this time, Dylan’s head raises like I just announced there’s a bullet coming right for him. He cocks his head to the side. “What?”
“I’ll totally tattoo you. Do you have anything in mind?” Jax asks. “I’ve got an entire book of just chick tattoos.”
“If you want a tattoo, I’ll give you one,” Dylan says softly, eyes focused only on me.
Jax holds his hands in the air. “Oh yeah, I’d hate to step on any toes.”
“You live for stepping on fucking toes,” Dylan says, looking him square in the eye.
My patience breaks. This dinner was supposed to help us figure out how to coexist, but if anything, it’s made it worse.
“Okay, this entire friendship-turned-hatred thing is driving me crazy. Can you please just tell me what the hell happened between the two of you so we can clear the air?” My eyes shift from Jax to Dylan and back to Jax.
“It’s Phillips’s problem, not mine.” Jax shrugs and continues to eat.
“It’s water under the bridge,” Dylan mumbles.
“Bullshit,” Seth coughs out.
I’ll second Seth. I cannot continue to live with all this animosity. My fork slams down on the table and all three of their heads pop up. Jax doesn’t look as surprised as Dylan and Seth, but then again, Jax doesn’t know me well. Which, sad to say, I kind of like.
“Talk.” I lean back and cross my arms.
Dylan wipes his mouth. “It’s shit from high school. I’m over it if he is.”
Jax scoffs. “I came here willingly. Do you really think Knox didn’t tell me you were here or that I didn’t know Ink Envy was yours? Clearly, the problem isn’t mine.”