Ethan says nothing. I’ve actually known him longer than I’ve known Blanca, so even though it feels a little odd, talking about Jax in front of him isn’t weird.
“It was good. He’s a really nice guy.”
“Nice?” Blanca looks at Ethan for a moment before her brown eyes land on me again. “Did anything happen?”
“Blanc,” Ethan says.
“I’m just asking.” She waves. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“I didn’t kiss him. We were just leaving the bowling alley when we got the call about Dylan,” I say.
I’m not sure if I want to tell Blanca, and Ethan, that Jax saw right through me. That he knows I’m pathetic and have fallen for a man who will never feel the same about me. It’s embarrassing even if Blanca knows my feelings for Dylan. But to deny the attention of another guy because of that crush feels ridiculous. Like I’m holding out for something that’s never going to happen.
“Oh, I bet he knows how to kiss,” she says.
“Blanca!” Ethan yells.
Blanca bites her lip. “Not as good as you, babe.” She kisses his cheek before whispering something in his ear.
“Better,” Ethan says.
“Do you think you’ll go out with him again?” she asks.
I shrug. “I’m not sure. We’re roommates, and I don’t want to mess that up either.”
Blanca turns back around to face forward. Ethan looks at me in the rearview mirror, and our eyes meet. I can tell by his expression that I’m not as transparent as I like to think to him either.
“Dylan’s going to need some help until that cast comes off,” he says, giving me an out of the conversation about Jax.
I mouth, “Thank you,” and he nods.
“Yeah, we’ll all have to pitch in,” Blanca says.
“I’m sure I can handle most of it,” I say. “Who knows? Jax stayed around the hospital, so maybe those two can kiss and make up now.”
“Yeah, what’s up with them?” Blanca asks.
Ethan looks at me again through the rearview mirror as if he knows everything.
“I have no idea,” I lie because it’s not my business to share.
Thankfully, Blanca isn’t Sierra. She gives up. Sierra’s like the dog that never lets go of the tug toy until you give her something bigger and better.
We pull up to the apartment building and Ethan lets us out before he goes to hunt for a parking space. Dylan and Sierra are already waiting at the doors since Adrian gets to park in the lot designated for his building across the street.
“Here, take your boots.” I pass her the boots I have in my hand. “You can go, Sierra,” I tell her, inserting our key into the building.
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“God yes. Please carry on with your sex fest,” Dylan says, walking over with a mumbled thanks after I open the door.
“Okay, I’ll come by and check on you tomorrow!” She’s already about to cross the street.
“I guess we don’t have to tell her twice,” Blanca says, following us inside.
We ride the elevator, Blanca asking Dylan a million questions about what happened. He only offers one-word answers. She shoots me looks behind his back.
Dylan digs his keys out of the pocket of his jacket and tries to open our door with his right hand, but the tip of the key keeps missing the hole.
“Struggle to get it in? That’s probably a first for you,” Blanca says, laughing on her way down to her apartment.
“Here.” I hold out my hand even though my keys are in my purse.
“I have to figure it out eventually.”
He doesn’t release them, and I watch the tip of the key keep hitting the lock. I think whatever pain killer they must’ve given him at the hospital is affecting him. Finally, it goes in the hole and he unlocks the deadbolt, but we still have the bottom lock. Amazingly, it only takes four tries until we’re in, but by the time we enter, Jax, Seth, and Ethan are in the hallway with us.
“Just call me if you need me. Remember, I’m his in case of emergency,” Seth says and Jax slams the door in his face.
“I’m going to make him a badge,” Jax says, moving right to the fridge. He pulls out two beers and one water bottle, untwists the caps, and hands the water to Dylan, a beer to me, and downs a huge sip of his own beer. “Well, this sucks, huh?”
Dylan says nothing and downs his water. I take off and throw the white gym socks in the trash.
“Hey now, I paid good money for those socks!” Jax laughs, and I join in.
Dylan grunts and stands. “Listen, you guys, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
“Let me help you get settled in bed. I have some extra pillows,” I say.
But Dylan is already halfway to his room. When he gets to the door, he turns to us again. “I’m good. Promise.” Then he disappears into his room.
Jax steps over to me. “He’s such a martyr, I swear.”
“He’s too proud.”
Jax rolls his eyes and puts his empty beer bottle in the recycling. “I’m going to head to bed too. It was nice going out with you tonight even if…” He leans forward and I wonder what I would do if he did try to kiss me. “It was platonic. I don’t usually welcome second place, Rian.”
I bite my lip, unsure what he wants me to say.
“But if you ever get lonely at night, my bed is open.” He winks.
I’m not sure if he’s serious or just has no idea how to handle the situation we find ourselves in.
After his door shuts, I dump my beer down the drain and add the bottle to the recycling bin, lock the apartment door, and go into my room. Once I’m completely ready for bed, I knock on Dylan’s door. He mumbles a come in and I twist the doorknob.
“Just checking on…” My words trail off as my gaze falls to his bare chest.
I’ve seen Dylan shirtless plenty of times, but never have I seen him only in his boxer briefs. They’re lime green—which seems odd to me because the majority of his wardrobe is black and gray. I would’ve placed money on them being a neutral color. Maybe navy blue. But never lime green.
“Eyes up here, Rian,” he says.
As my vision sweeps up his hard chest to his eyes, I find his attention centered on my chest. It’s then I realize I’m not wearing a bra and I’m nipping. They’re like two flashlights seeking attention.
“I could say the same.”
He laughs, licks his lips. “I’ve never seen you in that,” he says, nodding toward my silk-and-lace tank-and-short pajama set.
“I change before coming out in the morning. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Are you telling me you’re a closet lingerie wearer?” he asks, his smirk so big my stomach flip-flops nonstop.
“No, it’s just not appropriate to wear…”
His gaze descends down my body one more time and I really wish I would have grabbed my cardigan. I just thought I’d pop my head in.
“You’re right. I don’t want Owens to see you like that.”
His words warm me, and I nibble on my bottom lip. “Do you need another pillow or anything?”