“I’m good.”
“Dude,” he pressed. “Do not make me go over there alone.”
“Yeah, Thayer. What Maisie doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” Kason chimed in.
Shay whacked his arm.
“What?” Kason asked. “I just meant?—”
“Not good,” Shay assured him.
“Well, I’m not with Maisie,” I said, though I was only saying it for one person’s benefit.
“Then there’s no reason why you can’t go over there,” Kason said.
“True story. Let’s go,” Jesse said, already making his way over to the girls.
Fuck. I glanced at Giselle.
“Looks like Jesse needs a wingman, Thayer,” she urged.
I closed my eyes. Even though she tried to sound supportive, I could tell it hurt her to say it—and she was the last person I’d ever want to hurt. But I was in a no-win situation. Jesse was already on his way over—and in everyone else’s eyes, I had no reason not to go over there.
Dammit.
I dug my hands in my pockets and exhaled, walking over to greet the girls with him.
“We won’t wait up!” Kason called to us.
“Asshole,” I grumbled.
Giselle
The ride home was a quiet one. Maybe I was the only one who noticed. Maybe not. But two hours of Thayer being surrounded by other girls who thought he was single—wait. He technically was single. Regardless, it sucked. And I all but pushed him over there. So stupid.
I really had no right to be that shook. It wasn’t like I’d called it off with Gino for Thayer. I didn’t even know if that’s what Thayer wanted. If I broke up with Gino, would Thayer be freaked out? Did he see this as something casual? Because he had to know, I’d never been a cheater. I’d never even considered it. But with everything in my life being thrown into upheaval, and my feelings and emotions being so out of whack, I sought comfort in someone who I knew could give it to me. Unfortunately, that wasn’t Gino. I’m not actually sure it ever had been.
Once we arrived back, security swept the house. I was the first one in, and I headed straight up to my room. I moved into the bathroom and shed my clothes, needing a shower to wash away the night. Did Thayer enjoy the girls’ attention? Did he want to hook up with one of them?
Gahhhhh.
I needed to get a grip and figure things out before I went and did something crazy like cut ties with Gino—the guy who’d done so much for me—for a guy who wanted no strings attached.
I washed my hair, scrubbing my scalp as if it would somehow clean away my conscience. But, it couldn’t. I wasn’t sure anything could.
A nearby rustling caused me to freeze.
“G?” Thayer whispered before the shower curtain pulled open, and a very naked Thayer climbed in behind me.
I hated to admit it, but relief whooshed out of me, and I could finally breathe easily again.
His arms slipped around my waist, and he pulled my back against his chest. “I’ve wanted to do this all night,” he murmured against my neck.
“With me or one of those girls?” I despised myself for even asking.
“Soooooo. You were jealous,” he said.
I shrugged.