snatched the Bellini back.
“Wait—” I blurted, but he’d already set off toward the bar again.
John and I watched as he navigated the crowd.
“He seems nice. Roommate, yeah?” John asked, and I could tell by the way he was studying Sam’s ass exactly what calculations were taking place.
I settled back in my chair and laced my fingers over my belt. Fuck me, it was hard being a nice guy sometimes. Too hard. I opened my mouth to pick up our earlier conversation, but my brain-mouth connection malfunctioned. “If you dare him to suck your dick, he’ll probably do it, because he’s pretty competitive. But he’s otherwise straight. On the other hand, I don’t require dares. I’ll suck a dick because I enjoy it. And Sam’s correct. I’m a really good cook. I’m even better at sucking cock.”
John choked on a mouthful of beer. “Was not expecting that. Alrighty, then.”
I handed him a napkin. “You learn all sorts of fascinating things living in a house with four other guys,” I offered chastely.
“Apparently so.” John burst into a laugh that tapered off when Sam returned with a different glass.
He held it out to me. “Taste it because I’m not sure he mixed it right. Doesn’t a mojito have way more sugar in it?”
I took a sip and closed my eyes in appreciation. “Nope, it’s perfect. Thank you.”
“Did I miss anything?” Sam took his seat.
John’s gaze slid over to mine, a smile quirking his lips. “Not a thing.”
“So did you know James Hoffstra when you were at the U?”
John squinted. “Guy who started Sanibel Capital. Yeah, actually I did.”
And they were off again.
I tipped my glass back with a sigh.
Eric eyed me thoughtfully when Sam and John went to the bar together, which I supposed was the frat boy version of going to a bathroom together. “You know, I worked with a guy this summer who might be your type.”
I blinked at him. “Oh, were you talking to me? Are you done astrally projecting your dick into Nate’s ass?”
Nate put a hand over his mouth, but I saw the fucker’s smile. Nate and Eric were…interesting company to be alone with. They’d perfected having an entire obscene conversation without even opening their mouths. It was annoying. And, sure, a little aspirational. It was okay to be jealous of your friends even though you were happy for them, too, right? I ached to know what that was like to have such a vehement and all-consuming attraction returned.
“I’m actually still in there, it’s just that I’m excellent at multitasking.”
“Ease up on the prostate, please,” Nate deadpanned, and they chortled merrily like the happily in-love fuckers they were.
“As I was saying, I know a guy—”
“Yeah, yeah.” I waved a hand. “Everyone knows a guy. I’m good. Really. I’m just going to sit here and drink this mojito and not be at all bitter that Sam can spark up a bromance faster than I can get a dick in my mouth. I mean, have you seen these lips?” I Vanna White flourished my hand under my mouth, which was in fact a nice mouth. I also thought maybe I should skip the rest of the mojito because I was feeling a bit effervescent in the head.
“You do have a nice mouth.” Nate kept his gaze focused on me, though his lips twitched up wickedly as Eric stared at his profile.
“Look at Jesse’s mouth often, do you?”
Nate shrugged mock casually. “I’m observant.”
“Ugh. Fuck you both. Do not make me some tool of your fucked-up foreplay. Go find a tour bus to fuck in front of.”
Eric raked his teeth over his lower lip. “You know you could join us sometime if you wanted.”
“What?” Nate whipped his head to the side, and Eric cracked up.
“Stop looking at his mouth, then.”
I snorted softly and stood. “I believe my work is done here. You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy yourselves. Think of your good friend Jesse while you’re…actually, don’t. I don’t want any part of that.”
“Well, if you change your mind, you—”
Nate clapped his hand over Eric’s mouth, and I walked off chuckling.
Setting my glass on a silver tray in passing, I asked the server where the bathroom was and was pointed toward a set of french doors.
I ended up in a long hallway filled with fancy oil paintings and elegant family photographs. I strolled along, eyeing them. Mark had been an adorable kid with a cowlick and a smattering of freckles over his nose. There was a great photo of him and his