Tristin’s shoulders and allowed my body to sink into his. But it wasn’t the same, because...reasons.
“Oh? And how would you know?”
For once, his face wasn’t impassive. In fact, it was almost like I could see the different emotions warring for control as he blinked down at me and swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
When he finally spoke, the words weren’t at all what I’d been expecting. “I’m such an asshole.”
“What? Why?”
I mean, I had plenty of evidence of why he was an asshole. But why did he say that at this precise moment?
His hands tightened on my waist. “Because I know information that will get Leo off the hook, but part of me—hell, most of me—doesn’t want to tell you. I’m that fucking selfish. I’d rather stand here and let you hurt instead of admitting that my brother is blameless. This time,” he added under his breath.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
He leaned in until his mouth was a hairsbreadth away from mine. “Before I explain, I have to tell you that I lied earlier.”
“Oh?” I asked, barely able to move my lips for fear of turning the act into an unintentional kiss.
“That dress doesn’t just suit you. It was made for you.” He slid a hand up my spine until he was caressing the bare skin exposed by the low back of my gown. “I’m not even sure that any dress in the history of dresses has looked this enticing on a woman.”
“Tristin.” I breathed his name, unable to say anything else. Because this conversation. This dance. Hell, this entire night shouldn’t be happening.
He brushed his mouth over mine in the lightest of almost-kisses. Then, he pulled back and said, “My dad lied about Leo’s date. She isn’t the athletic director’s daughter. She’s Jillian Green, Jim Green’s daughter.”
My entire body stiffened. “What? How do you know?”
“Hayle recognized her when she and Leo arrived.”
“Why didn’t either of you say anything?”
“Because we have no idea what our father is up to, and we didn’t want to freak you out.”
I released a harsh laugh. “Right. Because seeing my boyfriend practically making out with another girl wasn’t going to freak me out.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Tristin said softly. “You mean too much to him.”
I stared up at him, half-wondering if I’d slipped and hit my head while in the ladies’ room. Because nothing that had happened since I left it made sense. And Tristin defending Leo might be the most unbelievable of all.
“I can’t believe you, of all people, are taking his side right now.”
“I’m not taking his side. I’m merely pointing out that he’s likely trying to sweet-talk Jillian out of information about her father. For you.”
Hope shot through me so fast, I almost lost my footing. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to fully trust him. “Why are you telling me this?”
The hand that had been stroking the skin at my back slid back down to my waist. “I guess I was wrong. I’m not so much of an asshole that I’d rather see you hurting than admit Leo is innocent.”
My mind raced as I tried to make sense of it all. What I’d seen, and Tristin’s explanation for it. That Vincent was up to something, again. Or that Tristin seemed to care about me, despite being seriously terrible at showing it.
There was too much to unpack, and there was no way I could do it in the middle of the dance floor, in Tristin’s arms, no less.
I was seconds away from pulling away from him when a familiar but angry voice said, “What the fuck is going on here?”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Tristin
I gave my eldest brother the biggest, fakest smile I could muster. “I’m dancing with your girlfriend. What does it look like?”
“It looks like you were kissing her,” he growled.
Leo might be an even-tempered fellow most of the time, but when he got well and truly pissed, he needed room to pace and snarl and assert his dominance. Considering the splotches of red climbing up his neck, this was one of those times. He wasn’t even looking at Thea. Every ounce of his attention—and ire—was directed at me.
I couldn’t even be upset about it. This was bound to happen sometime. We needed to have it out, once and for all. Over Thea. Over everything.
However, having it out in the middle of the classiest Moss Harbor event of the year wasn’t ideal. I dropped my hands from Thea’s waist and moved away from her. “Why don’t we discuss this outside?”