Secret Admirer - D.J. Jamison Page 0,64

grim and silent, only loosening up when we ran into one of the other guys on our way out. By the time we met up with Benji at his car, I’d been sure Jeremy was going to tell him to leave my ass behind. Instead, he’d demanded the keys to drive. I hoped taking control of something as simple as driving could settle him a little.

“So, what’s Chicago like?” I asked as I stole a quick glance toward the back seat. Benji sat in the middle of the bench seat, arms crossed, looking unhappy. I hoped that wasn’t because of me pulling away from that little kiss. It’d been torture not to touch him, but I was walking a fine line with Jeremy. I didn’t want to push him over the edge with too much PDA right away.

“Cold as fuck,” Jeremy answered without taking his eyes from the road. “That ‘Windy City’ nickname is no joke.”

“But you like the work, right?”

“Yeah, it was grueling, though. Not gonna lie.” Jeremy hesitated. “I may have met someone.”

“Ohhh. You hear that, Benji?” I crowed, glancing over my shoulder. His eyes met mine and he smiled faintly in question. “Jeremy met someone in Chicago.”

Benji leaned forward. “Who is she?”

“Just a woman I met at work.”

“But are you being safe?” Benji asked with mock seriousness.

“Of course.”

“I don’t know. Maybe I need to meet her, make sure she’s not taking advantage.”

“You can’t be too careful,” I added, smirking.

“Fuck you both,” Jeremy grumbled. “I don’t sound like that.”

“You kinda do,” Benji said.

“You were eating candy from a stranger!” he protested, flinging one hand out and nearly whacking me. I dodged back a little, snickering. “You were getting creepy little gifts and notes from some weirdo.”

“Ouch.”

“I happen to like weirdos,” Benji teased, though he looked at me uncertainly.

“Again, ouch.”

Benji tentatively put his hand on my hair, brushing it back from my face. Our eyes caught and held for a moment. He looked uncertain. “I’ll let you two talk.”

He started to withdraw, and I instinctively knew that I’d made a mistake when I’d pulled away from him earlier. I’d promised Benji I was with him in this, regardless of his brother’s reaction, and then I’d immediately made him feel unsure of whether he could show me any affection.

When he started to withdraw, I caught his hand. I kissed his palm, then tugged him forward and kissed his lips.

My chest warmed as Benji relaxed, kissing me back. Then my stomach swooped as the car swerved.

I jerked back, glancing at the road, but nothing was there. Jeremy’s hands were clenched tight around the steering wheel. “Trying to drive here,” he gritted out.

“So, drive,” I said, before grinning at Benji and turning back to the front. “Tell us more about this mystery woman of yours.”

Jeremy grumbled. “Not much to tell. I don’t think it’s going to work out.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

I shifted in my seat, toward Benji. “Well, Benji and I could just make out some more…”

“She’s my supervisor,” Jeremy blurted hurriedly, and I had to bite down on a grin. Clearly, PDA was still a bit much for him, but at least Benji knew that my heart was with him. I wasn’t going to avoid him to put Jeremy at ease, no matter how much I wanted us all to make peace.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” I asked. “Messing around at work?”

Jeremy barked a laugh. “No, in fact. I’m pretty sure it’s an awful idea.”

“Too late?”

“Too fucking late.”

We carried on talking. I let Jeremy change the subject because it was obvious he wasn’t entirely happy talking about his workplace fling on the verge of ending. And while we talked, I reached back with my left hand, intertwining my fingers with Benji’s.

When I looked back, Benji was more relaxed, smiling even though he couldn’t hear most of what we said. Yeah. That was better. Jeremy needed to get used to his new reality anyway. Shielding him from any shows of affection wouldn’t help any of us adjust to the changes in our dynamics.

Somehow, I had to figure out how to be Jeremy’s friend and Benji’s boyfriend, without losing the special something I had with each of them.

19

Benji

When we arrived, Mom came out the front door to meet us, a huge smile breaking out when she saw Ace. She walked right past me and Jeremy, drawing Ace into a hug. “About time you came back here,” she said, gently scolding him.

“Sorry, Stacy,” he said. “I’ve been busy.”

She stepped back, chuckling. “I bet you have.