My foot taps as I contemplate ordering another drink.
I’m not going to go out there.
I’m not.
I won’t.
I refuse.
And yet I head in that direction anyway.
The second I step outside and see Ezra, something jitters inside me so hard it makes me hesitate.
I’m about to convince myself to go back inside when he looks up and catches me. Something passes between us that I can’t name, and when Ezra gives me a small, private smile, it brings the fire inside me alive.
Mine.
I close the distance between us, completely ignoring West and the man next to him and not stopping until I’m in Ezra’s space. My hand finds his lower back.
“Hayes,” he says.
“Remembered I exist, did you?”
“Aw, is someone feeling neglected?”
“Thirsty,” I correct. “What happened to my drink?”
He steps closer, shoulder pressed to mine, and turns back toward West. “You remember Dalton.”
I turn slowly to find West watching me. “Yes.”
“Anton Hayes.” West holds out his hand. “I’ve heard your name a lot lately.”
I hesitate before shaking it. “Well, I have the most points scored in the league this season, so I’m not surprised.”
The guy beside him groans. “Oh no, there are two of them.”
“Anton,” I say, holding out my hand to him.
“Jasper.” We shake quickly, and I swear he drops my hand faster than West did. Then there’s a beat of awkward silence before Ezra starts to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
“I don’t actually know.”
“So, West,” I say, trying to be civil and not focused on him being hot and sweaty with Ezra. “How’s domestic life suiting you?”
“Best decision I ever made.” He points to Jasper. “This is my partner.”
Well, that makes me feel a fraction better. I lick my bottom lip and glance at Ezra to find him already looking at me. “What?”
“You’re not as growly as I was expecting you to be.”
“I’m trying hard to play nice.”
“That’s no fun. Do you need me to ask these two for a threesome to bring it out of you?” Ezra’s flirty smile is back in place, and I have the feeling that maybe he did tell West about us.
It makes me irrationally happy. I slide my hand up to grip the back of Ezra’s neck, fingers tangling in the hair at his nape. “Don’t worry, when we get home later, I’ll show you exactly how annoyed I am with you.” I can barely believe the words I’m saying in front of people.
His heated gaze meets mine. “Is that a promise?”
“We don’t need to hear this,” West cuts in.
“No problem.” I hold Ezra’s stare. “We were going to dance anyway.”
“We were?” Ezra asks.
“Unless you have any reason why we shouldn’t?”
“Did you take a hit to the head?”
“Is that your way of saying no?” That would be embarrassing.
“Oh, I’m all for it. But unlike you, I’m more than happy to make a scene.”
I lean in close to his ear, and my fingers tighten on his neck. “Then dance with me, Ez?”
As soon as he agrees, I turn on my heel and head back inside, not pausing to check if Ezra is following me. I have no idea what I’m doing, or what’s possessed me, but with all the rumors circulating lately, it’s not like this could cause any more damage.
At least, that’s what I’m trying to convince myself of right up until I reach the dance floor and turn to find Ezra’s thankfully right behind me. He’s eyeing me strangely, and I can’t blame him.
My stomach is in knots, and I’m second-guessing myself, but then I think of losing all this, and my determination overrides everything else.
I hold out my hand, and after a fraction of hesitation, he takes it.
“I have questions,” he says as I pull him in close.
“I can imagine.”
“This is going to blow some shit up. Are you ready for the theories about us going from five to one hundred?”
“People are speculating anyway. This doesn’t confirm anything.”
“Sure, keep telling yourself that.” He drums his fingers on my shoulder. “The question is, though, which rumors does this support? Because the dancing would fuel the dating rumors, but the look on your face makes me think you want to punch something, and people probably, correctly, assume that something is me.”
Huh. Time to ditch the murderous expression, then. I force myself to relax. “I didn’t like being forgotten about.”
His gaze darts away from me. “Yeah, so not what happened.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No. I got excited to see West, obviously, but then we ended up talking about you.”
Interesting. “What about me?”
“That you’re a giant idiot who bones like a beast.”
“Eh, I’ll take it.” My grip on his waist tightens, and I feel better than I have all night.
“You’re smiling.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Ezra studies me for a moment. “I, uh, I like when you smile.”
“What else do you like?”
“There’s no way I’m going to stand here and give you compliments.”