26. Serena
When Wolf said that CeCe and Ava were in the bar, donning wig disguises, I almost didn’t believe him. I absolutely should have seen them, right? Wrong. And when Wolf said that they looked like cabaret dancers, he wasn’t entirely off the mark.
“Of all the weird things you two have done, this may take the top spot,” I comment wryly as I approach their booth. Glancing back, I check to make sure Jack has followed and isn’t still upset. When I told him that my friends were here and that I wanted to join them, he looked crestfallen, and I felt guilty about delivering the change in plans. However, I wasn’t lying when I told Wolf that I had zero romantic interest in Jack, especially after spending one-on-one time with him.
He didn’t necessarily do anything wrong—besides trying to kiss me in the middle of a crowded bar—but despite the flutters I felt when I first met him, there’s nothing romantic between us. He’s kind, smart, charming, and attractive, but my stomach doesn’t erupt in butterflies. At least, not in the way that it does for someone else also hovering behind me.
Celeste and Ava have the decency to look embarrassed, while Dante looks like he’s holding back laughter, and Greyson is staring at Ava with unconcealed desire. Lincoln looks like he’d rather be anywhere other than here, and I can’t say I blame him. It’s lucky for all of us that Ava isn’t sitting next to her boyfriend because I have a feeling he would be doing very illicit things in the middle of the bar if she was physically within reach.
“Coming here was a joint decision, but Ava ordered the wigs.”
“We were trying to be subtle,” Ava offers with a grimace.
“Aves.” My eyes widen, and a laugh breaks free. “You’re wearing a purple wig in a dive bar. I’m not sure how I didn’t see you before, but there is no missing you now.” I shake my head, enjoying the embarrassed looks on my friends’ faces. “Anyway, this is Jack. Jack, this is Celeste, her boyfriend Dante, Ava, and her boyfriend Greyson, their roommate, Lincoln, and then you met Wolf, Celeste’s cousin.” Wolf grunts, clearly not pleased at his designation.
Jack clears his throat and lifts a hand, waving at the small group. “Hey, nice to meet you.”
“Sorry for crashing your date,” Celeste offers, smiling slightly as his cheeks redden. “We needed to make sure that you weren’t going to kill her and stuff her body into your trunk before disposing the body in the Navesink.”
“Red, why does it always go back to murder? I swear to God, we’re detoxing you from the true crime podcasts and documentaries.”
“You can pry the remote out of my cold, dead hands. Is there room over there for me and Ava? We’ll let Serena and Jack sit over here, and Wolf, you can pull a chair up at the head. Or go back to the bar.”
I don’t have to look at Wolf’s face to know that he’s scowling at CeCe’s dismissal of him. With surprising speed, Ava and Celeste play musical chairs and shift the seating arrangements. Greyson’s body is angled in the corner, allowing Ava to sit between his legs; he looks the most relaxed I’ve seen him look in the last ten minutes. Celeste is seated in the middle of the bench, next to Lincoln and plastered to Dante’s side; they look cozy, if not squished.
Thankful that I don’t need to press my body against Jack’s in an overcrowded booth, I slide inside and watch Wolf as he grabs a chair from a nearby table and places it at the head.
“So, how did you two meet?” Dante asks, grabbing his beer to take a long sip.
“I walked into Jack at a mixer. He lives with Meg’s boyfriend.”
“Walked into me? Ser, I’m pretty sure we collided. You got some pretty nasty cuts from that and broke your phone, if I remember correctly.” I watch, horrified and slightly turned on by how rigid Wolf’s posture becomes at the reminder of his rescue mission.
“That was you?”
“Uh, well. I—”
“Not entirely,” I cut in. “Jack tried to stop Dylan, who was the real asshole of the night. Jack and I walking into each other was just an accident.”
“A happy one?” Jack asks, looking directly at me.
“You were bruised and bloody. That’s not a happy accident, and Dylan is a fucking asshole.”
I cut my eyes to Wolf and let out a sigh. Before I can respond, CeCe beats me to it. “God, Wolf. You sound like Jack intentionally hurt Rena; I can’t disagree with you on Dylan, though. But dial down the big brother act.” My cheeks flame at the thought of Wolf harboring any sort of brotherly or familial feelings toward me. Wolf grunts, probably thinking the same thoughts as me.
I should be focused on Jack right now, but all I can see from my peripheral is Wolf, his jaw tense and his arms crossed. My stomach riots as memories of our time together at my apartment play in my mind, like one of those picture glasses at an old school county fair, where you click on the lever, and images swirl around you, capturing your attention and stealing your breath.
I can confirm that the very last thing I feel for him is sisterly affection.
—
“Shit,” Jack mutters, glancing down at his phone while conversation buzzes around us.
“Is everything okay?” We’ve been here for over an hour, eating appetizers and listening to Ava and Celeste go at it like a well-rehearsed comedy routine. While the women at the table are all underage and won’t be served, Jack, Lincoln, Dante, and Greyson have been drinking beers. Apparently, Ava is driving Greyson’s Jeep back to the guys’ place, and I think everyone is a little on edge.
Wolf hasn’t consumed a single thing since he sat down at the head of the table, watching over us like a sentry. His beer and burger sat untouched on the bar until a waitress dropped off the flat brew and cold food to our table.
“I need to head back to the house. There’s an issue with the electric, and the control panel is in my closet.” I tilt my head, digesting his words. He must sense my confusion because he elaborates, “I locked my bedroom door before I left. The guys were having people over, and I didn’t want anyone going into my bedroom.”
“Oh, of course.”
“Do you want to come back with me? I know there are a few girls from the sorority there. It could be fun.” He offers a shy smile like he’s anticipating my refusal.
“I think I’d like to just head home if you don’t mind.”
His expression falls, but he recovers quickly, replacing the hopeful expression with an understanding grin. “Of course. But I need to go straight to the house to unlock the door and flip the breaker. I can bring you home after?”
“I’ll bring her home.” Jack and I shift our gazes to Wolf, who seems to be listening to the conversation with keen interest. “You can get to your little party.”
I roll my eyes at Wolf and turn my attention back to Jack. “It’s fine; either Ava and Celeste or Wolf will drive me home. Do you mind if I walk you out?”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind bringing you back to your place after I stop by the house.”
“I promise, it’s no problem.” I follow Jack out of the booth, sliding until my feet hit the sticky wood floor in front of the table. Needing something to do with my hands, I clasp them in front of my waist and walk to the door, feeling Jack close at my heels.
As soon as we reach the entrance, I pause and look over at Jack’s handsome face.
“You don’t have to say it.”
“What?”
He smiles ruefully, shaking his head. “You don’t need to say what’s on your mind; I already know. I think you’re a great girl, Serena, and you’re beautiful as hell. But I know when I’m competing against someone I can’t beat, and I’m not delusional enough to think you’re interested in me. So, friends?”
I stare at him in surprise before a smile breaks out across my face. “Friends.” Reaching out, I throw my arms around Jack’s waist and squeeze lightly, attempting to put all my relief in the gentle embrace. “Thanks for being a good guy, Jack. But just so you know, you’re not competing against anyone.”
His laugh moves the strands of hair at the top of my head. “Tell that to McCleery. That man is built like Mount Everest and looks like he can kill me with a poke to the chest. The entire time we were in that booth, I felt him glaring at me.”
I swallow, unable to respond, and nod at his words. Releasing my hold, I step back and watch as he walks through the door, disappearing into the inky night.
Dragging in a deep breath, I steel myself for the inevitable inquisition that I know I’m going to face the minute I return to the table. Spinning on my heel, I slam into a broad chest boasting a woodsy scent.
“Wolf.” I sound breathless, even to my ears. “What are you doing?”
“I got your jacket and bag. You ready to head out? We settled the bill, and the girls are in the bathroom.”
“Right, how much do I owe?”
Wolf scoffs, disgust lacing his tone. “That guy couldn’t even throw in a few dollars for his shitty beer. Don’t insult me by offering to pay; you know your money’s no good to me.”
“Wolf…”
“No. Get your jacket on, and then we’re heading out. I need to stop somewhere before I bring you back to your apartment.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Princess,” he growls.
I tell myself that it’s indigestion from the hot wings we ordered that’s making my stomach flutter. Because there is no way that I’m stupid enough to fall into bed—or a couch or a wall—with Wolf McCleery again.