Chapter 7 Alexs Wife #2
Jealousy
The joke about Jamie being Alex's wife followed them for the rest of the evening.
Every time another coworker smiled knowingly or teased Alex about finally bringing someone special, Alex laughed along just as he always had.
Only this time, the laughter felt different.
The words stayed with him long after the conversations ended.
Jamie, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease.
He thanked the staff whenever they refilled his drink, complimented the catering team after tasting the desserts, and somehow remembered the names of people he had met only once.
Watching him move effortlessly through the ballroom, Alex couldn't help noticing how naturally people gravitated toward him.
Jamie wasn't the loudest person in the room.
He wasn't trying to be the center of attention.
People simply wanted to stand beside him.
As the charity auction concluded and guests returned to mingling, Alex excused himself to speak with one of the investors who wanted to discuss an upcoming commercial project.
The conversation stretched longer than expected.
Budgets became timelines.
Timelines became permits.
Permits became another discussion about market conditions.
Alex answered automatically, but his attention drifted more than once across the ballroom.
Each time, his eyes searched for Jamie without thinking.
He finally spotted him near one of the display models showcasing Carter Construction's newest housing development.
Jamie was smiling politely while speaking to someone Alex recognized immediately.
Ethan Brooks.
The architect from earlier.
Ethan stood a little too close.
He leaned comfortably against the display table, completely focused on Jamie.
Alex watched as Ethan laughed at something Jamie said.
Jamie laughed too.
Then Ethan reached out and lightly touched Jamie's forearm while making another comment.
It was a brief, harmless gesture.
Something inside Alex tightened instantly.
"...Mr. Carter?"
Alex blinked.
The investor looked at him expectantly.
"I'm sorry," Alex said. "Could you repeat that?"
The man smiled knowingly.
"Long day?"
"You could say that."
They finished the discussion a few minutes later.
The moment the conversation ended, Alex walked toward Jamie almost without realizing he had started moving.
As he approached, Ethan was speaking animatedly.
"...and the restaurant just opened last month," Ethan was saying. "The chef trained in Italy. I think you'd love it."
Jamie smiled.
"It sounds wonderful."
"You should let me take you sometime."
Jamie hesitated politely.
"That's kind of you."
"I'd really like to."
Alex arrived beside them.
"There you are."
Jamie's face brightened the moment he looked up.
"I was wondering where you disappeared to."
"I got trapped discussing budgets."
Jamie laughed sympathetically.
"That sounds painful."
"It was."
Ethan smiled politely.
"We were just talking about restaurants."
"So I heard."
Alex kept his voice friendly, but something about Ethan's easy confidence bothered him.
Ethan looked back at Jamie.
"As I was saying, I'd love to continue this conversation sometime."
Jamie opened his mouth to answer.
Before he could speak, Alex found himself responding instead.
"Jamie usually has a pretty busy schedule."
The words surprised even him.
Jamie glanced sideways.
"So do you," Ethan replied pleasantly.
Alex smiled.
"That's true."
An awkward silence settled over the small group.
Jamie gently cleared his throat.
"I've actually been spending most weekends testing recipes."
Ethan nodded enthusiastically.
"Even better. Maybe I could be your official taste tester."
Jamie laughed.
"I already have one."
Ethan looked curious.
"Oh?"
Jamie smiled toward Alex without thinking.
"Alex volunteers for the job."
"I don't think 'volunteers' is the right word," Alex said.
Jamie grinned.
"You've never complained."
"I never said I was complaining."
Their easy exchange made Ethan pause for just a second.
Then he smiled again.
"I'll have to compete for the position."
Jamie laughed politely.
"I'm not sure there are any openings."
The conversation continued for another minute, but Alex noticed something he hadn't expected.
Every time Ethan stepped a little closer, Alex unconsciously adjusted his own position.
Every time Ethan directed all of his attention toward Jamie, Alex found another reason to join the conversation.
He wasn't trying to interrupt.
At least, he didn't think he was.
He simply...
Didn't want to leave.
The live band began another slow jazz number, encouraging guests to drift back toward the dance floor.
Several couples wandered away from the conversation.
Ethan looked toward Jamie.
"Would you like to dance?"
Jamie looked genuinely surprised.
"Oh."
Before he could answer, Alex heard himself speaking.
"I was actually about to steal him."
Jamie turned toward him.
"You were?"
Alex froze for half a heartbeat.
Then he nodded.
"Yeah."
Jamie searched his face.
For reasons he couldn't explain, he accepted the answer without questioning it.
"All right."
He smiled apologetically at Ethan.
"Maybe another time."
Ethan handled the rejection graciously.
"Of course."
He offered Jamie one last smile.
"It was really nice meeting you."
"You too."
As Ethan disappeared into the crowd, Alex released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Jamie looked at him curiously.
"I didn't know you wanted to dance."
"I..."
Alex almost admitted the truth.
He hadn't wanted to dance.
He simply hadn't wanted Jamie dancing with someone else.
Instead, he smiled awkwardly.
"I figured we should."
Jamie studied him for another moment.
"Okay."
The dance floor wasn't nearly as crowded as it had been earlier.
The music was slower now, softer, with many guests choosing to sit and enjoy conversations instead.
Alex rested one hand carefully at Jamie's side while Jamie placed his hand lightly on Alex's shoulder.
For several moments neither of them spoke.
Finally Jamie smiled.
"You've been acting strange tonight."
Alex looked down.
"Have I?"
"A little."
"How?"
Jamie considered the question.
"You've checked on me at least six times."
"I was making sure you were okay."
"I was."
Jamie tilted his head.
"You also interrupted Ethan."
Alex looked away.
"I didn't interrupt."
Jamie smiled gently.
"You absolutely did."
"I joined the conversation."
"You stood directly between us."
Alex frowned slightly.
"I did?"
Jamie nodded.
"And then you invited me to dance."
"I thought you'd enjoy it."
"I am enjoying it."
Jamie looked at him thoughtfully.
"I'm just curious."
"About what?"
"Why."
Alex didn't have an answer.
Or perhaps he did.
He simply wasn't ready to say it.
The music carried them slowly across the dance floor.
Jamie noticed something then.
Without realizing it, Alex had moved a little closer than usual.
His hand rested securely against Jamie's waist.
Not loosely.
Not casually.
Protectively.
As another couple brushed past them, Alex instinctively guided Jamie slightly closer to avoid being bumped.
His arm tightened around Jamie for just a moment.
The movement was natural.
Automatic.
Jamie looked up.
Alex didn't even seem aware he had done it.
He was looking across the room with a thoughtful expression, his hand still resting comfortably against Jamie's waist.
A warmth spread quietly through Jamie's chest.
He liked being held like this far more than he should.
When the dance ended, they stepped away from the floor and found a quieter corner near the balcony.
The cool evening air drifted inside through the open doors.
Jamie accepted a glass of sparkling water from a passing server.
"You know," he said softly.
"What?"
"I think Ethan liked me."
Alex answered before thinking.
"I noticed."
Jamie smiled.
"He seemed nice."
"He did."
Jamie waited.
Alex stared out toward the river beyond the ballroom windows.
Then, almost reluctantly, he admitted, "I didn't like it."
Jamie blinked.
"What?"
Alex rubbed the back of his neck.
"I don't know why."
He laughed quietly, though there was no humor in it.
"I just..."
He searched for words that refused to come easily.
"...didn't like seeing him flirt with you."
Jamie's heartbeat quickened.
"You were jealous?"
Alex immediately shook his head.
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Too automatically.
Jamie smiled gently.
"Alex."
Alex sighed.
"...Maybe."
The single word hung quietly between them.
Neither spoke for several long moments.
Finally Jamie looked down at the untouched water in his hand.
"I've never seen you like that before."
Alex hadn't either.
Driving home later that night, the city lights blurred beyond the windshield.
Jamie dozed lightly in the passenger seat after an evening filled with conversation, dancing, and far too much dessert.
Alex glanced toward him every few minutes.
Jamie looked peaceful.
Safe.
Close enough to reach across the center console if Alex wanted to.
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel instead.
One question repeated itself over and over in his mind.
Ethan had done nothing wrong.
Jamie was free to accept any invitation he wanted.
There was no reason Alex should care.
So why had the thought of another man taking Jamie to dinner made something inside him ache?
He had spent years believing Jamie was simply his best friend.
Tonight, for the first time, that explanation no longer felt complete.
And what frightened him most wasn't Ethan's interest.
It was the realization that the idea of losing Jamie—of watching someone else become the person Jamie smiled at every morning, cooked for every evening, and came home to every night—suddenly felt unbearable.
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