Page 126 of Mistaken Prejudice

Chapter 39

Levi

Lunch at Miles’s was rather nice. I didn’t like the food. Too fancy and too flavored for my taste, but I did enjoy the company. That is, until Jordan decided to join us. Like an unsolved riddle, the guy kept sticking around. I thought we made it pretty clear that what we did was a one-night kind of thing, and yet, there he was, sitting with us, eating with us, being all friendly with us. I assumed he believed he was our friend, but he wasn’t, not my friend, and most certainly, not welcome.

“Hey, babydoll!” my ray of sunshine called me from inside the house right before joining me outside. I was already on my third cigarette for the day, a nasty habit I had picked up lately.

“Hey, Kotik. Did you tell them we’re going?” I had already told the married couple goodbye before I came out to smoke.

I wasn’t surprised by how fast Andrei fell for Miles, not since he brought him to our family dinner after their first date. At the time, it was an odd thing for him to do, but who was I to judge? I’d been in love with Jess forever.

“Yep. Miles also gave me some leftovers.” He opened the paper bag he was holding and showed me its insides. “You probably didn’t like the food. Right? We can buy something on the way home. Mhmm, how about those fried dumplings you like?”

I chuckled and poked his cheek.

“Are you talking about pirozhki?”

“Yeah.” He draped one arm around my shoulder and looked at me. “That’s it.”

“I already told you they are not dumplings,” I explained before I offered him a drag from my cig, which he took.

“Didn’t we say we’ll go to that new movie you wanted to watch?”

“Oh, yeah,” he answered while blowing the smoke out. “Totally forgot about that. Can we still go?”

Pulling my phone out, I checked the time. It was still rather early, and it’s not like we had something else to do at home. With Andrei staying with Miles twenty-four seven and Chief being busy renovating his new shop, the house was empty. I didn’t forget Diesel. He just wasn’t around. Not really. I had no idea where he hung out, nor did I care. He was so hostile lately, that it was better to keep a safe distance.

“Yeah, why not.” I took the cigarette back from Jess. It was almost done, so I took the last drag before flicking its end and shoving my phone into my pocket. “But let’s hurry, or we’ll be late.”

It’d been a while since we last went on a movie date together, mostly because of all the shit that went down lately.

“Okay!” Jess beamed, and just seeing him smile made me feel better. He was the center of my world, and lately, I felt like he was being pulled away from me.

“Oh, wait, I’ll ask Jordy if he wants to join us.”

“Why would you do that?” I asked, irritated. Today’s lunch was already annoying enough. Jess was a touchy guy, therefore I was used to him being all over people, but Jordan was a different case. When he sat down beside him? I wanted to poke his eyes with my knife, and when he looked at my Kotik with those adoring eyes? I almost did it. I would have if it weren’t for Andrei pinning me with that look. Stupid Andrei.

“’Cause he’s our friend,” Jess mumbled, obviously taken by the hostility in my tone.

“Don’t be naive.” I moved his arm away from me and started to walk toward our scooter. Grabbing my helmet, I turned to look at him. “I don’t want Jordan to come with us, all right?”

“You’re mad at me.”

“I’m not mad. Can we just go?” I urged him by handing him his helmet.

“You are mad. I know you. Why did you say I’m naive?”

“Because you are if you think he’s your friend. Should I remind you who your so-called friend’s real friends are?” Jordan was the third wheel in the asshole twins combo.

After standing for a minute with Jess’s helmet in my hand, I gave up and put it back on the scooter’s seat.

“You’re being unfair. You know he’s no longer friends with them,” he finally spoke.

“And you actually believe him?” I knew he did and that was the problem. My Jessie was the sweetest soul on earth. That’s probably the reason why so many people chose to hurt him. He made it too easy. Not on my account, of course. I made it my life’s mission to keep the smile on his face.

“He’s having a hard time, you know? At home.”

“For fuck’s sake, Jess, I don’t care. All right?” I snapped. “Can we just go to the cinema? Have a normal date, like a normal couple?”

Jess took a step back, and I knew I shouldn’t have raised my voice at him. It never helped. Not with him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” His voice trembled.

Oh fuck.

I put my helmet next to his and moved toward him. Taking his hand in mine, I pressed it to my lips and gave him a soft kiss.

“It’s okay, Kotik. You didn’t upset me. See?” Once he brought his green eyes to look at me, I forced a smile. “I’m not mad.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not. I swear,” I lied, but he didn’t need to know that. “Let’s go, okay?” I asked again and waited until he nodded.

“Okay.”

The movie was bad. What made it worse was the fact that my mind kept going back to Jordan and how restless he made me feel.