Page 59 of Knocked Sideways

“Whenever you’re up for it,” Victor replied. “You let me know, big guy.”

And then he gave Remy a wink. A wink.

Jed didn’t respond, just kept pushing Remy toward the club entrance. With a sly smile and a wave, Victor turned and started strolling back toward the dance floor. Jed paused, took a deep breath, and realized he was still manhandling Remy toward the exit.

“Sorry,” he said with a grimace, turning to face Remy again.

“For what?”

“You know.” Jed gestured toward the exit. “Saying we’re going. And because he’s a bit much.”

“I mean, he comes on a little strong, yeah.” Remy frowned. “Does he make a habit of hitting on people he thinks you’re sleeping with?”

“Jesus.” Jed covered his eyes briefly with one hand. “I’m sure he didn’t actually think that. He recognized you, remember?”

“Hmm,” Remy replied, looking back to the dance floor. What the hell? Was he actually interested in checking Victor out?

“You could do worse,” Jed said, because self-sabotage was real, and he needed to know whether Remy had come to play the field or not.

Remy looked back at him in surprise.

“Anyway, you don’t have to leave now,” Jed continued, before Remy could comment on how attractive Victor was. Or on how much he wanted to take Victor up on his invitation. Or follow Victor back onto the dance floor. “But I think I’ve had enough. I’m gonna head home.”

“Really?” Remy frowned again. “How much were you drinking, though? Are you safe to drive?”

Jed didn’t answer. He knew he’d had too much to tell Remy he was good to go, even if alcohol didn’t hit him like it did most other guys because of his size.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’ll drive you home. Let me text Lil and make sure she’s okay crashing with Petey, and then we can go.”

“You really don’t have to.”

Remy didn’t seem mad about leaving, but he’d clearly been enjoying himself. Why had Jed ever thought Remy wanted him for real, when Remy could have literally anyone?

“It’s fine,” said Remy, thumbs moving over his phone, mercifully oblivious to the despair that Jed felt overtaking him. “Lily will be thrilled, and I don’t need to stay longer. And I’ll finally get a chance to drive your car. Let’s go.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

REMY

The silence in the car felt almost as deafening as the music in the club. Because while Remy had thought he might finally talk to Jed on the drive home about what the hell they were doing, he now had some guy named Victor taking up his headspace.

A guy who was nothing like Remy—he was older, and self-confident, and fit in a way that suggested he was a runner or swimmer or something more refined than a guy who slammed into other people for a living. A guy who was extremely attractive and who had implied he and Jed were a thing.

Had been a thing? Did repeats?

Whatever. No big deal.

Remy knew he should ignore the whole Victor encounter, since that’s what Jed was doing. And he should also ignore Jed’s stupid comment. You could do worse. Jed couldn’t actually believe he was interested in another guy at this point, could he? Another guy Jed had slept with?

Remy asked himself some version of that question over and over as he started up the winding road to Jed’s house, taking it slower than Jed usually did. He really should focus on the road. He should absolutely let this go.

He couldn’t let it go.

“Were you upset about Victor hitting on me because you were sleeping with him before Hal made you let me move in?” Remy asked before he could stop himself. “Wait, never mind. Sorry. None of my business, I know.”

He could see Jed with someone like Victor, though. Polished. More mature. But still hot. If you liked dark hair and high cheekbones and low-key but still very evident muscles.

Remy didn’t, personally. Remy’s type these days was pretty solidly limited to sandy-haired, stoic-looking giants with neatly cropped beards.