Page 21 of Best Supporting Actor
Tag flashed him a bright, breezy smile that Jay didn’t buy for a second. “City Beans, remember? I’m a barista when I’m not filmingBow Street—which, in fairness, is most of the time. I’m also a waiter and a barman and a labourer on construction sites. Whatever work I can pick up, really.” He gave a short, harsh laugh, and his whisky-coloured eyes glittered. “So, you see, your first impression of me was pretty accurate—I do fit in better with the crew than the cast.”
“I never said—” Jay began, but then the barman was there again, sliding their drinks in front of them, and Tag blatantly seized the opportunity to divert the conversation.
“Anyway,” he said, “I had some amazing news today. Things are looking up, and if it all works out, it could turn out to be my big break.Finally.”
He looked so unaffectedly pleased and excited that Jay couldn’t help smiling. “Well, in that case, congratulations. I’m delighted for you. Genuinely.”
“Thanks.” Reaching for his glass and lifting it up to the light, Tag added, “So, this is the good stuff, eh?”
“It is,” Jay acknowledged. “Are you a whisky drinker?”
“Tried it once and hated it.” Tag grinned, an appealingly boyish expression, and clinked his glass against Jay’s. “Let’s see if I like it more now.”
Then he knocked back a huge mouthful, making Jay wince, and immediately slapped a hand over his mouth. His eyes went wide and watery, and he convulsed as if trying to contain a cough, then failed spectacularly and began sputtering and gasping, hanging onto the bar like a drowning man.
Jay couldn’t hide his smile. “Hmm, still not for you?”
“Fuck off,” Tag rasped between coughs. “I don’t care how expensive this stuff is. It tastes like fuckingpaint stripper.”
Jay laughed properly then. “You’resupposedto sip it,” he said, “but yes, itisan acquired taste.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think I’ll be acquiring it.” Tag’s voice still sounded rough—rather sexy, in fact—as he slid his glass towards Jay. “Here, you may as well have it.”
“Let me get you something else,” Jay offered and raised a hand to summon the barman.
But warm fingers closed around his wrist, and Tag gently pushed his arm back down. “Don’t,” he said huskily, meeting Jay’s gaze very directly. “I don’t want another drink.”
On one level, the words were a rejection, but on another… was Tag saying he wanted something else? A jolt of excitement shot through Jay at the note of assurance in Tag’s voice, at the feel of those strong fingers still holding his wrist as their eyes held uncomfortably, as though snagged on thorns and unable to disentangle. “Okay,” Jay said eventually, but he didn’t look away and Tag didn’t lift his hand from Jay’s wrist. Instead, he swallowed, his throat moving, eyes locked on Jay’s as he moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue.
What the fuck was happening here?
Then, with the world’s worst timing, someone cleared their throat nearby. Jay startled, pulling free of Tag’s grip as he turned to find Owen Hunter standing next to them, holding Mason’s blue velvet jacket. He was watching them with wry curiosity.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Owen said, “but Mason’s not feeling well, and I’m going to make sure he gets home all right.” He glanced at Tag. “Will you be okay catching a ride back with Lewis and Aaron?”
“Of course,” Tag said. “Is Mason okay?”
Owen grimaced. “Better now he’s thrown up.”
Shit.“This is my fault,” Jay said, mortified once more by how neglectful he’d been. “I should have been looking out for him. Let me call a cab—”
“No.” Owen cut him off hurriedly. Then, looking a little self-conscious, he added, “Um, there’s already a cab on the way. Mason just asked me to let you know he’s going. He’s pretty embarrassed and just wants to head off without any fuss.”
Ah. So, Mason didn’t actually want to see Jay right now. Well, Jay couldn’t really blame him for that. He swallowed a smile and said, politely, “I understand. Tell him I hope he’s feeling better soon.”
“Yeah,” Owen said. “I’ll tell him.” And then he was striding out of the bar towards the stairs with Mason’s jacket folded over one arm.
“Well,” Tag said, breaking the silence. “I’m not sure how I’ll compete with this date. You really set a high bar tonight.” The words were mocking, but when Jay glanced at Tag, it was to see that rueful smile again. A smile that mocked them both.
“Luckily, you won’thaveto compete,” Jay replied. “Since there won’t be any more dates with Mason for either of us.” He sighed heavily. “I behaved like a total arse tonight. I owe him an apology.”
“Yeah, well, we were both arses.” After a pause, Tag added, “I don’t think fake dating is for me.”
Jay raised an eyebrow at him. “No? You seemed pretty into it to me.”
Tag grinned, the tip of his tongue peeking out one side of his mouth, caught between his teeth. It was a cheeky, silly expression he used a lot, and Jay reluctantly found it cute. “Too frustrating. I prefer the real thing.”
“Frustrating, huh?” Jay said. He tried to pull on his game face, but he could feel his heart beginning to thud anxiously, and had someone just sucked all the air out of the room?