Page 23 of Dr. Stone

“What are you talking about? The office bromance I’ve already got going on the side says I’m keeping Jace for myself, cupcake,” Jake said, sitting across from me and winking like the dipshit he was.

“You know, part of me thinks you idiots are actually serious about all your homoeroticism,” Spencer laughed.

“You wish we were, Spence. You know you’d want a piece of us,” Collin said after ordering his drink.

As we all fell into casual conversation, I leaned back, listening to Jim talk about the markets, whiskey in hand, pretending to care about the CEO babble as my eyes roamed the room.

Then I saw her. Andie. Laughing in one of those private cabanas, head tipped back, eyes bright. And sitting next to her was Titus.

What the fuck?

My eyes locked onto them—Titus’s arm stretched along the back of her seat, his fingers grazing her bare shoulder as he leaned in, his mouth far too close to her ear. My jaw clenched as the whiskey I’d just sipped burned on the way down my throat, and just like that, the room felt ten degrees hotter.

“Jace, are you with us?” Sebastian asked.

“Yeah,” I muttered, eyes still locked on Andie. “Just…enjoying the view.”

This was a bizarre and extraordinary feeling that I honestly didn’t think I’d ever felt—jealousy over a woman I’d already been with.

“That’s one hell of a view,” Jake commented.

“Isn’t that your wife’s gallery director, Jakey?” Jim questioned.

“Right,” Sebastian snapped his fingers. “That’s where I remember her from, Jake’s yacht. Ash introduced Darcy and me to her after the medical conference ended.” He eyed me, sipped his bourbon, then nodded, “Nice lady.”

“Very nice lady,” Collin said as if each of these assholes’ comments were scripted. “You probably remember her well, too, Jace?”

“Nah,” Spencer spoke before I could, “he loves them, leaves them, and forgets them.” He smirked, “Isn’t that how you’ve always put it after bragging about how amazing your escapades are?”

“You dicks,” I smiled with disbelief. “We came all the way here just for me to see that?” I asked, forcing myself to look away from Titus, who was all but claiming what already felt like mine—not fucking his.

That bastard had everything…how the fuck was he going to end up with the hottest fucking woman I’d ever enjoyed, too?

Something was rapidly changing in me, and I had no idea how to deal with it. Why did I fucking care? Why was I suddenly ready to go to war with a man who was practically my family, someone I truly liked…until now. Until right now, seeing him withmy Andie.

What the fuck was wrong with me? I had no idea what to do with these emotions, crashing into me one by one like waves into the shore.

“You look a little hot, man,” Jake said with humor in his voice. “Maybe we can turn on the air conditioner? Oh, wait, I forgot. We’re outside on the breezy rooftop.”

“You look like you’re about to have a panic attack, dude,” Spencer added.

“I’d feel kind of bad that we threw this one in your face,” Sebastian said, “but damn. I didn’t expect you to have thisreaction. You’ve never seemed to care about any of your past dalliances.”

“I know,” I said, downing the last of my drink and ordering another. “Jake, trade me spots.”

Jake looked at me like I’d grown ten heads. “Pull your shit together, man,” Jake said. “We’re not going toswap seatsbecause you’ve finally accepted what I’ve known thisentire fucking time.” His shit-eating grin was bigger than ever.

“And that is?” I said.

“You’re totally fucked. Something happened between the two of you that’s got you daydreaming. You’re not even dating anymore, and it’s been over a month. I’m betting she’s invaded your dreams now, too?”

“I’m not fucking dreaming about her,” I lied.

Truth was, I had. Every damn night. Not in some sweet, romantic way—more in awelcoming another fuck with herkind of way.

“Just let it out,” Spencer said. “If I can accept having feelings for a woman, I know you can too. It’s okay.”

I exhaled. “I need some fresh air, and the fact that it couldn’t get any fresher up here has me concerned.”