Page 69 of Him

Jesus. A sea of purple Skittles covers the floor and Jamie’s mattress.

And a lump rises in my throat as I realize the significance of what I’m seeing. Canning kept the box I’d given him in Boston, filled it with my favorite candy and left it on my pillow.

As an apology for spending the day with his ex?

Or is it an apology for something else? Something worse…likefuckinghis ex.

Jamie squats beside me. “Help me clean this up.”

He sounds pissed. Looks it, too. Which only pissesmeoff, because what the hell does he have to be angry about? I’m the one who got ditched today.

We don’t speak as we start picking up Skittles. His jaw is set in a tense line, and he’s tossing the candy back in the box with more force than necessary.

“What?” I mutter when I catch him scowling at me.

“You’re back late.” His voice is tight.

“It’s our night off. I grabbed a drink at Lou’s.” I stick a hand under my bed and gather up more Skittles.

“I’d say you had more than one. Your breath smells like a brewery.” His tone suddenly sharpens. “You didn’t drive, did you?”

“Naw. I got a ride.”

“With who?”

“What’s with the Twenty Questions?”

Jamie whips a Skittle into the box but it bounces right back out, skidding under the desk. “None of the other guys have cars, Wes. Please don’t tell me you hitched with some random stranger.”

Guilt pricks my insides. But why the fuck am I feeling guilty? Unlike some people, I didn’t spend the day gallivanting around with an ex.

“Who drove you home?” he demands when I don’t answer.

I meet his gaze head-on. “Sam.”

Jamie’s breath hitches. There’s no mistaking the cloud of hurt in his eyes. “Are you kidding me? The guy from that hook-up app?”

“I met him for a drink,” I say with a shrug. “What’s the big deal?”

He doesn’t answer. He just kneels on his mattress, gathering up more candy.

“Are you seriously pissed off right now?” I fight a burst of annoyance. “Because you’re not the one who got ditched today, Canning.”

“Like hell! First of all,youtold me to take off early. And I didn’t know she was coming, okay? She showed up out of the blue, and, what, I’m supposed to ignore her? She’s my friend.”

“She’s your fuck buddy,” I shoot back.

“Not anymore.”

He stands up and rakes both hands through his hair, then grabs the box and slams it on the desk. The floor looks pretty clear, but I know there’s no way we managed to pick up all the candy. Canning must’ve cleaned out that entire fucking candy store.

Either way, the Skittles are all but forgotten as Jamie levels an irritated look in my direction. “But just because we’re not fooling around doesn’t mean she’s not my friend anymore. And she drove all this way to see me. So yeah, I spent the day with her. Went shopping, grabbed some dinner.”

I can’t control the hot streak of jealousy that races through me. “Bet that was fun. Did you eat some pussy for dessert?”

His mouth falls open. “Did you really just fucking say that?”

I sure did, and I don’t even regret it. I’m sick to death of notknowing where I stand. Wherewestand. Last night, I wasinsidethis guy. And the second Holly showed up, he acted like we were strangers. He hadn’t evenlookedat me before he’d gone off with her.