Chapter 85 - Do Not Kiss Me.

Jack. 

''Hey.'' 

I hear his voice and the part of me that wants to deny how that makes me feel blocks the chills I get from hearing his voice, this is a man's voice. A very manly man's voice, so why does it sound so fucking good? 

''Hey wingman,'' I let out a breath of relief glad that he answered my call. We agreed to be friends, but I don't know if he just said okay to get me to back off. 

''You're really serious about that shit?'' he mutters, I can imagine a smile on his face. 

I walk over to my car and open it up with the key ''yeah, how do you feel about a practice run tonight?''

He sighs ''Uh…''

''come on man. you can't leave me hanging. It is a Friday night. You shouldn't even be home right now.''

He chuckles ''Not everyone is like you, Jack. Some of us like to sleep in on a Friday night.''

I roll my eyes ''Okay, let's say you are not like me. let me show you what it is like to be like me.'' 

''You make it seem like it is all fun and games being with you. Remember what happened the last time we got drunk?'' 

Yeah, he has a habit of bringing that night up at every chance he gets. At this point, I am over telling him to be hush about it. maybe it is the fact that I have told Lance. I feel like I don't need to hide it anymore.

''Say yes and I will be there to pick you up in thirty minutes,'' I settle because the longer I keep him on the line, the more comfortable he will get with staying at home. I don't want to go home right now, I don't want to be alone. Even if I have to be with a couple of people I don't even know. 

He sighs loudly into the phone. I already know he has agreed ''Great. Dress pretty for me,'' I mutter excited that I am going out with him for some reason. 

''I didn't even say yes,'' he accuses. 

I laugh ''Well I could tell that was coming next.''

He sighs again ''Fine Jack, show me what is so great about your life.''

I end the call with a smile on my face. looking at the sun visor, I wipe the smile from my face immediately. Suddenly I realise that that talking to Patrick somehow lifted my spirits. How can I just change my mood from one phone call and with no other than Patrick? The one person I am trying to deny right now.

************

I get to the apartment building and send him a quick text. He replies immediately and a couple of minutes later I see him ascend out of the front entrance. I told him to look pretty but I didn't actually think he would listen to me. 

Not that he looks pretty right now—fuck, who am I kidding, he looks very pretty to me right now. He is dressed in a pair of black jeans. I have seen those jeans on him before. There is nothing new about it, his shirt is sleeveless. Leaving no mystery to the tattoos on his arm. His hair is cut neat on his head. no one has ever pulled a buzz cut as much as Patrick does. It looks ridiculously sexy on him. 

Shit. Did I just call him sexy? 

I run my hands through my hair, feeling nervous as fuck. This is not a date but why does it feel like a date. I don't even know where we are going. We are probably going to just hit the closest club.

Finally, he gets to the passenger side of my car and opens the door ''Hi wingman,'' I manage to control my breathing, ignoring the fact that I was admiring him a couple of seconds ago. 

He rolls his eyes and puts on his seat belt immediately. My phone dings just as I am about to start the car. I see a message from Lance. 

''Lance says there's an after-party for Ford. Should we do that instead?'' 

He opens his eyes wide; I can tell that must be uncomfortable for him ''We don't have to, I just thought you might want to.''

I don't know what I was thinking, I knew he wouldn't be interested in a party in which his crush and crush's boyfriend will be there. It is not like they can even be all coupled up at this party. They are still a secret, so this must just be a pretend stepbrother situation.

''I don't want to go, besides high school parties are overrated.''

I manage a nod ''Great, I will just tell him that I'll pass on it.'' 

He smiles in appreciation. I send the text and drop my phone on the console. ''How will you even explain coming to the party with me?'' he asks curiously. 

I smile ''I told him about us,'' I manage a shrug as I put the car on reverse to get to the road. 

''What?'' 

I didn't know how he was going to react to this, but I guess he is going to freak out. 

''What exactly did you tell him? I thought we agreed to forget about that night?'' 

I shoot a quick glance to him as my eyes stay on the road. ''I needed his permission to hang out with you.''

That is the truth. I would've probably taken that night to the grave if I didn't want to hang out with Trick so badly. I want to get to know him, I want to be his friend. he is a great guy, and I don't want to miss out on getting to know him, that Is why I did what I did. Lance is my best friend and I can't add more secrets.

''You told him about us hanging out?''

I nod again ''Yeah, he is my best friend. I had no choice.''

He sighs ''Do you know how uncomfortable this will make me feel. Shit, I don't feel too good about all this.'' 

I don't know how to calm him down and drive at the same time. So I park the car by the side of the road and turn around till our eyes meet. There is nothing for him to be worried about Lance will not judge him. 

''This is a good thing. You said you wanted to get over him. this is the first step to doing just that.'' 

''How is this the first step. He is just going to think I moved on from him so fast. I don't want him to think I am some kinda ho.''

A smile sprawls to my face. 

Did he just?

''Dude, Lance doesn't think you are a ho.''

He shakes his head ''I fucked his best friend when I still have feelings for him. that makes me a ho. 

Ouch. 

That kinda stings. 

Even though it was just a one-night stand. Hearing him say that hurts. I don't want to be just a quick fuck to him. 

''You're overthinking. He is okay with it all. He doesn't think you are a ho,'' I assure him. 

He looks at me in disbelief. It is going to be very hard convincing him. maybe when he sees Lance's reaction to this whole thing, he will believe then. ''Come on, let's go have some fun,'' I slap his back playfully. 

He rolls his eyes as I start the car and head to Club Cubix. I don't know what I plan to do tonight. I just want to try and have fun with him and if we meet people, then lucky for us. Patrick seems to be nervous about all of this. I know he doesn't know where he stands with me. I have been a jerk to him but I plan to make it up to him. I actually want to be friends with him. like for real friendship. 

The kind I have with Eren and Lance. okay, maybe not as strong as my relationship with Lance. I mean, Lance is basically family. He is the only one that I can never let go of. The rest of the people in my life are dispensable. 

Is Patrick going to stay dispensable or will there come a time where I will never want to let him go? I have been thinking about it, I spent a night with him and I told him things I don't normally talk about with just anyone. I opened up to him a lot more than I do to Lance. it scares me but it is easy to talk to him. so easy that I want to do it all the time. 

''Are we going to drink tonight?'' 

I smile ''Do you want to get drunk with me again?'' I give him a wink which gets another eye roll from him. He seems to roll his eyes a lot. I guess that his only way to express his feelings. 

''This time do not kiss me,'' he points his finger at me. 

I look away from him and at the road, mentally warning myself. No matter how alluring his looks Jack, you cannot sleep with him a second time.

I hope I listen to my warning.