My body flushed hot and then cold as realization sunk in. He was ditching me. He was ditching me for his friends and for Kristen, and there’d be no dinner tomorrow night, because he wouldn’t be here. He was flying out with Dad, and Dad liked to get to the airport early.

“Jillian,” Jax said, his brows lifting.

Flushing to the color of my lipstick, my gaze darted around the group frantically. Reece was looking away—looking at his long-time girlfriend Roxy, who was down at the other end of the bar. Colton was studying his shoes. The guy I didn’t recognize was smiling at the group of girls, oblivious to everything except the girls. And Kristen . . . Kristen was looking at me the way every girl looks at that girl, the one who has no clue—the one who gives you second-hand embarrassment.

Oh God.

“Yeah. Um, that’s cool.” I backed up, blinking back the sudden tears in my eyes. This was so humiliating. I needed to go. I needed to leave right now. “Tomorrow is fine,” I croaked out, knowing that tomorrow wasn’t going to happen.

Tonight was no different than any other night, and I’d been so dumb to think otherwise.

“Jillybean.” He turned to put the shot on the bar. His mouth was drawn in a tight, flat line. “Hey, let me walk you out.”

I smiled, kept on smiling even as his face began to blur. “No. That’s not necessary. It’s okay. I have to go anyway.”

Brock started to frown as his eyes narrowed. “Jillian—”

“Bye!” I chirped out, giving Colton and Reece a quick wave. “See you guys later.”

They might’ve said goodbye or they could’ve said nothing. I didn’t know. Blood pounded in my ears, and I couldn’t hear anything as I hurried through the bar, dodging the crowds of people talking and laughing. My hands shook as I pushed open the door and raced out into the balmy night air.

A light tap on the door dragged me out of the memory. Feeling shaken and sick to my stomach, experiencing all that messy and raw heartbreak like it was seconds ago instead of years ago, I looked up and saw Brock standing there like he’d been called up out of the mists of the past.

Why did he have to be here right now? Why? Because seeing him right now would be just as bad as seeing him immediately after masturbating to thoughts of him. Painfully fucking awkward.

He took one look at me and concern pinched his features. “Hey, you all right?”