“I see Sharon taking over the conversation, as usual,” Jake said, some of his exasperation leaking into his voice. “I see her making herself the center of my mom’s attention and Ellie barely able to get a word in edgewise. It’s like she’s trying to impress my mom or something.”

A small smile curved Michael’s lips as he tilted his head. “Let me tell you what I see. I see my very shy girlfriend has been cornered by someone she doesn’t know well. Normally I would go and run interference and make sure she’s comfortable, but I already knew I didn’t have to, because Sharon is there. And Sharon will make sure that she takes all the focus until Ellie feels less anxious and more comfortable talking to your mom. It’s something Sharon does a lot for Ellie.”

Jake stared across the room as his entire perspective shifted, which was a little disorienting.

Watching, he realized that it didn’t look like Ellie was trying to talk. She wasn’t. In fact, she appeared to be perfectly happy letting the other two have the reins of conversation. His mom, on the other hand, was just as chatty as Sharon. He’d assumed that Ellie had just been drowned out by the two more forceful personalities, but...

Michael obviously knew her better than Jake did. Considering how protective he could be of her, it said a lot that he would deliberately leave Ellie in Sharon’s care.

Huh. 

It did make him feel better about how he now saw the interaction between the three women. The idea of being attracted to someone who was willing to squash everyone around her to get the attention she wanted didn’t sit well with him. Seeing that she was using it as an almost protective measure for her friend was different.

“Hey Jake, Michael,” Justin said from behind them, making both of them turn. “We’re about to start a pool tournament downstairs, do either of you want in?”

“Sure,” Michael said. “I’m in.”

Jake shrugged. Might as well. “Me too.”

When Jake disappeared with Justin and Michael, Sharon was finally able to relax a little more. She’d felt his gaze on her all night and it had made it really hard to pretend she was just there as Lexie’s friend. Especially because she swore she felt judgment. She might be just a teensy bit sensitive to that kind of thing, she reminded herself.

He might just be watching her because she was fucking hot and he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her.

More likely it was some combination of both.