“All right now, if you know what I mean.” He chuckles goofily, smacking my shoulder. My body jolts, my jaw tensing of its own volition, irritation flaring. What the fuck is wrong with me? Laugh with him. Humor the twat.

“I know,” I say. I just don’t give a flying fuck.

I turn, scanning every nook and cranny. Where is she? I can feel my disappointment building, and then . . .

I inhale, my skin tingling. She’s standing in the kitchen, her back to me, but I would know that shape anywhere. My heart starts to pick up. My pulse thuds.

“Isn’t that right, Jesse?”

I frown and turn my eyes to Chris. What the fuck is this idiot rambling on about? Drew’s right. Total prick. I shake my head and find her again, studying her red-covered body closely. I admit, it’s a lovely dress, but it’s on the short side. I look around at all the men here, watching for straying eyes. I soon force myself to stop when I spot more than one perv eyeing up my girl.

I frown. My?

“It was honestly surreal,” Chris harps on, and I nod, hardly hearing him. All I’m hearing is an unconvincing, lust-filled voice telling me she’s not interested. I should never have left her place last night, not until she relented and admitted she’s consumed by thoughts of me too. I’m standing in my new home, surrounded by strangers, resisting the urge to set off the fire alarm to clear the place so I can have her alone.

I smile to myself when I see Ava’s redhead friend look my way, her eyes widening when she clocks me. She’s smiling thoughtfully. She remembers me, and Ava turns and clocks me too. Her eyes do more than widen—they nearly fall out of her head. I don’t have a chance to flash her my smile. She swings back around, clearly shocked by my presence. But her friend’s grin? It speaks volumes.

Ignoring the arsehole next to me, I make my way over to Ava, lip-reading her friend’s words. She’s telling her I’m coming. Oh yes, lady. I’m coming.

Ava refuses to acknowledge me, and her friend is clearly amused. Not horrified or shocked but amused. I’m not out of this fight just yet.

“Nice to see you again, Kate,” I say smoothly. “Ava?”

She doesn’t acknowledge me, and Kate’s eyes are shooting between us in delight. “Jesse.” She nods, pursing her lips. “Excuse me. I need to powder my nose.” Placing her glass on the counter, Kate leaves us alone, and I smile smugly on the inside. Because if Ava’s friend believed she wasn’t interested, she sure as hell wouldn’t leave her alone with me. I am fucking delirious, and that boost to my confidence I was feeling? It just rocketed into outer space.