“I’m glad I ran into you guys!” Jesse says animatedly, picking up the container of cookies he brought along, I guess for this exact reason. “I made these for you.”

Blake accepts the container, opening it up. He and Kenneth take one look inside, and burst into a cheerful shriek of laughter that grates in my ears like nails on a chalkboard.

“These are so precious!” Blake squeals.

“Gingerbread dicks.” Kenneth beams. “How creative!”

Blake hugs onto Jesse, and I’m foaming at the mouth. “Thank you so much, sweetheart!”

As they pull apart, Jesse’s cheeks are flushed. My jealous rage is turning up the heat inside my skin.

“I just figured… it’s Christmas.” Jesse rubs the back of his neck.

“A lovely gift.” Kenneth touches his arm, and I’m literal seconds from ripping Jesse away from them. “So thoughtful.”

“Let’s push our tables together!” Blake suggests with excitement.

“I don’t think—” I begin to decline, but Jesse shoots me a look that obviously says, stop being such a grumpy hermit.

I can almost hear him saying it.

Letting out a sigh, I fight not to roll my eyes while changing gears, mumbling, “Sure. Sounds fun.”

Jesse smiles gratefully at me, sliding his fingers through mine.

For him. I’m doing this for him.

Anything to make him smile.

The guys shove our tables together while Jesse squeezes my hand, reminding me that it isn’t a big deal. They’re just trying to be nice…

And even if they wanted to sleep with Jesse, or both of us, that doesn’t mean they get to. We spend all of our time alone together. What’s the harm in having dinner with some new people? Just this once.

Al comes by and takes our drink order. I get a beer, but Blake and Kenneth order some elaborate tropical drinks, then aim eager gazes at Jesse, like they’re expecting him to get something similar. The kid doesn’t really drink… I mean, in the States, he’s too young. But those rules don’t apply here. Still, he’s not a big drinker, and neither am I, though I like to keep a few beers in the fridge, because I genuinely like them.

“Um… I’ll have the same,” Jesse says, ordering what Blake and Kenneth are having, and they both cheer.

Lord, this is testing me.

I’m not sure why I’m so resistant to all of this. I don’t think it has much to do with Jesse, per se. Well, I’m sure it does, in a sense, because I’m jealous and possessive as fuck. But even back home, I was a loner. I rarely ever hung out with friends.

One of the many reasons my last relationship didn’t work… I hate going out and being social.

I’d much rather just be with Jesse.