Twenty-Six

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"So, I've got a question for you."

I glance up from my pint of cider and lock eyes with Ezri. He looks vaguely amused, lips tilted slightly into a small smile. "What is it?"

He shrugs casually. "Oh, you know. I was just out with some friends from my course last night, and we all had a really nice time, but I was just getting weird vibes from one of them."

I feel a little heat crawl up the back of my neck, because I can already guess where this is going. Aubin didn't seem happy when I told him on Tuesday that I'm meeting Ezri tonight and maybe his feelings haven't changed about it. The thought of Aubin having said anything makes me nervous and also mildly irritated.

Still. I don't want to give Ezri the satisfaction of letting on that I'm already pretty sure what he's getting at here.

So, I raise my eyebrows and a take a sip of my drink before replying. "Uh-huh, and?"

Ezri still remains nonchalant and amused. "Just wondered if you'd mentioned to Aubin that you were meeting me tonight, that's all."

I narrow my eyes. "Might have, yeah."

If Aubin did actually treat Ezri badly because of us being friends, then I'm going to be so mad at him. That's so unfair, especially because I literally told him on Tuesday, honestly promised that I wouldn't push him away.

There's nothing wrong with me meeting up with Ezri.

"Well, I don't think he's aware of my sexuality," he continues, but he doesn't sound overly bothered, almost as though the situation amuses him more than anything.

I nearly roll my eyes. "Get to the point, Ezri. Did he say anything?"

Ezri chuckles. "Not really. Just seemed annoyed with me, that's all. Usually, he's pretty chatty with me, but he just didn't say much to me. Wondered if that had anything to do with him being jealous that we're friends."

An ugly feeling settles in my stomach. "If he was, then he's a fucking child."

Honestly, what is that about? What's he doing, getting upset with Ezri because we're literally going for a drink? I don't get it. He was never angry that I was friends with Mason, and I'd never dare to suggest that he shouldn't be friends with Saori. He literally lives with her, but I've never said anything about their close relationship, so why can't I have male friends who aren't him?

It's so weird, because it seems to completely go against everything that he's been doing lately, how great he's been with me, and how much he's been there for me.

Not to mention, we've also mentioned Ezri before, the night that Ezri and I first went for a drink, and I told him then that's nothing going on between us.

Ezri snorts at my unimpressed expression. "So, you guys are still seeing each other then?"

I lift a shoulder in a shrug. "Yeah, we are. I am sorry if he said anything to you, Ezri, or treated you badly because of me. I don't really know why he'd do that, because he's never done anything like that before, but I am really sorry."

He chuckles, leaning over the table we're sitting at and patting my hand gently. "Don't sweat it, Judah. Honestly, it wasn't that bad. I just wanted to tease you."

Whatever he says, I'm still wound up a little. There's no way that Aubin treating him badly because of me is acceptable. No way at all.

Also, Aubin should be able to trust me. If I've told him that there's no one but him, that there's nothing going on with Ezri, why won't he take what I'm saying at face value?

"Right. Still, though, I'm sorry."

Ezri worries his lower lip. "I've gotten him into trouble, haven't I?"

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