But Jensen was right, Vaughn didn’t get close to anyone because of her.

Letting out a long breath, Jensen added, “I like Brie. She’s a sweet girl, and I’d hate for you to ruin things for Rodney because you fucked his sister and hurt her. Again.”

Vaughn’s head fell back as he groaned loudly. “Do you like it when I’m on you about Wren?”

“No.”

“Then shut up.”

“Because you shut up about Wren, right?”

Snapping his head up, Vaughn smiled. “That’s right. So tell me, why are you coming in so late? It’s way past your bedtime. Did you go take her to bed like you should have done eons ago?”

Jensen’s eyes narrowed as he shook his head. “No, asshole. I made sure she got home okay, and then I came here. I didn’t want to leave her. So I hung out.”

“Did you get a kiss for the New Year?” When Jensen rolled his eyes, Vaughn laughed. “On the cheek? That’s depressing.”

“I hate you,” he declared, standing up and picking up his shoes. “You’re going to fuck up, and then I’ll be here, getting you drunk so you can’t think about it. Do you want that?”

“I like drinking.”

With a sound of dismay, Jensen shook his head as he headed toward his room. “Such a prick.”

“It’s part of my charm.”

“Yeah, and it makes you a huge douche, but don’t worry—” Stopping at the door, he held Vaughn’s gaze. “One day, me, Wren, and Wells will all be happily married or whatever, and you’ll be here. With your dog. Alone. Then you’re going to be sitting there or wherever, and you’ll be like, ‘Man, maybe I shouldn’t have pushed everyone away.’”

“No, I won’t.”

“Yes, you will. Because, yeah, you do a lot for everyone—but it’s in secret, Vaughn, which is cool. But what’s going to happen when you have no one to share it with?”

“Are you breaking up with me?”

“You are so fucking frustrating!” Throwing his shoes in his room, Jensen leaned his elbow to the doorframe. “I’m trying to tell you that when you find someone who challenges you and excites you, like Brie, maybe you should, I don’t know, give it a chance, instead of ending it before it even gets started.”

Holding his gaze, Vaughn laughed. “Dude, I just fucked her like two hours ago—”

“Do you plan to do it more, with the possibility of a relationship?”

“If I say yes, will you leave me the fuck alone?”

“No, ’cause I know you’re lying. I’m trying my hardest to plant a little seed in your brain that maybe you could try to see where it could go.”

“Well, take your seeds and throw them at Wren. I don’t need them.”

“You don’t?”

“No, dude, I know Brie’s a great girl and she’s hot as fuck, but I don’t see anything other than fucking with her.”

Shooting him a look of pure annoyance, Jensen directed his hands toward himself. “Do you know who I am? I’ve known you since I was fourteen. I know you better than Wells because while he was chasing dudes, we were chasing girls. I know you. I know what you look for, and it’s her—”

“Dude! Leave me the fuck alone!” Vaughn finally roared, his heart pounding in his chest. “You’re so fucking worried about me and my life. Worry about your fucking own.”

Taking his dog, he headed toward his room, brushing by Jensen with a little more force than needed. When his door slammed, he heard Jensen mumble something, which was typical Jensen. Jensen wasn’t a douche like Vaughn was, teasing him. When Jensen said something, he meant it. He wasn’t just talking shit or trying to piss Vaughn off. Vaughn knew that. He knew that Jensen cared.

Problem was, Vaughn didn’t. He just couldn’t.

Apparently, the following day, Vaughn and Jensen weren’t talking.

Because they were ten-year-old boys who were fighting over the last G.I. Joe.

Rolling his eyes as his best friend walked by, Vaughn was getting really fucking tired of the silent treatment. But Jensen Monroe was an expert at it. He had a way about him that made the person who was on the receiving end of the silent treatment start to question themselves. Was Vaughn wrong? Should he be a little more cautious with Brie? Maybe he shouldn’t have slept with her…but it was so fucking good. There was no way he was going to feel bad for that. Still, Jensen’s silence was setting his teeth on edge.

He wouldn’t admit that his best friend was right. There was no way in hell. Yeah, he understood where Jensen was coming from, and he was absolutely right, Vaughn potentially could be playing a really nasty game. But then, who said anything else would happen? He hadn’t heard from Brie all day. He hadn’t seen her, nor would he see her until Tuesday, probably in California. It could very well have been a one-time thing, and everyone was getting worked up over nothing. Jensen was such a fucking pansy. Why was Vaughn even friends with him? He should kick him out.

Asshole.

Frustrated, he got off the couch and yelled out, “If I go get you some Hattie B’s, will you stop being mad at me?”

Jensen looked up from his phone from where he was leaning on the kitchen counter. “Yes.”

“God, you’re like my fucking girlfriend! I don’t even need a girlfriend with your ass here.”

As Vaughn stomped by him and to the door, Jensen laughed. “But I won’t be here forever.”

“Oh, you’re going to tell Wren you love her?”

He shrugged. “When she is ready, I will.”

Rolling his eyes because, be real, that day was never coming, he yanked open the door and slammed it shut. But when he turned, he ran right into his neighbor.

“Whoa.”

Steadying her, he laughed. “My bad. Didn’t see you there—”

“You make a joke about my size, and I’ll punch you.”

He grinned as he moved her hair out of her face and behind her ear. She looked like a hot mess, as if she hadn’t slept a wink the night before. But still, she was so pretty, and when he saw she was wearing the shirt she’d mentioned about wanting to make love to nineties R&B, everything from the night before came crashing over him like a wave.

A wave of hot lust.