Page 9 of Wanna Bet?

“You look suspicious.”

“That’s vague, and isn't Issaky supposed to be working this morning?”

“He’s taking care of some bank business," Ellis waved his hand dismissively. “You look happy.” He took his headphones off and sat them on the wooden counter.

The word landed gently but firmly.

“I always look like this,” Jace replied.

“No,” Ellis said. “You don’t.”

Jace busied himself turning on the display lights, aware of Ellis watching him with open curiosity. He loved the man–platonically of course–and he was Jace’s best friend. In the last year and half that Jace had been working at High Tides, Ellis and him had grown really close. This resulted in Saturday movie nights at Ellis and Issaky’s bougie ass apartment, every other weekend beach trips, and Ellis being all too comfortable inserting himself into Jace’s–nonexistant–love life.

“Are you finally seeing someone?” Ellis asked, tone light but pointed.

The question tightened something low in Jace’s stomach. “No,” he said, a little too quickly.

Ellis grinned. “That was fast.”

“I’m not.”

“Okay.”

“There’s nothing happening.”

“Sure.”

Jace turned to face him. “I went to the stand this morning.”

Ellis’ expression shifted immediately into exaggerated understanding. “Oh.”

“Don’t.”

“Oh,” Ellis repeated, clearly entertained.

“She’s just nice,” Jace said.

Ellis’ grin softened slightly. “Nice how?”

Jace hesitated, searching for the right word. “She jokes with me, and she listens,” he said finally.

Ellis didn’t make a joke about that. “Yeah?” he asked gently.

“Yeah.”

“And you like that.”

Jace shrugged, but it wasn’t dismissive. It was honest. “She laughs at my jokes,” he added.

Ellis’ eyebrows shot up. “You have jokes?”

“Apparently.”

Ellis laughed. “I love this development for you.”

“There is no development.”

“Mm,” Ellis hummed knowingly.