36. Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Willow

What. The. Fuck.

Tripp basically sprints over here and is a sarcastic asshole to this guy who was doing nothing wrong. I put my hands on my hips and stare at Tripp, willing him to speak. Instead, it's Zack who talks first.

"That's my cue." He claps his hands and rubs them together. "If I don't see you again, tonight was fun," Zack says, in a way that he's trying to convince himself, pulling me into a hug. I keep my gaze on Tripp. "I'll see you at practice," Zack says to Tripp and waves at me before putting his hands in his pocket and going back to the dance floor.

"Why are you acting like that?" I ask, rephrasing the question.

"Like what?" he responds, like he has no idea what I'm talking about. Is there anything more infuriating?

"Like this." I point to him, up and down. "How you're being right now."

"The second I leave, he runs up to the table? Sure. He's a big fan ." Sarcasm drips from his voice. "He had you over here cracking up. What was so funny?"

The only thing I can do is laugh. I put my forehead to my hands.

"Tripp. Do you know how nice it is to meet someone from home? He was reminiscing about rural Virginia. High school things. That's it. If you thought he was over here declaring his love for me, you're wrong."

He looks at me but doesn't say anything. I'm trying to understand what the hell just happened but he's not giving me much .

"Tripp." I lean in closer to him. "What has gotten into you?"

"I don't fucking know. I was at the bar and just saw you laughing with him, being touchy-feely. I just. Didn't like it. I know how it sounds."

Ah, there it is.

"It sounds like you're being a jealous ass." I don't give him a pass.

The look on his face tells me I've nailed it. It would feel like a win if this all wasn't so bizarre and borderline pathetic.

"I am being a jealous ass. You make me want to be jealous and keep you to myself. I just—"

"Let me stop you right there." I close the remaining distance and put a finger to his chest. I look up to him; he doesn't move back. "We're adults. I can't do the jealousy thing. I need you to trust me. Otherwise." I look down. "Otherwise, this won't work."

He lets out a long breath before stretching his neck, side to side, looking for a reset.

"I do trust you," he says, quiet enough so I'm the only one who can hear.

"The version of you from two minutes ago did not." I want to be as clear as possible.

"I do. I told you. I'm not good at this." His hands go through his hair and then hang from the nape of his neck. It looks like he blinks away tears.

This man. He's jealous. Insecure.

I do the only thing I can think of to bring the man I know back to me. I put a sweet kiss on his mouth.

"You were good at this for 98% of the evening. If something bothers you, you need to tell me. But, most of all, you need to trust me. Plus, out of all the people I'll meet and will want something from me, that guy was pretty tame." I kiss him once more .

"I'm sorry. I should've slowed down. Thought things through." I know it's hard for him to admit this.

I reach for one of his hands and hold it at my chest.

"Yes, you should've." I kiss him again. I don't want to drag this out but it's not something I'm going to easily forget.

Tripp and I move in silence as we get out of our gala attire and into pajamas. I pull on a pair of pink satin shorts and a matching top. I walk by Tripp and he rubs his hand on my back, touching the softness of the fabric.

He wraps me up, from behind, my back on his front. He sways a tiny bit, back and forth, as I hold onto his arms. Tripp puts his chin on my shoulder before he kisses my neck.

I know he's embarrassed for the way he acted. The silence itches and is almost uncomfortable, but I won't be the first one to speak .

"Lo, I'm sorry for acting like a jealous prick," he says, his voice level and smooth.

"I know you are." I rub his forearms and tilt my head so it's touching the side of his face.

"What do we do now?" he asks, tinged with sadness.

"We go to bed," I say while turning to face him. His arms wrap around my lower back. "And we try to do better next time."