Noah shrugged. “You two are bound together by this completely bizarre shared experience—this crazy, fucked-up thing that happened to both of you. There’s no getting around that. Adam and I are, too. We shared this tragic connection that shaped who we are as people. The world would definitely say that my marriage is toxic.”
“They would?” Ever asked.
Noah laughed. “Yeah, definitely. Like, take right now. I bet if I took my phone from my pocket, my husband—who has the emotional intelligence of an inchworm—has probably texted me ten times and called me three because I’ve been away from him for an hour. Is that healthy? No. Do I find it weirdly hot? Yeah. Because nobody ever cared about me before Adam and nobody will ever care for me like he does because nobody understands how fucked up I really am like he does, ya know?”
Ever nodded slowly. “I think so?”
“Our relationship only has to work for us. And any relationship you have with anybody else only has to work for the two of you.”
Ever shook his head, unable to move past Noah’s monumental confession. “Arsenlikesme?”
Noah nodded. “Very much so.”
It couldn’t be true. “Like…in a boyfriend way?”
“Yes.”
“But he won’t do anything about it because he thinks I’ll feel obligated to have sex with him because I don’t have a job?”
Noah seemed to bite back a smile but said, “Yes.”
“So, what do I do?” Ever asked.
Noah tilted his head. “What do you want to do?”
“I-I just want him to kiss me again,” Ever blurted.
Noah grinned. “Then tell him that. Directly.”
Ever felt his eyes bulge. “What? Like just say it? Out loud?”
“Well, he’s clearly not able to read your thoughts,” Noah said.
Ever frowned. “People can do that?”
Noah laughed. “You’d be surprised.”
Ever let that go. He didn’t have time to wonder if the supernatural was real. Instead, he sat chewing on his lower lip, contemplating Noah’s advice. “Are you sure he likes me like that?”
“I would be willing to bet a kidney, maybe even my own.”
“What?” Ever said.
“Nothing,” Noah answered quickly. “But, if you want something to happen between you and my bleeding heart friend down there, I’m afraid you’re going to have to be the one to make the first move. He’s too sensitive.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Ever whispered.
Noah hopped to his feet, giving him two thumbs up. “I believe in you. If you need to talk, just use Arsen’s phone and call me. Oh, and don’t be scared of the doc. She’s good people. Also, they’re probably going to make you see a therapist. You’ll feel like it’s not helping but I promise it work—”
Noah cut himself off, looking down at his pocket. He pulled his phone free and grinned, showing it to Ever. An unnaturally beautiful man stared back at him, and above his picture was his name. Adam. Noah shook his phone at Ever and grinned. “See? He can’t live without me. Bye.”
Then Noah was gone, leaving Ever sitting on the sofa in a daze. Had that conversation really just happened? Could Noah be trusted? He seemed so…normal. Likable. But what if he was wrong? What if Ever asked Arsen to kiss him and he refused and made him leave?
Even as Ever thought it, his heart rejected the notion. Noah was right about one thing: Arsenwasa bleeding heart. Even if he rejected Ever, he wouldn’t kick him out. It would just get even more awkward, if that was possible.
But the rejection alone might kill him.
“Tvoyu mat.”
