"I screwed up, D. I had a good thing going only to get sucked back into this. And he knew it
would happen. He told me it would happen."
"Now, now… hold up. Sounds like Mr. Cowboy is pretty perceptive. He'll come around."
"He's not answering my texts, D. I sent two yesterday and one this morning."
"When's the last time you spoke with him?"
"We had a fight. At least I think we did. He made me leave."
"Yeah. That kinda sounds like a fight."
"It was weird." Alec sniffled. "He has… feelings for me."
"Sounds pretty reciprocal to me."
"No," Alec said, straightening. "Really? How? We just met."
"Maybe you just don't see it. Maybe it's there… but you'veneverseen it. What was the fight about?"
"About me coming home… and him living there."
"So, he didn't want you to go."
"Yeah. But I think he's just lonely. He lost his husband."
"That was a long time ago, right?"
"Five years."
Demarco nodded a little, saying nothing.
"Wait a minute," Alec said. "Backtrack a little… were you saying that maybe I've never been in love?"
"No. But I think whatever you had with Mac was a different kind of love. This guy… Tyler. He
doesn't need you. But he wants you. He wants you to stay."
"I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Because I live here." He gestured to their surroundings. "This is my place. Here… in the Circle."
Demarco looked around at the trashed townhouse.
"OK, I get it. It's not that glamorous right now. But it's my home. My job is here.You'rehere."
"What does he have there?"
"His ranch. A bunch of horses. His friends."
Again, Demarco said nothing.
"You think I should be with him. You think I'm wrong."
"I think you're both stubborn."
