“I was a little distracted.” I smirk.
Henry doesn’t smile. “They were looking for Eve.”
“So what?” She’s in the living room with Oliver, in the middle of the house. They’ll find her soon enough.
Henry’s eyes flutter close, impatient. “What if they recognised your voice?”
“I doubt that,” I say, leaning forward again.
He grabs my wrist before I can continue.
“What?” I ask.
He exhales. “You’re … you’re not with Eve?”
I take a step backwards, breaking his grip. “No! She’s not my girlfriend. Why would you …”
“I know, I know what you’ve said. But I needed to make sure — what if they found out, found you … cheating …”
“I’m not with Eve.”
“I’m not angry,” Henry says. “We never made any promises. Never said we wouldn’t … see other people.”
No, we didn’t, but I haven’t kissed or touched anyone else, not since I realised I was attracted to him. Shit — has he?
“I’m not with Eve,” I repeat, feeling wounded. “Why don’t you listen to me?”
“You can’t blame me for being suspicious,” Henry says. “The entire school thinks you’re secretly dating. Kaito and Declan think so. The way you two act …”
Guilt twists in my stomach. “Do you believe me?”
“I want to.”
That’s not good enough. I take his hand. “Listen to me. Eve’s not my girlfriend. How can she be? You know that I’m gay.”
That last word stuns him. It stuns me — that’s the first time I’ve said the word aloud. His brows draw together.
“What?” I ask. Is he surprised? But it’s true. I am gay.
He shakes his head, unable to say anything.
“Did you still think I was straight?”
I’ve freaked him out. He pushes himself off the door and paces around the tiny study, rubbing the back of his neck.
“It’s not that,” he says.
“Just because I am doesn’t mean that you’re—”
“I know,” Henry says loudly. “I know.”
“Okay.”
We stare at each other in silence, and I force a chuckle. “So now you know why I don’t want a girlfriend.”
“So do you want a boyfriend?” Henry’s voice is emotionless.
I panic. Of course, I want a boyfriend, I want him, but I know if I say that, he’ll reject me. I don’t want to lose him. “No,” I say, matching his tone. “I want you.”
