Chapter One
Jamie couldn’t stand watching another grown man fish for compliments every five minutes. It was exhausting. He’d dumped Chad six months ago after the third consecutive weekend spent talking him down from jealous spirals.
Now here he was with William, watching those same warning signs—the double-texting when Jamie didn’t respond within minutes, the subtle digs about his friendships with other guys.
Jamie sighed, already mentally composing the text he’d send his roommate later. If I ever bring home another guy who needs me to validate his existence every fifteen minutes, just lock me out of the apartment.
“I saw him hanging all over you! Are you seriously going to stand there and lie to me?”
He was so over the constant repetition of this argument. “Nick and I are roommates, William. What do you want me to do, kick him out?”
“That doesn’t mean you two have to look all cozy together,” William said, as if he’d just made a point that won the argument.
Not again. Nope. Jamie was tired of repeating himself and trying to convince William otherwise. No matter what he said, William was determined to believe what he wanted. Jamie had no desire to try and mend things between them.
Not when William had the same negative traits as Chad. It would be like trading in a constantly barking dog for one that never stopped whining. William’s bark was a little snarlier, but ultimately, they were both annoying damn men.
William’s voice rose an octave. “I saw him with his arm around you! And you're going to stand there and pretend nothing's going on?”
Jamie pinched the bridge of his nose. This again. “Nick and I share an apartment, William. Should I make him sleep in the yard?”
“You don't have to sit practically in his lap on the couch,” William said, crossing his arms with the smug certainty of someone who believed they'd just delivered checkmate.
Jamie's shoulders slumped. He'd had this exact conversation three times this week alone. William would never hear him, no matter how he phrased it. The realization settled like a stone. He couldn’t do this anymore.
Chad 2.0. Same jealousy software with a slightly different interface. Jamie had already deleted one clingy app from his life. He wasn't about to download the premium version.
Jamie kept his voice level, like talking someone off a ledge. “Nick was having a rough night. Friends comfort each other.”
“Oh, that’s rich.” William's face contorted, his voice rising until the people on the next block could probably hear him. “You must think I'm completely stupid.”
More like completely unhinged.
Jamie searched William’s face for any flicker of concern about what might’ve been troubling Nick. Nothing. Just the same possessive glare. The same theatrical outrage. He stared at William's twisted expression and wondered why he’d agreed to go on a date with him in the first place, let alone start a relationship.
Jamie exhaled slowly. “I need you to leave.” His feet ached from standing all day at work, and this conversation was going nowhere. “If you want to keep arguing, do it with your reflection.”
William’s fingers dug into Jamie’s bicep like talons. The sudden grip made Jamie gasp. “We’re not done until I get the truth. What’s really happening with you and Nick?”
“You can’t be serious.” Jamie twisted his arm, but William’s grip only tightened. “Get your hands off me!”
“You think I’m stupid?” William yanked Jamie closer, his voice dropping to a growl. “Admit it. You two are fucking.”
“Let go!” Jamie’s fist bounced uselessly against William’s knuckles. “We’re finished. Get out of my apartment!”
Jamie’s back slammed against the wall as William pinned him there. William’s face transformed, eyebrows sharp as knives, mouth compressed into a bloodless line. “You’re ending this for him.”
“This right here is why we’re done.” Jamie’s chest heaved as he stared into eyes burning with rage. William had never gotten physical before. The man towered over him, and while William wasn’t a bodybuilder, his frame carried enough weight to do real damage.
William leaned in until their noses were almost touching. “No.’ He shook his head slightly. “This doesn’t end until I say it ends. Let me catch you two getting cozy again, and you’ll find out what I’m truly capable of.” His grip tightened even more, making Jamie cry out. “Understood?”
If he gave in, agreed in any way, it would only give William power over him. Jamie knew this because that was how his dad had controlled his mom until she’d been brave enough to divorce him.
“Take your hands off me. Now,” Jamie ground out.
Slowly, William released him. Jamie sidestepped, calculating the distance to the brass lamp on the end table without looking directly at it.
“Don’t give me that look,” William said, his tone eerily controlled. “Like I’m some kind of monster.”
