Although, by saying that, Jesse knew that he had likely revealed more than enough for Arthur to work out what the nature of his and Percy’s relationship had been.
“Ah.”
“I’ll tell you more back at my place,” Jesse promised, softening his tone. “I’ve been keeping things from you. Nothing particularly consequential, but things that... well, things that I knew wouldn’t be the most pleasant for me to share.”
Slowly, Jesse lifted his chin to meet Arthur’s eyes. He expected to find some trace of hurt there, but instead, there was onlywarmth in his blues. He could bask in them forever. Jesse thumbed toward the Court of Honor.
“Let’s go.”
Together, they walked toward one of the exits. Passing the perfect, stark-white buildings in the Court of Honor, Jesse couldn’t stop thinking about that tiny crack in Arthur’s smile from before. Or the fear that Arthur must have felt when he’d spotted his father in Machinery Hall.
Our friendship isn’t something that my father would support.
Heading toward the streetcars, Jesse began to wonder if, by revealing the truth about his past relationship with Percy—and, of course, the reason that the relationship had ended—he’d shatter Arthur’s rose-colored spectacles himself.
***
Soon, Jesse and Arthur were seated together on the streetcar to Bridgeport. Arthur was staring out the window, his hands balled into fists, his face flushed with what looked to be indignation. Arthur must have been fuming over the fact that Jesse had kept the fact that he knew Percy Verne from him. And Jesse couldn’t really blame him for it.
Once they exited the streetcar, Jesse and Arthur headed toward Walsh’s Clothing, neither of them saying a word. It wasn’t long before they reached the storefront, and then they circled around to the back to let themselves inside the entrance to the second-floorstairwell. Jesse fumbled with his keys. In his mind, he was fumbling for what he should say as well.
As soon as they stepped inside, Arthur placed a hand on the small of Jesse’s back.
“I know I probably looked irate earlier. On the streetcar, I mean. And I realized that I ought to reassure you that I’m not mad at you,” he said.
Jesse’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? I thought you must have been.”
“Sorry.” Arthur rubbed small circles with his hand. “I was letting Percy’s asinine inquiry bother me. ‘Are you friends withallof your employees?’ Oh, who cares what kind of company I like to keep? What kind of thing was that for him to have said?”
Jesse began chewing on his bottom lip. Arthur sighed.
“Anyway, I’m sorry I let myself be so bothered by it. It’s not that Icare, exactly, but—”
“Don’t you, though? I mean, how could you not care?”
Jesse continued to worry at his bottom lip. Arthur lifted a hand to Jesse’s face, and then he touched his thumb to Jesse’s mouth, wordlessly coaxing Jesse’s lip back out.
“Percy’s comment bothered me because I knew that it must have bothered you,” Arthur said. “Am I right?Didit bother you?”
“Yes. It did,” Jesse admitted. Ithadbothered him, but for more reasons than one. “Can we continue this in the bedroom, though?”
“Of course.”
Without further conversation, they began to ascend the stairs. Once they were in the bedroom, Jesse tossed his flat cap onto the floor and raked a hand through his hair. Arthur removed his hat too. He leaned over and set it atop the nearby chair.
“I’m sorry I never told you that I knew someone else in your circle,” Jesse said.
“Were you and Percy... together once? I sensed some... tension, I think, between the two of you.”
Heat crept up the back of Jesse’s neck, and he nodded. “We were.”
His eyes fell to the floor. He wondered if Arthur hated him.
After a moment, Arthur took Jesse’s hand.
“I’m not mad, Jesse,” he said sweetly. He started toward the bed. “I’m extremely relieved that he somehow missed out on my spring party, but I’m not mad that you never told me about him. Come lie with me.”
Arthur coaxed Jesse up onto the mattress, and the two men lay next to each other. Arthur swept a hand through Jesse’s hair, but otherwise waited for Jesse to initiate the conversation. It took Jesse a few more moments before he could.
