“Try me and you’re fucking done for.” He really meant it. Fletcher wouldn’t share. He didn’t know how to share. He was used to getting everything he wanted. At all costs. He’d been like that his entire life. Acting out to get attention. He couldn’t help himself. Not when it had been proven tried and true. “I’ll be sweet. Patient. But I’m not pretending anymore.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Taylor asked with an edge of conviction in his tone. His gaze sharpened on Fletcher.
Fletcher’s mind was racing. He wasn’t thinking straight. He never did when he was jealous. It made his mind go to dark places. Fuck, he needed to stop. Taylor was different. This wasdifferent. What he and Taylor was different.
Fletcher pushed the thoughts away.
“Fletcher,” Taylor said. “Hey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to make you jealous.”
Fletcher let go of him, needing to put distance between them before he said something he’d regret.
“You’re the only one,” Taylor told him softly. Reassuringly. “I promise.” Fletcher hated the way Taylor looked at him. Like he was on edge and walking on eggshells. Like he’d been scared straight or something.
“Come here,” he whispered to Fletcher. Slowly. Like he was trying not to startle a deer. He reached a hand out for Fletcher.
Fletcher took his hand and slowly let Taylor pull him up to stand. Taylor reached out and wrapped his arms around Fletcher, pulling him into his lap.
“You’re the only one I want,” he told Fletcher softly. “Okay?” he asked with a hint of desperation in his voice. God, he probably thought Fletcher was mentally unstable. Maybe he was. He probably was.
Taylor reached up to cup Fletcher’s jaw. “Talk to me, Fletch,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” Fuck. What the hell was wrong with him?
“Hey, it’s okay,” Taylor told him reassuringly. Fletcher’s heart clenched. Taylor was too good for him. He wished he was strong enough to tell Taylor to run while he still could. “It’s my fault. I’m so sorry. I’m an idiot.”
Fletcher leaned down and kissed him. “I really like you,” he told Taylor. “You’re my best friend, Tay. Really.” The person he cared most for in the world. The only person he could be vulnerable with. The only person who could see right throughhim.
Taylor smiled weakly, nodding. “I know. Just… give me some time, yeah?”
Fletcher answered by leaning down and kissing him again.
23
The Good Game
Taylor: So when are you planning on telling me about Boston?
Emogen: Wym
Emogen: Why’d you leave Briar in the club?
Taylor: Stop deflecting
Taylor: I know what happened
Emogen: So why are you asking me about it
Taylor: How long has it been?
Emogen: Since right after New Year’s
Emogen: Look, we can talk about it in person the next time I see you. I gtg ily
Taylor: I’m holding you to your word, Emmy
Taylor was still in complete disbelief over the fact that Emogen and Corinna had slept together. Douglas had been in such a wreck over it. But when he told Taylor that they weren’t compatible, he thought it meant they justhad a lot of disagreements or something.
Taylor closed out of his message thread with Emogen and started to write out another text to Fletcher.
