KnotMyProblem: I don’t sleep
LoveHarley: Uh, are you a vampire?
KnotMyProblem: No. Vampires sleep during the day, the bastards. I’m just awake all the time. I mean, it could be worse.
LoveHarley: How could it be worse??
KnotMyProblem: My insides could be on my outsides, like a certain mob boss I know…
LoveHarley: lol
Harley did laugh out loud, although it was under his breath.
LoveHarley: Maybe you need someone to wear you out
KnotMyProblem: I’ve chewed my way through New York’s most beautiful twinks and come up empty-handed, alas.
LoveHarley: omg Knot, I meant like a gym buddy or something
KnotMyProblem: Sex is great cardio
LoveHarley: Sounds like it might not be enough for you, if you’re not sleeping
KnotMyProblem: You’re right, you know. Sex has never been enough.
The statement hung between them, distancing Harlow from Knot when it felt like Knot needed someone the most. What was he supposed to say to that? At Gwynn’s wedding, when Harlow had gone bar hopping with Knot, they’d palled around like nothing was wrong, even after Knot had drunk himself silly. Was he hurting? After what had happened with Evie, Harlow was beginning to think that he lacked the empathy to tell. What clues wasn’t he picking up on? It seemed like he never knew the truth until it was too late.
LoveHarley: You okay, Knot?
It wasn’t enough, but it was better at bridging the space between them than silence.
KnotMyProblem: Yeah, I’ll be fine. You know how that old saying goes…
LoveHarley: Uh, what old saying?
KnotMyProblem: Emo at night, you’re doing alright. Emo in the morning, proceed with warning.
Harley squinted at the screen. He tabbed out of the Single Dad chat and searched the saying, but nothing came up except for a few sensational news articles warning parents to look out for “emo cult” behavior and a few social media pages dedicated to what appeared to be a band called MCR.
LoveHarley: You made that up right now. That’s not a thing
KnotMyProblem: You can’t keep anything from The Smiler
LoveHarley: Knot…
KnotMyProblem: I think I’m going to hit the gym and see if I can’t exhaust myself. You should try to get back to sleep, too, especially if work is going wonky. Don’t get shot.
The conversation was over. Harlow could keep picking at it, but he’d been Knot’s friend long enough to know it would do him no good. Knot was stubborn, and when he didn’t want to divulge something, he didn’t let it go.
LoveHarley: If you need anything, PM me, okay? I’m sure the same goes for all the Single Dads, too. We’re here for you
KnotMyProblem: And I’m here for you guys, too. Always
KnotMyProblem: Except for the next hour or so, what with the gym, and all
KnotMyProblem: And maybe like twenty after that for showering purposes
KnotMyProblem: So make it an hour and a half, with transit included.
