I started toward the door when I suddenly stopped, struck by an idea. Before Kent could say anything, I turned around, hauled Trevor to his feet, and kissed him right there in the middle of the coffee shop.
Trevor made a small, surprised sound against my mouth, but then his hands found my waist and he kissed me back. It was brief, just long enough to make a point, but when I pulled away, his cheeks were flushed and he was grinning like an idiot.
“I’ll text you,” I said, trying to sound casual even though my heart was hammering.
“Yeah. Definitely.” Trevor was still smiling as I grabbed my coffee and headed for the door.
Kent followed me out onto the sidewalk, and I could feel the tension radiating off him like heat. Neither of us spoke as we walked toward my apartment. The silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable, until finally he broke it.
“That was quite a show back there.”
I kept my eyes forward. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really mature, James.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I snapped, whirling to face him. “Did I embarrass you? Was that uncomfortable for you to watch? Because you just completely sabotaged my date, so forgive me if I don’t give a shit about your feelings right now.”
Kent stopped walking. “I didn’t sabotage anything. I actually do have a meeting with my boss.”
“Sure you do.”
“I’m serious.” He pulled out his phone and shoved it toward me. There on the screen was a text from someone named Derek, asking Kent to come in at four o’clock. The timestamp showed it had arrived five minutes ago.
I stared at the phone, feeling some of my anger deflate. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.” Kent pocketed his phone and started walking again. “But don’t let that stop you from thinking the worst of me. You’re really good at that.”
The accusation stung more than I wanted to admit. I caught up to him, matching his pace. “Can you blame me? You weren’t exactly welcoming when I came out. You made my life hell for months.”
“I was nineteen and stupid.”
“And now you’re what? Twenty-five and enlightened?”
Kent’s jaw clenched. “I’m trying to apologize, but you won’t let me get a word in edgewise. You’ve decided I’m still that asshole and nothing I do is going to change your mind.”
“You haven’t apologized for anything,” I shot back. “You showed up at my apartment, demanded a place to stay, and have been making yourself at home in my space without so much as a thank you.”
“I thanked you!”
“When?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. We’d reached my building, and I punched in the door code harder than necessary. The lock clicked open and I yanked the door wide, holding it for Kent even though I wanted to slam it in his face.
We rode the elevator in silence. When we got to my apartment, Kent unlocked the door and immediately went to the kitchen counter where he picked up a single key on a plain metal ring.
“Here,” he said, handing my key back. “Thanks for letting me borrow yours.” Then he stepped past me, back toward the door. He stopped short, forcing himself to take a deep breath before he glanced back at me. “Andthank youfor letting me stay here.”
He was angry, that was easy to see. But the way he thanked me was weirdly…genuine.
“You’re welcome,” I replied.
The door shut behind him, and I was left standing there, trying to figure out if I hated him more or less than I did two hours ago.
Chapter 11
Kent
I’d insisted that James and I drive separately to dinner with the parents. He didn’t seem to understand why it mattered or why I wanted to perpetuate this facade that Brittany and I were still together. Hell, even I was starting to wonder if it was worth it. But at the same time, I didn’t want to deal with all the questions and the pity. I didn’t even really want to go to dinner in the first place.
