“He’s afraid of relationships. They never last long, you know that much. He’s incapable of commitment.” He smirks, making me want to punch it right off his face. “You’ll see. You’ll be back to being just roommates in no time.”
“Fuck off, Drew!” I shout over my shoulder as I leave the hallway. I try to pretend I don’t care, but something about what he said makes sense. Why does it seem like everyone knowsmybest friend better than I do? What the fuck is going on with him that he can tell Calisse—and Drew of all people—all these things about himself, but he can’t tell me?
It’s nearing closing time, and I’m so ready to leave. Davidson is in a corner, texting on his phone. “Hey, I’m ready to head out. You want to catch an Uber with me?”
“Foster, I’ve had one shot and a beer in the past three hours. C’mon, I’ll drive you.” He shakes his head at me like I’m the ridiculous one for thinking he may actually be drinking in a bar. He’s the perfect person to be a captain of misfits. Davidson gets up, and we make our rounds with the guys to see if anyone needs a ride home—and to gather the keys of the ones who shouldn’t be driving.
Drew’s words haunted me the whole ride home. Davidson wasn’t in the mood to talk either, thankfully. It’s almost 3 a.m. when I finally get into bed and Bryce walks through the front door.I texted him when I got home, so he comes straight to the bedroom to find me.
“You awake, beautiful?”
“Yeah, are you taking a sho—” This man can’t keep his mouth off mine, and I won’t ever argue about it. The kiss is hard and feels like a lifetime. He releases me, grabs a clean pair of boxers, and leaves me woozy from his touch. It may be the alcohol, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t feel this way before that kiss.
A soft caress on my back soothes me more than usual as he re-enters the room. The cold of his damp hair against my arm sends tingling sensations down my spine as he massages me from my shoulders to my thighs. I roll over so we’re facing each other and begin the conversation I’ve been dreading.
“Why haven’t you had a boyfriend for more than a couple months at a time?”
“What?” From his clipped tone, it sounds like his defenses are up already. “Where is this coming from?”
“I’m just curious. You’ve been keeping something from me for years. And you never stay in a relationship for long, even though I know you’re loyal as fuck. So then, why? What’s going on with you that you don’t want me to know?” I want to leave it at that, but I know I’ll feel guilty not telling him. “And I saw Drew tonight, spewing more bullshit to make me doubt what this is between us.”
“Goddamnit. That guy is such an asshole. How did you run into him?”
“Never mind Drew. He’s unimportant, but some of what he said—I don’t know.”
“What did he say, Bodie?”
“That you guys were fucking around together, and you’re afraid of commitment.”
His eyes blaze with anger and hands curl into fists. I palm his neck and pull him into me, but with his lips so stiff, the kiss is vacant.
“Bodie.” The steel in his voice takes me by surprise. “I need you to listen to me.” He leans back, putting some distance between us. “Drew is just jealous. He’s been hitting on me for years now and won’t give up. I don’t even think he really wants me anymore. I’m just a conquest now that he’llneverwin. There’s no one else. Only you, Bodie. Don’t let him get in your head.”
“Okay,” I whisper, leaning against him.
“And I don’t have long relationships because they’ve never given me a reason to trust them.”
“Like me?” I sit upright in shock.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve had sleep issues for god knows how long, and you won’t tell me anything about it.” My voice is too loud for my liking. “I just don’t understand why I’ve been your friend for eighteen years and you told Calisse before you told me. Why, Bryce?”
His contemplative stare only infuriates me.
“See?! I’m begging you to tell me, and you still won’t.”
“Bodie, I haven’t told anyone. Calisse doesn’t know anything—she just guesses I have sleep issues from how tired I always am, and from these damn bags under my eyes.” He lowers his voice with his next words. “I haven’t told you because you worry about me more than anyone in this world. I don’t need you stressed out about me.”
“You don’t get to decide what I stress about.”
“Bodie, I just don’t sleep well. Nightmares, that’s all.”
“Bryce, if you can’t talk to me about this, then what are we doing here?” We’re both standing now, arms crossed, an impasse in the making. The only question is who’ll give in first.
Chapter Fifteen
Bryce
