I didn’t want to hurt him like he hurt me.
But every now and again, I catch a glimpse of him. A few times, I saw videos of him at parties with his new, horrible French friends who have no business being as hot as they are. And twice when Quinn and Theo went to visit him, he postedselfies of the three of them smiling. That was the only time he looked really happy.
Thom raps his knuckles on the desk. ‘What’s wrong?’ He defaults to ASL now. He and Robbie are almost entirely voice-off in their house, so it makes sense.
I shrug. ‘Nothing.’
‘Liar.’
I heave a heavy sigh and drop my hands to my lap. “I don’t know. Things just feel…” My words die in the back of my throat. Stagnant? Sad? Lonely?
That last part is obvious. Lexi and I had a whirlwind relationship of exactly six months before her ex, Drew, came back into town, and it was obvious—as much as she denied it—that they were a better fit than we ever were.
I’m not even mad about it. She’s become my absolute best friend in the entire world, and frankly, hooking up with her had been to soothe an ache Rome left behind. It had helped.
A little.
For a guy I barely knew, he sure knew how to leave scars.
Maybe I would feel better about it if I told someone about that last night we had together. The way we fucked was raw and unfiltered, both physically and emotionally. But the only person who knows is Lexi, and she thinks I’m the world’s biggest loser for pining after a guy who clearly doesn’t want me.
A guy who’s angry at himself for wanting me.
I’ve had a few hookups since Lexi and I broke up. I tested the waters of my bisexuality and was happy to learn it wasn’t just Rome who got my dick hard. But itwasjust Rome who gave me the heart boner I didn’t fucking want.
God, why was the universe so cruel?
Thom clears his throat. “I think you need a vacation. Or, at the very least, a drink.”
I laugh, then pass a hand down my face. “Yeah. A drink sounds nice.” I’m too afraid to leave the gym. I swear it’ll burn down if I even think about stepping foot outside of town.
Thom’s eyes suddenly go wide, and he slams his hand down on the desk, knocking over one of my fake succulents. He shoots me an apologetic smile as he fixes it. “Sorry, I just remembered something.”
“What is it?”
“You know that horrible pizza place that shut down last year?”
I grimace. It was run by two dudes I was convinced had never tasted pizza in their lives. “Mhm.”
“Mellie said there’s a sign in the window, and a new cat café is opening up!”
I blink at him. “What the fuck is a cat café?”
“You know,” Thom says, like I’m supposed to know what he means. I shake my head in frustration, and he groans. “Dude, you are such a fucking hermit. It’s, like, a shop that makes coffee and lets you play with kittens and stuff. I follow a bunch of them on my socials.”
“That sounds…unsanitary. And smelly.”
“Shut up, you ogre. It’s cute and adorable. And it’s fine. They don’t let the cats hang out where they make coffee and shit. There’s a separate room for them.” He fiddles on his phone for a second, then pulls up a video of three tiny, very adorable kittens rolling around with cat toys.
I have to admit, it does sound kind of nice. I’ve never had a pet before, but I’m thinking it might be a good idea. Maybe my mental health could use it.
“When does it open?” Maybe I’ll convince Lexi and Drew tocome with me so I’m not the weird loser going in by myself to pet kittens.
Thom shrugs. “I don’t know. Mellie said it already has all the shit in it, so probably soon. We totally have to go.”
“Yeah.” I sit back. “Do they serve booze?”
Thom pulls a face. “No. But if you want booze, we’re having a little thing on Saturday for Rome.”
