Financially he’d be fine. Between his trial payments and his coaching business, he had a decent safety net, even before his other Monstera money came through.
That was another thing he’d need to address with Aaron at some point: the partnership deal. He didn’t have long. The announcement was scheduled to go live on Emmett’s Instagram in a few days’ time, and he really didn’t want that to be how Aaron learned he was on Obexity.
The Thursday between Christmas and New Year’s, Emmett sent a text:Hey, hope you’re having fun with your family. Do you have a minute to talk?
Aaron called him soon after. There was something unspoken in his tone as they exchanged pleasantries about their Christmases. “So you wanted to talk?”
“Yeah… I just think we should, don’t you?”
“I can’t do this right now, I’m with my—”
“When you get back, then. There’s something I need to tell you. Nothing serious, just—”
“I’m back Friday, but I’m having drinks with a friend.”
A friend.Emmett had been his friend once. It seemed like a long time ago now.
“Saturday, then?” Emmett said.
“Fine. I’ll text you when I’m home.”
Aaron seemed to be avoiding the conversation. He failed to text when he got back into town and ignored Emmett’s messages until New Year’s Day. Emmett had insisted they speak in person that night, before their return to the office. The following day was the big announcement, and he needed Aaron to know before it went live.
Emmett knocked at Aaron’s apartment, five pounds thinner than he’d been before taking his two remaining doses the previous night. Lizette had made a huge deal about how sickly thin he looked, but that wasn’t why Emmett did it anymore. Losing weight gave him a feeling of control, of order, a feeling that recent events had erased from his life.
Aaron opened the door, already awkward. They didn’t hug. He invited Emmett inside and led him into the kitchen.
“All right, let’s talk,” he said, pulling a pair of wineglasses out of the cupboard.
“None for me.”
Aaron returned one of the glasses.
Emmett’s stomach felt like a nest of fire ants. “How was your New Year’s?”
“Just say what you came here to say,” Aaron said.
“Okay… well. Obviously things have been off between us and I… I just think we need to figure out what we’re doing, before things get too uncomfortable at work.”
“Beforethey get uncomfortable?”
Aaron uncorked a bottle and filled his glass, not looking at him.
Emmett bristled. “Do you want to stay together?”
“Sorry, with you or the Emmett I started dating four months ago?”
“Aaron—”
“Don’t,” Aaron said, taking his wine into the living room. “Don’t pretend like you haven’t changed.”
“You mean my body?”
“I mean everything.” He sat on the couch, feet on the coffee table. “Your clothes, the way you act online. You’re like an ‘influencer’ now.” He made air quotes around the word.
“And that’s a problem?”
“You act like these people are your friends. You don’t even know them.”
