Ren’s dark eyes widened at my request, but he looked apprehensive.
“Why do you want to know about that?”
“Why else?” I asked, leaning back in my chair and folding my hands on the table. “I’m trying to be there for him. It’s easier if I understand what’s on his mind. And don’t tell me to ask him myself, you know damn well he’s not going to tell me.”
“Caelyx…” Ren said, looking oddly guilty and miserable. “Look, I know you have a thing for Aspen, but um…” He trailed off, groaning lightly before pressing his fingers into his closed eyes. “Aw, man. I don’t really want to tell his business, but you should know he’s kind of…”
“Kind of?” I prompted, raising an eyebrow. Kind of closed off to his emotions? Kind of would rather die before admitting any kind of weakness to me? Kind of avoiding me because he’d inadvertently done that exact thing just the night before?
“Well, I, um, I was actually just talking to him yesterday and he mentioned the fact that he is kind of, you know, seeing somebody. I mean, probably notdatingor whatever, you know how Aspen is, but they have already hooked up more than once, and he, you know, he downplayed it when we were talking,but he seems pretty happy about it. I mean, I’ve seen him all, like, giddy texting this guy and everything, and…” He stopped, shaking his head. “Anyway, I’m sorry. I know you like him, but don’t get your hopes up about him or anything right now.”
Dragging my tongue around my teeth, it took every fiber of my being not to break out into an incredibly cheesy grin. Somehow keeping my composure, I rubbed my hand over my mouth as I considered my next words carefully.
“He told you he’s hooking up with someone?”
“Well, yeah, he kind of mentioned it to Che and I yesterday. I guess Che knows who it is because he saw them together at that rave party or whatever. I didn’t ask who it was because Aspen said we didn’t need to talk about it yet.” When I didn’t respond, still desperately trying not to react and reveal everything just yet, Ren went on. “But I mean… Like I said, he’s been texting some guy nonstop lately. And, um, taking pictures for him and stuff, too.”
“Did he say he really likes this guy?” I wondered, biting down into my tongue.
“Well, he didn’tsayit, but I can pretty much tell. I mean, I do live with him.”
“That’s really, really good to know,” I said, shifting in my seat so I could lean forward to rest my elbows on the table. “Really.”
“You’re not upset?” He asked hesitantly, his brows drawing together as he eyed me.
“Considering I’m the guy he was with at that party, no. I’m not upset.”
Ren blinked, staring at me in obvious confusion before his eyes widened even more.
“Wait, that wasyou!?”
“I’m also who he was with the other day when he texted you asking if the room was empty,” I said. “I guess I don’t need to elaborate on why he wanted to know.”
Ren coughed into his hand, and shook his head. “Uh, no. I pretty much get the idea. So… You’re the guy he’s been texting?”
“Every day,” I confirmed. Every day lately, anyway. Except today.
“Wow,” he finally said, taking in a deep breath and then letting it out slowly. “I, um… I wouldn’t have expected that.”
“Why?” I asked sharply, before I could stop myself. “You don’t think a fuck-up like me could land somebody like Aspen?”
“Watch your tone,” Maddox warned lightly, from the entrance of the kitchen. When I turned around to look at him, he had his arms crossed over his chest and his hip leaned against the door jamb. I’d thought he’d gone into his room, but I should have known he’d be listening.
Giving him a dry look, I tilted my head. “Shouldn’t you be prepping your hole or something?”
“Shouldn’t you?” He countered pointedly, pushing off from the wall and stalking over to the table with us, pulling up a seat next to Ren.
Snorting, I flicked up an eyebrow. If he thought he was going to embarrass me by implying that Aspen could and would be pounding me at some point in the near future, he was sadly mistaken. If anything, I considered that a major flex.
“I didn’t mean it that way, Caelyx,” Ren cut in quickly, probably to avoid whatever remark I would have countered with. “Really,” he added, sounding apologetic. “I just meant… He’s seemed kind of different with this guy, and honestly I couldn’t imagine who it could be.”
“Surprise,” I responded. “Now tell me about his mom. I know he opens up to you more than other people.”
Ren grimaced, still looking hesitant.
“Look,” I tried again. I couldn’t be mad that he was too loyal to spill Aspen’s secrets, but I needed him to understand. “He called me last night, at like 3:00 in the morning. He was upset.”
Almost in tears, I thought, but didn’t voice that part. I was already skating on extremely thin ice even revealing that Aspen and I were hooking up, let alone if he ever found out I’d mentionedthatpart.
