Alex waved a hand. “Yeah, sure, the office has a bunch of agents who manage both sides of life, but not everyone will stay with the DWO their whole lives. You’re like super career man, and with the department that means jumping into all these terrors and living a life that’s stranger than most people. I need you to try.”
“You heard me say Jesse’s on our case, right? You’re the one who saw him at the Valless mansion, Alex. As much as I may want Jesse, it’s never going to work out.”
“Don’t you find an excuse to stop seeing every guy you go out with?” Alex asked.
Alex would bring that up. He seemed to keep a running count of every relationship Bryce had ever had. Bryce shook his head. “They’re reasons, not excuses. Dating is hard enough without the secrets we have to keep.”
“But you have to keep trying,” Alex said.
Trying meant effort, time, and energy. Bryce wasn’t sure how much extra he had to spare once he got through the work day or helped Alex cope. Jesse didn’t make any demands on him, and that attitude helped Bryce forget about the piles of stress he dealt with every day. Even the kiss in the museum was like taking a big breath of air.
Relationships never stayed simple, and while Jesse appeared to be a good man, Bryce wasn’t sure he could risk the DWO’s secrecy just so he could have the best sex of his life. No matter how much he was tempted.
Because fuck was he tempted.
“I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Fine.” Alex stood and grasped the door handle. He yanked the door open. “But if there isn’t any hope for you, what the fuck is there for me?”
Realization of the implications dawned on Bryce as Alex stormed out of his office. Bryce got to his feet, and he almost followed, but there wasn’t anything more he could offer. If he told Alex anything was possible, it would only sound like a lie.
He didn’t want to be alone. He hated his cold bed and lonely dinners that were only punctuated with Alex’s random drop-ins or fast food late at the office. But welcoming someone into his life wasn’t simple.
As difficult as it was for him, he’d never thought about how hard Alex struggled to find someone. Bryce just assumed his dates didn’t work out because Alex never made a big deal out of them. There were pains Bryce couldn’t protect him from, and they’d apparently been going on right under his nose.
He could try with Jesse. If nothing else, he needed to show Alex—and himself—that dating was possible. That happiness could coexist with their lives. Bryce pulled out his phone and texted,I don’t know when I’ll be free, but I can’t stop thinking about that kiss.
