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“Sex?”

I nod and meet Khaos’s gaze. “I liked not being told what to do. For once, I just did what felt natural. And it was…” Liberating.

“Incredible.”

Another roll of my eyes, this one with a purse of my lips as I contemplate what word I want to use, what word I can use without minimizing the only sex I’ve known. Sex with Guy isn’t bad. I’m just not sure that it’s good either. When I have sex with Guy, it’s an action. What I did with Khaos was a reaction. I wasn’t doing anything, yet I felt everything.

“It was different,” I say simply.

“For real, did you know it wasn’t him?”

“I had no reason to believe it was anyone else. I’m the only one that’s ever here.”

“Besides the numerous cleaning crews.”

I release a humorless laugh. “Exactly. My mom cares more about this house than her own daughter.” I grimace. “That sounded sad.”

“It is sad.”

Sympathy, from Khaos? That seems backward. Shouldn’t I be the one doling out pity for him?

Maybe I should learn about his life before I form an opinion on it.

“Um.” I clear my throat. “What about your dad?”

“What about him?”

“He checks in with you… That’s nice.”

“Sure.”

“Has he always?”

“What do you mean?”

“Were you living on your own before you were staying with friends?”

The headshake he gives is so stiff it’s barely even noticeable.

“Did your dad kick you out?”

“No, he was just busy with your mom.”

“Just because Graham was traveling a lot doesn’t mean you couldn’t live by yourself.” He’s certainly old enough. “So why—”

“Look, we’re not the kind of people to throw money away, okay?”

Didn’t he let a guy rob him?

“But—”

“It didn’t make any sense to keep paying rent on a shitty apartment we were hardly ever in anyway, so we gave it up.”

Graham was technically homeless while dating my mom? Did she know that?

“Where were you?”

“When?”