Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I lied this time so he doesn’t do something he might regret, but you gotta tell him the truth. It’s not like he’s your secret straight crush.”
Aaron spreads his arms. “Exactly. I’ve been telling him that all this time. But he won’t listen. And it’s all because of Logan too. He doesn’t want to make them break up while also absolutely wanting them to break up. It’s madness!”
I run my fingers through my sweaty hair in exasperation. “He has a boyfriend. I can’t just barge in there with my feelings!”
Levi shrugs. “Their relationship is open.”
How does he know this?
“But I don’t want that! I don’t want to share him with Logan!” There. I said it. “And he might not even like me back that way, and it’s gonna get weird between us, and I’ll lose my best friend!”
“You don’t know that,” Levi says in a calm voice that makes his take seem almost reasonable when it’s obvious that I can’t just throw my friendship with Cass away for a chance at…what exactly? A relationship? What if that doesn’t work out even if he drops Logan for me?
“That’s why I can’t risk it!”
Levi slides out of the chair to sit on the floor in front of me. “Do you actually believe Cassian would let things go sour with his friend just because your feelings didn’t match? He’s a decent guy. If he doesn’t like you that way, it’ll be awkward for a week, but then both of you will move on. But if you don’t shoot your shot, you’ll always regret it.”
Aaron nods. “You wanted to get your leg broken for him, but you’re afraid of a little awkwardness?”
I slouch, playing with my fingers. They don’t understand. If Cass rejects me, I will die, and it will be much worse than getting every single bone in my body broken.
“I’ll think about it. I need to find the right moment,” I say to appease them.
It doesn’t even feel weird that Levi now knows my secret too.
Levi pats my foot in encouragement. He looks like he knows shit, so maybe I should trust him.
“Thanks for not breaking my leg.”
“Thank me when you tell him how you feel. Trust me, you absolutely need to do this.” A cloud passes over his features, but he gathers himself up before I can inquire and claps his hands. “Right. Now we must make sure you look adequately ill.”
Chapter 13
“At least you’re not puking anymore,” Cass says and arranges his checkered blanket over me before tucking it in. Water for tea is heating in the microwave, and I feel like the worst person ever.
I’m lying to Cassian and don’t deserve his care, yet I nod as he presses the back of his hand to my forehead, leaning so close I can sense his delicious cologne.
Mint and rosemary.
I want to fall asleep breathing it in straight from his nape.
I’m such a big gay I can’t even comprehend how I didn’t see that.
“I’m sorry I ruined your date,” I say again.
I had him pick me up under the pretense of being unwell, so I’m still kind of mumbling, but he hears me on the way to the kitchen. He dressed nicely for the fake troll, in his best jeans, which are a bit narrower than the others, and a new long-sleeve with a picture of snowy mountains at the front. Its color, a dark magenta, makes Cass’s green eyes stand out more, and as he comes back with my tea, I can’t help but stare at him.
He places the cup on the coffee table and sits on the sofa, so close my toes touch his thigh. “Don’t worry about it.”
I poke him with my foot. “Was he everything you wanted?” I sure fucking hope not.
Cass lowers his head, and for a moment I’m left watching his profile. “No. Actually, I’m happy I got an excuse to leave,” he says and offers me a smile that seems weirdly sad.
Now I’m regretting the guy wasn’t to his liking, and that’s messed up. I’m so desperate to see him happy. I sit up, cuddled in the blanket, to drink the mint tea he’s made for me.
“How come?
Cass pulls up his legs and presses the soles of his feet together, as if he were stretching. His black curls are unruly today, yet it’s an artistic sort of mess I love seeing on him. Is my constant need to ruffle his hair an expression of me wanting to touch him? Has it always been that way?
“You know, he had this hot voice, and he knew I was a guy, so I think I kind of rushed into things, but.. he wasn’t what I expected.” He shrugs, curling his hand over his toes. “He was this kind of sexy player dude. Not my troll. The guy I met today wouldn’t have ran away from me.”