Saxon James

Tanner’s face when he heard Royce was leaving again.”

Einstein: I’m trying to play it cool. Remember the ex I told you about? Turns out she thought I was ‘needy’ so naturally I’m second guessing every move here.

Richie: What if I told you I liked needy?

Einstein: I’d ask how badly you want to get laid.

Richie: The fact I was up until 2am texting a dude that might never want that should answer your question.

We still speak nearly every day, but there’s no more all night messages or flirty suggestions, and so now, I’m starting to panic.

Maybe I should have just done it at Thanksgiving instead of getting blackout drunk.

He keeps telling me he’s happy to wait for me to be ready, and I want to believe it, but I can’t expect him to be patient forever. I’m also getting these gross feelings that he’s been talking to other people.

Can you be possessive over someone you’ve never met?

I’m finally looking at Einstein, and I can’t hold back anymore.

I take my opportunity to close the gap between us and kiss him hard.

“I’m a nudist!” I blurt.

They both look confused.

“I’m trying to recruit Seth into my cult. That’s why I’m naked.”

“Nice to meet you.” Her friendly smile turns flirty, and it occurs to me I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look at me like that. Maybe our failed relationship wasn’t all on me.

A ribbon of jealousy snakes through me. But not because of her.

I’m ready to bite her face off if she touches him.

“What are you guys up to tonight?”

“We’reonadate.” My words come out snappy and too fast, and Richie’s eyes are wide with amusement as he looks me over.

“So, you’re saying you want to do this again?” He smiles, and I return it. It’s only a small step, but at least we might be getting somewhere.

A voice comes from beside me. “Do what again exactly?”

I freeze at the tone and turn to find a very pissed-off Seth.

I pretend he’s not going bright red. “Hey, what are you doing—”

“If you wanted time away from me, you could’ve said. You didn’t need to lie.”

Wait, what?

“Seth …” Foster drags out my name as he turns to us and sees Richie taking the fourth place at the table. “And Cohen? Hey, man.”

They do a weird dude-bro up-nod at each other as Zach looks on.

Do I lead up to this, or just—

“I hope you don’t care that I brought my boyfriend with me.”

Blurt it out.

“Seth …” Foster drags out my name as he turns to us and sees Richie taking the fourth place at the table. “And Cohen? Hey, man.”

They do a weird dude-bro up-nod at each other as Zach looks on.

Do I lead up to this, or just—

“I hope you don’t care that I brought my boyfriend with me.”

Blurt it out.

“I do,” I croak. “I’m in love with you.”

Seth’s smile is back. “I’m in love with you too.”