Shawn was silent for a while before asking quietly, “What about him? Do you think it’s one-sided?”
Slumping back in the armchair, Christian sighed again. “I don’t know. He’s very hard to read. Sometimes I think there’s something there, but… but I don’t think he treats his girlfriend any different than he used to. He’s always so…attentive to her. Still the perfect boyfriend.”
Shawn’s mouth set in a grim line. “Don’t shoot the messenger, but… if he felt the same way you do, wouldn’t he be jealous of her, too? Their relationship would have deteriorated. If they’re still fine, it… it doesn’t really look good for you.”
Christian’s stomach churned. He knew Shawn was right. The same thought had occurred to him, too. “I know.”
They both fell silent.
“What are you going to do?” Shawn said at last.
Christian bit the inside of his cheek.
“The smart thing,” he said, meeting Shawn’s eyes. “Quit while I still can.”
Chapter 13
Alexander felt restless. Edgy.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so restless. Mila was snuggled up into his side, watching TV, but he was half-tempted to push her away and—and do something else.
Outside, the wind was howling fitfully down the street, drowning the distant roar of traffic.
Alexander stretched his arm over the back of the couch and drummed his fingers on the upholstery.
“What’s wrong with you?” Mila said, turning her head to him.
“I’m bored,” he said. It was as good an explanation as any. Perhaps he was bored. He’d never been a fan of the holiday season.
“Maybe I can entertain you?” she murmured with a smile, her fingers sliding to his crotch.
Alexander considered it. Sex was a good idea. Maybe it was exactly what he needed to get rid of this strange restlessness.
“All right,” he said. “Suck me off.”
He leaned back as Mila slid onto the floor in front of him.
Alexander closed his eyes.
She was good at giving head, but today it took him a while to get hard. He had trouble shutting his brain off, and even when he finally came, it was barely satisfying.
His restlessness was still there.
“Thanks,” he told Mila, zipping his jeans up.
She gave him an odd look but said nothing, snuggling into his side again.
Alexander fixed his gaze on the screen and drummed his fingers on the back of the couch.
Mila sighed.
After what felt like a century, the doorbell rang.
Relieved to have an excuse to leave the couch, Alexander went to open the door.
Chocolate brown eyes and full lips were the first things he saw.
“Hey,” Christian said.
“Hello,” Alexander heard himself say. He grabbed Christian’s jacket and dragged him inside.
Christian’s lips were very cold, but his mouth was hot and wet—and sweet. Christian made a small noise, wrapping his arms around him, and Alexander groaned and pushed him against the wall, his hands working on Christian’s jacket—too many clothes—
“Christian?”
Mila.
Sighing, Alexander forced himself to stop kissing Christian and step back.
“Hey,” Christian said, looking between them. Alexander didn’t see Mila’s expression, because he was looking at Christian, but Christian looked uncomfortable all of a sudden.
“You’re back already?” Mila said mildly.
Christian’s body stiffened even more. “Sorry—I didn’t mean to intrude. Just wanted to tell you guys that… I think… It’s been a while, and it’s been fun, but…” He smiled crookedly. “It was getting boring. You know I’m not really the type to stick around.”
Alexander went still.
Beaming, Mila walked closer. “Oh, I get it, no worries! I was wondering when you’d get bored of us.” She wrapped her arm around Alexander’s waist and kissed him on the shoulder. “We must be proud, love. We managed to keep Chris around for a whole month.”
Christian smiled faintly and pushed his hands into his pockets. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
And then he was gone.
Alexander stood very still, the room eerily quiet. Darker.
The wind howled outside, rattling the window panes, and he flinched. He found Mila watching him.
“What?” he said.
“Nothing,” she replied before smiling. “What do you want for dinner?”
“I’m not hungry,” he said, turning away.
Chapter 14
“Stop staring at them, man. You’re being too obvious.”
Christian turned away quickly and looked at Shawn. “I wasn’t staring.”
He wasn’t sure what was worse: the obvious, badly hidden pity in Shawn’s eyes or the way his pulse sped up the moment he had seen Alexander.
It had been two weeks.
Pasting a smile on his face, Christian leaned back against the bench they were sitting on, looking anywhere but at Mila and Alexander. “They seem pretty happy, yeah?”
Shawn shrugged, casting a look in their direction. “I don’t know. She’s smiling, but his face is mostly blank.”
Christian chuckled. “Means nothing. He’s got the best poker face I’ve ever seen. If he doesn’t want you to know what he feels or thinks, it’s incredibly hard to guess. Though sometimes he slips up.”
Shawn’s pitying look worsened, and it set Christian’s teeth on edge. He was fine, damn it. So he had gotten a bit attached, so what? He wasn’t heartbroken or anything.