Page 116 of Interference

He nodded. “I don’t want to put you in a position where you feel like you’re stuck. Or like you can’t say no.” He put his hand over mine on my knee. “I just… want to make sure we’re in this because we want to be.”

“I do want to be here.” I turned my hand over beneath his. “I have no idea what we’re doing, but it feels good. That has to mean something, right?”

“I think it does. Doesn’t have to be any more complicated than two guys making each other feel good, right?”

“Except I do live with you.” I ran my thumb alongside his. “That could complicate things.”

He seemed to consider it, then shrugged. “It isn’t like we’re in each other’s hair 24/7. I’m either traveling, practicing, or playing most of the time, so…”

“That’s true. So we have some breathing room.”

He nodded, and a cautious grin formed on his lips. “Not that I want a whole lot of breathing room right now.”

I returned the grin and slid in closer. “Breathing room is highly overrated.”

He laughed softly just before our lips met, and then we were lost in one of those long, indulgent kisses that were quickly becoming my favorite thing in the world.

When he drew back, though, his expression had turned serious again. “I mean it, by the way. I want this to be something we both want. Not an obligation. I don’t want you to think you staying here is contingent on us…” He gestured at both of us. “Or that you can’t say no. You can always say no.”

I nodded, but as I thought about it… “What happens if I want to leave, though? I don’t, but if things do go south…”

Anthony ran his fingers through my hair. “If things don’t work out, or we decide a month from now that we can’t stand each other anymore, I’ll help you make arrangements. I’ll put you and Lily up somewhere if we need to be away from each other. Even if we can’t live together, I’m not throwing you back out there.” He stroked my cheek. “Just… I don’t want you to think anything is contingent on you putting out.”

I covered his hand with mine and nodded slowly. Truth was, I hadn’t even gotten to that before he’d brought it up. I would have, absolutely—I knew I was in a seriously vulnerable position—but my brain just hadn’t landed there yet. The fact that Anthony made it there before I did, and that he was worried, put my mind at ease. People could absolutely change, or they could show their true colors when things got ugly, but Anthony had been kind and genuine from the beginning.

“Okay,” I said. “We’ll take it a day at a time. If it doesn’t work… I trust you not to throw us out.”

“Never in a million years,” he whispered, and kissed me as if to drive that point home.

I knew it wasn’t that simple. Everyone swore they’d always be there for someone, but all it took was a nasty breakup to change that tune really quick. Still, this was a man who’d brought me into his home when I was a complete stranger, and he’d let me stay here even when he’d had nothing to gain. Long before sex was on the table, he’d opened his home to me without asking for anything in return or dangling it over my head.

So… I believed him. Yeah, there was a power imbalance between us, but he was as cognizant of it as I was, and nothing about him struck me as someone who’d take advantage of such an imbalance. I felt safe with him. I was safe with him. And I wasn’t someone who took safety for granted anymore.

“I think we’re on the same page,” I said softly. “I’m not worried if you’re not.”

He studied me, then nodded. “We’re good. Just say so if it ever feels like things are lopsided, you know?”

“I will. I promise.”

We moved on to lighter subjects, but something still seemed to be bothering him. He wasn’t distant, just… distracted.

“Hey.” I put my hand on his thigh. “You still with me? We’re good about everything, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, we’re good.” He twisted toward me, resting his wineglass on his knee. “I, um… There’s something I’m curious about. With you and your situation. But I also don’t want to pry.”

I watched him uncertainly. “I’m an open book, so… what’s on your mind?”

Anthony rolled some wine around in his mouth for a moment. After he’d swallowed it, he asked, “Do you have family you can reach out to?”

I dropped my gaze into my glass as my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach.

“You don’t have to answer,” he said quickly. “I really don’t want to pry or anything. But like, I was thinking if things go south with us, and there’s somewhere else you can go, then I want to help you get there. But also if you just… If you have family you want to see, you know? I can help with that, too.”

A lump rose in my throat. God, this man was just too damn good. I took another sip of wine, then cleared my throat. “My family situation is, um… It’s complicated.”

His brow pinched. “No contact?”

“No, no, we’re not estranged or anything. We actually have a really good relationship.” I absently swirled my wine and avoided looking at him. “The thing is, my dad has cancer. It’s stage four, and… I mean, he’s doing as good as can be expected, you know?” I raised my gaze to meet Anthony’s. “The treatments are slowing it down, but the treatments and the cancer are slowing him down, too. My mom is pretty much his 24/7 caretaker, and their insurance only covers so much of the bills, so they’re…” I pushed out a breath. “If they knew their son was homeless? Fuck, I honestly think it would break them. They don’t need that right now.”

---