Page 53 of The Hookup Mix-up

“Hooking up?” Ty fills in for me.

“Yes. That. But it’s because I just realized I’m bisexual, and I wanted the first guy I mess around with to be someone I trust and feel comfortable with. We might not have known each other long, but there’s no one I feel more comfortable with, so it’s just a thing. And he’s the one who says it’s just a thing and nothing serious.”

“We’ll get back to how big of an idiot my brother is in a minute, but I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have pushed that out of you.”

Maybe Ty has a bigger heart than he wants people to think too. “It’s fine. I’m not ready to tell everyone, but…well, I think it’s pretty obvious.”

“Hickeys don’t lie.”

My hand shoots up to cover it. Shit. I forgot about that.

“Back to my idiot brother. He likes you.” He turns and looks toward the hallway as if making sure Perry didn’t come out. “Because of shit with our dad, I think he’s afraid to let people in, but I can tell he likes you, so just…don’t hurt him. And be patient with him. I have experience with a man who keeps walls around his heart, and once he tears them down for you…there’s nothing like it.”

I nod stupidly because I’m not sure how else to respond. I can see what he means about Perry. He does have a huge heart, maybe the biggest I’ve ever seen, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he keeps himself at a distance so he doesn’t get hurt. Even the way he calls their dad Ty’s dad or Montgomery proves that, not to mention the way he won’t allow himself to enjoy tech or follow his talent.

But I also don’t imagine he feels about me the way Ty seems to think he does. Out of all the people someone like him could choose, why pick me?

“I swear, love makes all these feelings come out all the time. Just so you know, that was as painful for me to do. I never would have said that, pre-Brax. For some reason, you don’t strike me as someone who has problems with emotions. Who knew my brother liked sweet boys?”

“I’m not sweet,” jumps out of my mouth, which is the most ridiculous thing in the world. There’s nothing wrong with being sweet.

“He calls you puppy.” My face heats. “And you’re blushing! You’re so cute!”

“Am I interrupting something?” Perry says from the hallway, and I jump back as if I’d been doing something wrong.

“No.” I look at the wall, the floor, anywhere but at him. Had he heard Ty say he thinks Perry likes me? Is he going to tell me Ty doesn’t know what he’s talking about?

Perry frowns as he comes over, looking back and forth between us like he’s not sure what’s going on.

“I was just being a good big brother and asking about his intentions with you.”

Perry flicks Ty in the arm. “You’re a dumbass.”

“So I’ve been told.” Ty winks and walks out of the room, leaving us alone. When his bedroom door shuts, Perry holds my hips, thumbs brushing over me.

“Are you okay? About last night? If it was too fast and we need to slow down, we can. We—”

I quiet him with my mouth, like there are magnets in my lips and Perry’s are made of metal. When I open my mouth, he slips his tongue inside, and…everything is perfect.

I like Perry.

Really like him.

There’s no denying it.

And I really, really want him to like me too.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Perry

Theo and I see each other every day over the next week. I’ve never spent so much time with someone I’m hooking up with. My brain keeps trying to tell me all sorts of things that I promptly ignore and try to bury because life is much easier that way.

Healthy? Of course not, but who cares about being healthy? Denial is the way to go. Denial is my constant companion. If I don’t let myself acknowledge I like Theo in ways I never have anyone else, then it’s not true. Because if it is true, that means Theo has the ability to hurt me, and I don’t know how to let that slide.

It’s Thursday, and he’s at school, while I sit at the desk in my room, working on my app. It’s been finicky, but I think I’m figuring it out. It makes my head pound, but my chest swells with pride. My brain has always been inclined toward things like this, and while I hate knowing where this talent originates from, it also makes me feel like I can fly.

Kinda like Theo.

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