Page 49 of Man On

My body leans slightly to the side, looking past Peters to where I think their dorm is.

"You're welcome to go in if you want to check on him, but he seemed alright. Him and Danny seemed to be getting along. I was just coming out to get a soda from the machine."

Of course he's alright, why wouldn't he be alright. He's in there, alone, with fucking Danny Hastings, who might be his perfect man. Ugh.

"Nah, I'm good. He doesn't want to see me anyway. I just wanted to make sure his grouchy ass made it inside before The Ark came and picked him up."

He laughs. "They'd probably appreciate that joke."

"You can tell it to them," I say, feeling grouchy as hell. I take the stairs up to our floor to pass some time, and partially because Lane always takes the stairs.

I pace for what feels like hours, stewing in anger that I know is irrational, but can't help. I'm not jealous. I'm not. But what if Danny hurts him or exposes him before he's ready? What if Danny pushes him?

I push him; I know I do. But I know him. I know he likes it. Needs it. He told me so himself.

What if Danny gives him what he needs without making him feel shitty about himself?

Damn it!

By the time Lane comes home, looking haggard but overall okay, I'm practically steaming from my ears.

"Where the fuck were you?!"

CHAPTER 16

LANE

Noah's voice comes out of the dark as soon as I step into the apartment. It startles me, and I flip on the light to see him sitting at the far corner of the couch.

"Were you waiting up for me? In the dark?"

"I asked you a question," he counters, sounding far more perturbed than he has a right to be.

"What, are you my daddy now?"

After my talk with Danny, I did a slow walk on the treadmill to pass some time and clear my head. By the time I walked up the stairs to come home, I was so much calmer I'd almost forgotten what had me so worked up to begin with. But he’s been waiting for me, ready to bombard me the moment I walk in.

"So? Where were you?"

I cock my head to the side, noticing his jaw tick while he waits for me to answer. Instead, I bend down and unlace my sneakers. They're still pretty wet, so after I toe them off, I pull the laces so they're open wider, and leave them on the mat while I head towards my room. When Noah scrambles off the couch, I'm assuming it’s so he can prevent me from closing the door in his face. To his credit, he stays outside the entry to my room, waiting while I dig a box of large silica packets from my closet. He just stands there, watching me, not saying anything. He steps back when I pass him, looking worried, or like he’s trying to work out some complex equation.

"Danny's a nice guy," he says eventually.

My spine tenses at the suspicion in his tone, but I choose to pretend I don't hear it while I fill a glass with water. It's obvious he wants to say so much more, but he holds back. I don't assume that'll last long.

"He is. Makes a mean grilled cheese, too."

Noah scowls and chews on his lip. I can almost understand why he likes ruffling my feathers so much, because I’m finding his discomfort highly satisfying. I feel, for at least this one moment, that I'm the one with the power. I know that won't last long. What I don't know is why he cares if I was hanging out with Danny.

"Does Danny know?"

I nearly choke on my water.

"Know what?"

Noah pushes his hair off his forehead and gives me a look, half exasperated and half pitying. The glare I shoot him is one of warning.

Noah steps around the counter, blocking my way out of the small kitchen. Obviously, I'm bigger than him, so I could just knock him out of my way if I needed to. But he always seems to know that I won't. What would he do if I did? Earlier, when I yelled at him to get out of my room, he was shocked that I'd actually asserted myself.

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