Page 101 of Say It Again

“Out?” Aaron paced in front of him again. “That’s not an answer.”

He hoisted his chin and sharpened his gaze, laser focusing on blue ice. You, Daniel Greene, wait for him. “So let me get this straight. You get to go do whatever you want, and I’m just supposed to do what? Sit here waiting for you all night?”

Aaron narrowed his eyes. “You’re supposed to answer your phone when I call over and over. You’re my boyfriend. Since when do we treat each other that way?”

Daniel twitched. He needed to be alone. Space. He needed space. “I’m telling you, I don’t think we should talk right now. I don’t trust myself not to say something—”

“Well, I do think we should talk.” Aaron stepped in front of his path again. “First you pull that shit at the restaurant, and then you go out? What’s gotten into you?”

The words were already there, burning his throat. If he didn’t get alone and find some way to decompress, he was going to vomit them out everywhere.

“Say something,” Aaron said.

“Quit.”

Aaron studied his face for a long several seconds.

“I want you to quit escorting for me. Tonight. Right now.”

“What?” Aaron’s shocked voice was barely there. “Daniel. How’s that’s a fair request?”

“Excuse me, fair?” His blood was starting to swelter. “It’s not fair? I think what’s not fair is continuing to screw other men when it’s clearly killing me.”

“Oh, it’s killing you? Really?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure that’s not just you being wildly overdramatic as usual? You don’t even see it, Daniel. I go out of my way to shield you from it. To make sure you’re okay.”

“Well, I’m not okay! And you won’t even consider doing anything else because you’re so obsessed with money. You’re obsessed.”

“Okay, yeah, kid. You caught me.” Aaron flopped his arms by his sides. “I care about money. But someone has to. Who do you think pays the bills around here?”

“Hey.” He jammed a finger toward Aaron’s chest. “I was paying my bills just fine before you.”

“No, sweetheart. You were not even eating before me. Take a look around.” Aaron spread his arms and spun in a half circle. “Are you going to pay for it? With what? With all your dance studio money? Oh, wait.”

“Ugh!” Daniel screeched through his teeth as white-hot rage pulsed through his veins. If Aaron wasn’t going to let him be alone, then Aaron was going to have to deal with the extinction of his logical mind. “You know, you’re right. I should really make more money. I know, what if I get paid to bang dudes?”

Aaron expression transformed into a hollow glare.

“Oh, you wouldn’t like that? Why not? It’s good enough for you. It’s the only thing you’re capable of doing, right?” Daniel shrugged. “Yeah, I think I’ll give it a shot.”

A muscle in Aaron’s jaw danced.

“In fact, I bet I have guys in my phone who would pay for it right now. Should we find out?” Of course, he sounded deranged, but he was too far gone down a spiraling black hole not to dig his phone from his pocket and start scrolling through contacts. He twisted the screen toward Aaron and pointed to a name. “I went on one date with this guy. One date and he sent me text after text for three whole months that I never responded to. I bet he’d pay.”

Aaron shook his head. “Not cute.”

Daniel scrolled farther. “Oh, this guy definitely would. God, this guy would murder his own twin brother to get with me.”

“That’s enough.”

“And what’s funny—” Daniel laughed. “—the twin would do the same. Can you imagine? Holy déjà vu.”

“I said. Enough.”

“Ooh, but see this one.” He growled. “This one right here has a painfully sexy Italian accent—”

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