Page 17 of Phoenix Chosen 2

“Gym. Shorts,” he says, cackling as he takes a step back to look at me. “God damn. I liked you in a man-skirt, but gym shorts aredefinitelynot bad either.”

“They’re quite restrictive. This is normal?”

Tyler comes in close and gives my bulge a playful squeeze. “It’s exactly what I like.”

As he leans in to kiss me, a loud ringing noise echoes from the heavens. I grab Tyler and drop into a defensive stance, slapping at my chest for my knives that are not there.

“What is that?” I shout.

Tyler presses his finger to his lips, then points at the door. He quietly walks over to it, looks through the small hole in it near its center, and then groans.

“Shit… It’s Jeff.”

8

TYLER

Jeff fidgets with the silver chain attached to his wallet and adjusts the brim of his baseball cap. I can tell he’s tapping his foot. He rings the doorbell again.

What the hell is he doing here? The accident? Or…

Oh, Jesus, I think.Did the police contact him?

Kalistratos is looking at me questioningly. I shake my head.

“It’s myex,” I hiss.

No, not even. He’s the friend who used to keep me hopeful that one day, he would be ready to commit to me. He’s the guy I used to feel was the only person in the world who could make me happy.

It’s amazing how blind we can be to the truth sitting right in front of our noses.

Kalistratos’s face darkens. “It’s the Jeff you told me about?”

“Yeah, but?—”

He strides forward, and before I can stop him—or maybe I barely even try to stop him—he pulls the door open.

Kalistratos is only about an inch taller than Jeff, but with the way he’s looking down at him, it seems more like a foot.

Jeff's eyes are so wide it’s almost comical.

“Uh, hey, Tyler,” he says. “Well, it’s good to know you’re not dead.”

“Surprise?” I say with an awkward grin.

“Your boss called me and said you didn’t come in yesterday or today, and then I get a call from a freakin’ hospital saying you were in an accident and disappeared from your room? What the hell is going on?”

“What? The hospital called you? How did they even get your number?”

“Does it matter? Are you alright? Who is this guy?” He eyes Kalistratos suspiciously. “I think I’d better come inside.”

It’s Jeff’s dumb little “protector mode.” He used to only ever bring it out when someone was hitting on me at a bar or whatever. Only then, suddenly and conveniently, we were a couple and I was off limits.

Kalistratos steps forward and blocks Jeff with his forearm. It’s barely a tap, but Jeff stumbles back.

“You wanna go, bro? You wanna go?” he barks at Kalistratos, holding up his fists.

“I would end you, beta. Don’t even try it.”

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