Page 27 of Stray for You

I catch him in the line before the counter. “What are you doing?”

“Buying this for you,” he says simply.

“I don’t need a keychain of my own city.”

“Sure, but this way you won’t forget our deal. I’ll get myself an Empire State Building when I get home.”

He winks at me, like this is some hilarious, marvelous joke we share and not the corniest promise of all time. Yet I don’t stop him from buying the trinket, and when he hands it to me, I put it immediately on my keychain. I hold the whole thing up for him.

“Happy?” I ask.

“Yes, actually. Now you’ll have to remember me even after I leave.”

Normally, this would land like a joke. He would wield his words to jab at how much Idon’tintend to remember or miss him. But the laughter is missing from his tone, and when he meets my eyes, something desperate lingers behind them.

This can’t be real. It simply can’t be real. This guy has been messing with me since high school. He hit on me in front of our moms simply to upset me. His interest wasn’t even sincere the one time we mistakenly hooked up here. He just likes to get a rise out of me, whether that’s by calling me his brother or, well, actually getting a physical rise out of me. It’s all one big game forJulian, and it always has been.

But I’m struggling to figure out what his angle is tonight. The tour was nice. The gift is cute in a dorky way. That look he levels at me lacks even a twinge of mockery or mirth. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Julian was being sincere.

When we leave the gift shop, a hazy gray mist has begun to fall. It’s not enough to do more than dampen the sidewalk and our exposed faces. Without a word, Julian and I start walking the same direction, which happens to be the direction of his hotel.

“I parked in a garage up the street,” I eventually offer by way of explanation.

“Oh, I see. Do you want me to pay for it? My company wouldn’t notice.”

I wave his words away. “It’s under two hours. It won’t be bad.”

“Right, yeah.”

His words droop like rain-drenched leaves. He hoped I’d say something different, I’m sure, but he doesn’t push, doesn’t comment on it.

My throat is tight when we reach the garage. I halt, and Julian stops a step past me, eyes a bit wider than normal as he takes in the concrete structure that marks the end of our strange reunion. He opens his mouth, closes it, shakes his head at himself.

Is this really the Julian I’ve known all my life? If he wants something, why isn’t he spinning some slimy, slick line? Why isn’t he goading me until I give in? Why is he juststanding there?

Why do I want to fix this?

“Are you going to invite me up?” I grumble.

His eyes brighten like they’re the only thing in this gray city that the sun can actually reach. He straightens, a smile flickeringover his lips.

“I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to,” he says.

“Christ,” I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Just do it quickly before I change my mind.”

His grin is all teeth. “Cam, do you want to come up?”

I heave a sigh. The answer should be no, but I started this mess, so I suppose I should finish it. It’s only one more night, anyway. Then this ends once and for all, stupidly charming keychain promise or not.

“Let’s go already.”

Chapter Fourteen

Julian

MY HEART IS BURSTING like a box of fireworks going off inside my chest. I can’t believe I was ready to let him go only moments ago. Now Cameron is following me to my hotel for the second time.

I make myself a vow as we stand silently in opposite corners of the elevator. For two people about to get naked together, we could not leave more space between us in public. All the more reason for the promise I silently make to myself.

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