Page 56 of Puppy on a Leash

It wasn’t fair.

“It means you look after yourself first and foremost, and then you build a narrative so that you don’t look like the bad guy.” Cece pinned me with a look while I tried not to recoil—or cut them off. I had no idea what they were talking about. “Case in point. Where have you been these past few months?”

“Um. What do you mean?” I scratched my eyebrow. “I’ve been right here, same as always?”

“No. No, you’ve been going to your boys’ nights, and you’ve been hanging out with Sergio and Ev every chance you got.”

I frowned. I mean, sure I had, but… “What was I supposed to do? Lurk around the apartment waiting for you to arrive from all the trips you’ve been taking?”

“Andthat’s just proved my point. Thank you.”

How the fuck had I just proved their point? Whenever they were at the apartment, I latched on to them to unhealthy levels. I went to the club every time they wanted to, even when I had deadlines or wasn’t feeling it, and I didn’t move away from them. Even now, I was here, instead of stalking the public university’s website to double check that Tony didn’t have any classes and I could storm into his house again.

Catching him off guard led to the most entertaining results.

I sighed.

“What happened, Cece?”

I braced for the response. I had the reputation of a brat, but Cece was the one with the actual sharp tongue. They lashed out. It was what they did. They regretted it after it happened, and they never meant it, but it didn’t change the facts.

Surprisingly, they didn’t answer right away. Their throat bobbed. I watched as they wrapped their oversized flannel shirt tighter around their body, and tears built up in their eyes.

I gulped. Just because I knew something bad had happened didn’t mean I was happy to hear it, to have my suspicions confirmed. I waited with bated breath.

Then Cece turned their head to the side. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does,” I whispered. My throat felt dry. “And I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk. And while you aren’t.”

I was quick to tack on that last part. I hated when people said the first part and then ran away. I knew it wasn’t most people’s intentions, but it felt too much like meaningless platitudes, and I wasn’t into those. They gave me the shivers.

“Right.” Their voice was small.

They weren’t looking in my general direction yet, either.

I didn’t think I was any good at consoling people, but it was Cece. I squared up my shoulders and tried to give my least wobbly smile. “Wanna order takeout and watchNewsies?”

A sniffle was all the response I needed, even if it broke my heart a little.

I pulled out my phone from the front pocket of my hoodie and opened up Tony’s text. Maybe Cece would like him more when, years down the line, I admitted he’d been the one funding their depression-induced takeout orders. Tonight was too soon for such things.

Jaime

How do you feel about financial investments?

Tony

Is this for a project?

Jaime

No. I want you to invest in getting me and Cece takeout

Tony

Why?

Jaime

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