Page 133 of Catch Me
“What’d he say?” I demanded. My heart was beating too quickly while I waited, even though I knew that Travis wouldn’t have told him about us.
“He said he needs to talk to you about that project, but...Did something happen between you?”
“No.”
“Roman—”
“Mind your fucking business, Tilian!” I shouted, jumping to my feet.
He followed me, looking pissed. “Why do you have to act like this? I’m trying to help you.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t need it? You don’t care. You never have.”
“I would have if you weren’t such a fucking asshole.”
“That’s because I can’t fucking stand you.”
“Bullshit. It was because you had feelings for me back then and you couldn’t face them.”
I scoffed. “Feelings. Don’t flatter yourself.”
“You wouldn’t admit it then, and now you won’t admit that you care about someone else. You’re scared.”
Getting closer, I grabbed onto his biceps. He lifted his chin, leveling me with a challenging glare. Always. Every fucking time. He never budged, never backed down.
“Stop being such a desperate little bitch,” I said. “Leave me alone.”
He shoved my chest, which shocked me. “Desperate?” He laughed, even when I pushed him back harder. “How am I the desperate one, Roman? How many times didyoucome to me? You can’t beg me to sleep with you again and again for two years, then turn around and callmedesperate just because you’re too fucking scared to admit that you’re gay.”
“Uh, baby,” Brooks said from the doorway.
I felt like I was going to be sick when I saw my mom and Ross standing with him. They both looked horrified.
“Shit,” Til muttered. “Surprise, I guess. Merry Christmas and to all a good night. Is dinner gonna be really awkward now?”
He didn’t care about them knowing, but I did. It felt like a domino had been knocked over, and the entire set was about to go down. I couldn’t fucking breathe.
“Hey,” he said, gentler than before. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know they were there.”
Shaking my head, I stepped back. “Don’t act like you give a shit. You’ve been dying for a reason to out me since the first time.”
“No, I—”
“Roman,” Mom called when I rushed down the steps and headed around the side of the house.
I didn’t have a car here, so I just walked with no destination in mind.
*****
A knock on the door made me grip my tablet. I thought I’d been out late enough, but I should’ve expected that she’d stay up and wait for me. There was no avoiding it, so I might as well get it over with.
“Come in.”
When the door opened, my stomach bottomed out. Instead of my mom, Ross came in. He looked like he felt as awkward as I did.
“Uh, hey,” I said.
“Can we talk, Roman?”
