Page 84 of Kiss-Fist
As if summoned, my phone buzzes again. This time, Thom feels it because his gaze darts to my pocket, then back up to my face.
‘He’s in love with you.’ He spells most of that sentence.
I shake my head. ‘No. Wrong.’
Thom folds his arms over his chest and looks the most stubborn I’ve seen him.
‘Wrong,’ I tell him again. ‘I don’t know why he was like that.’
Thom licks his lips, and I want to trace that wet path with my own tongue. He takes a beat, then nods firmly and stands, hauling me up by the front of my shirt. Over his shoulder, I see everyone leaning forward to try and catch what his hands are saying.
‘Will they forgive me if we leave?’
For skipping our goodbyes? They’ll make sure to remind him of it every time they see him, but they’ll forgive him this time. Especially if I give them details later.
I pull him close and lean over his shoulder, waving my hand at them. Fayid nods for me to go on. ‘See you soon.’
Everyone bursts into laughter, and Mellie rolls his eyes, putting one arm around Rhett and signing with the other, ‘Make him feel better.’
I plan to. I think. I hope. I’m not sure about the look on his face, but I do know that I’m going to take this reprieve, and I’m going to do my goddamn best.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THOM
Fuck,I’m jealous. The thought of Robbie with anyone else has me crawling out of my skin. Not that I expected him to be some kind of virgin or saint. I know he isn’t. Not with the way he fucks me like some kind of seasoned pro. But damn it. I didn’t want to come face-to face with a hot guy he was sleeping with. Not on our date.
But then again, I know the community is really small. Leaf told me. Denver did too. It’s athing. Everyone knows everyone, and more importantly, everyone knows everyone’s business. The chances of me meeting a guy Robbie has been with were a sure thing. I just didn’t really recognize it until it was right in my face.
And maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t obvious Rome was in love with Robbie, but that twists the knife a little deeper because in all respects, Rome is a better choice than I am. He’s tall, gorgeous, smarmy, and Deaf. He’s also probably educated in ways I never will be.
Why isn’t Robbie still with him? Why did he choose me? Did he want to date down?
I take a breath and attempt to calm myself down. Apart from Rome—which was a huge part of my mood—the night had been amazing.
Being onstage with the queens was a little intimidating, but it was also incredibly cool. Loved that I could show off for the crowd and also for Robbie. Show him what I’m working with. That I might not be Deaf, but Iamhot.
I could sense a little bit of jealousy on his face when I got back to the table, and I liked it, considering I’d been simmering in my own jealousy from the moment Rome told me that he knew Robbie in ways that I didn’t.
But the feeling didn’t last. We left the bar too quickly, and there’s been a pointed silence between us since I climbed into the car beside him.
He’s driving us back to his place, and I feel myself starting to itch. I have no idea how this is going to go, but I can’t just ignore it. I can’t pretend this didn’t happen.
The car turns off, and I see that we’re already there. He looks at me in the shadows of the streetlights and then nods toward the door.
‘Want come up?’
I roll my lips between my teeth and then nod. What else am I going to do? Wait down here for a Lyft like a chump when all I want is for Robbie to reassure me that he wants me for me?
Robbie lets out a relieved breath and slides out, and I follow. The two of us walk side by side up the steps untilwe’re inside his apartment, and then he flips the lights on and shucks his jacket off.
I do nothing but watch him.
He looks guilty. And maybe a little worried. He looks like he needs another drink, and frankly, so do I. But I want his head clear for this conversation. I need to know where I stand, just like he needed to know before when he brought me here to tell me why I’d fucked up and how not to do it again.
‘Water,’ I say and then move to the kitchen to pull a glass down.
Robbie follows, his hands flexing near his sides. When I turn around with the glass half-full, he signs, ‘I’m sorry.’
