Page 71 of These Wicked Games
“I told her I was queer.” Grey smiles. “Just trying to live a little bit like myself.” He leans over, his elbows on my island, taking another sip of his water. “That was a good night.”
I smirk. “You hook up?”
His brows wiggle. “Mm, yes I did.”
We sit in the silence of our confessions for a minute. My thoughts go to Andre and I feel terrible. I’m not sure why I panicked. I need to make this right, apologize, beg him to forgive me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Same.”
“I don’t care—or I mean, I don’t like that you thought I would care. We’re family.”
“I know that.” Grey smiles sadly. “Can’t say I’m all that surprised, though. It’s not like you two were subtle.” The mischief in those stormy eyes eases me a little.
“What?”
“The hickeys? Oli, come on. I caught him checking out your naked ass last week too. Then the marks around Andre’s neck he was trying to hide . . . What the fuck was that?”
My face burns. “None of your buisness.”
“You kinky bitch.” He laughs. “Whatever. I clocked this a while ago. That wasn’t hatred between you two, that was passion.”
“Passionate hatred,” I correct, but he laughs.
“He your first guy?”
I’m not sure what he is. First is a loaded word. Andre’s my first on many counts. “A lot of firsts,” I admit, and Grey nods, standing and taking a swig of his water.
“I came by to ask you why you’ve been so distant lately. I guess I got my answer. I have to stop by Alyssa’s, and I was going to see if you wanted to come with. She’s bringing Lianna to the game tonight.”
“Want me to keep you from killing Landon?” I understand why Grey is so protective of her. After what they went through with their father growing up, I would be too. Still, Grey needs to let her breathe. Landon’s a good guy.
“No, you need to talk to Andre. You need to make that right.”
I want to argue, but he’s right. I shouldn’t have flipped out like that. I don’t know why I panicked. Fear has always gotten the best of me. My body vibrates with it sometimes until it explodes. “Hey,” I say, and Grey turns in the kitchen to look at me. “Please don’t tell Atlas. Not yet.”
Grey nods his head before giving me a reassuring smile. “Of course, but you should tell him. I know he won’t care. Well, he will care, but he’ll care in his way . . . teasing, jokes. You know him.”
I think about our friend and I have to ask. “I know you won’t tell me, and I know it’s Atlas’s business, but can you give me something? Anything.” Grey and Atlas have always had something that draws them together. “You two aren’t like . . .”
“Fuck no, Oli.” Grey swigs the rest of his water. “He’s too young for one, and he’s like my brother. I don’t think he’s queer either. As far as his situation goes, the only thing I’ll say is this . . .The laughter, the jokes, the immaturity, it’s all just him trying to reclaim the child he wasn’t allowed to be. Okay. That’s it.”
I think on that, and although I want to pry I don’t. It’s the problem solver in me. I want to fix things as fast as possible. “Okay. Thank you . . . and sorry.”
Grey claps me on the back. “Welcome to the queer club, Oli.” He kisses the side of my head before letting himself out.
Grey’s words sink in. I have so many things on my mind, but one thing is clear.
I need to talk to Andre.
twenty
Andre
Walking into the locker room, I’m on high alert. I haven’t answered any of Oli’s phone calls or texts. I don’t want to deal with his shit right now. He kicked me out like I was some one-night stand.
That’s because you are.
Stop it! I’m so tired of the ugly voices in my head. I’m tired of feeling like this.
