Page 34 of Shiver
I nod, frowning. “Alright, Egon. I’m trying to figure this out, but I clearly need more details.”
His laugh is bitter this time. “Just Temca spreading shit because you turned her down. That’s all. Like I said, I’m so irrationally overreacting, but I don’t know why.”
It takes me all of thirty seconds to realize what his teammates are saying. A smile curves my lips and I consider pulling away. Lest the following exchange make him uncomfortable.
“They’re saying I’m gay,” I say.
His body stiffens, but he nods slightly. “Like I said. I don’t even have a reason to be as pissed as I am. It’s not even about me. And it’s not like they were saying it viciously. But the fact that they’re just throwing it out there like, hey, he has blue eyes when you clearly don’t…”
“Egon, what makes you think I’m clearly straight?”
His entire body stills. His breath catches and he holds it. Slowly, he picks his head up to look at me. Maybe I should be guarded, but I meet his eyes and wait.
Egon licks his lips as he stares into my eyes. Then his gaze takes in my face and falls down as if he’s looking at all of me. Trying to see the part of me that screams ‘this man is straight.’
“You know, every reason I can think of doesn’t define a straight man but just a person in general,” he says.
“Let’s see,” I say, trying to keep the smile from my mouth. “I’m clearly a bit of a gym rat, as you’ve seen by my physique. And masculinity is inherently straight.” He flinches. “I like and understand sports, also inherently straight.” This time he turns his face away, cheeks flushing.
“Fuck,” he mutters. “Toxic masculinity right there, yeah?”
I chuckle. “Not toxic so much as what society tells you defines a straight man.”
Egon sighs, the fight in him fading. “So, what are you saying? Are you?”
I wait for him to look at me. When his pretty gray eyes finally meet mine, I smile a little and nod. “Yes. I’m gay.”
There’s no repulsion. He doesn’t pull away. If anything, his hands tighten in my shirt again. His lips part as he pulls in a breath, but he doesn’t break eye contact.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks.
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re straight?” I counter.
His mouth opens and closes several times before he laughs. “I don’t know. I guess I don’t walk around saying ‘I’m straight’ to everyone I meet.”
“Should I announce to everyone I meet that I’m gay?”
This time, he winces. “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t—Fuck, I’m stupid.”
“No. You’re a product of your environment.” My words make him wince again. His face scrunches in a cringe. He mutters something that sounds like ‘Jeezus fuck’ under his breath, that has me chuckling.
“What are you apologizing for?”
“Assuming you’re straight? Is that insulting?” His brows knit together, and I laugh again.
“No. Presumptuous perhaps, but you’ve never acted like a dick over sexuality, so it’s not a big deal.”
“It’s never come up, but I’d like to think that I wouldn’t anyway,” he says. He snorts. “Guess I really have no legs to stand on for being pissed at them. They were just… telling me?”
“The reasons behind your anger are just,” I say gently. I’m not sure how it happens, but my hand rises, and I brush his cheek. Egon sucks in a breath but he still leans into my touch, his eyes flutter as if they’re fighting to close, but he wants to keep eye contact. “I appreciate your indignation when you thought you were protecting me, Egon. There should be more people like you in the world.”
There’s a very subtle moan that he swallows at my words. My hand is fully cupping the side of his face now, my thumb running smoothly over his cheek as he further melts into my touch.
Seducing him is going to be easier than I initially anticipated. Suddenly, it’s not so appealing. Egon no longer fits the bill for what I’m looking for as a conquest in my straight guy challenge.
Yet, I’m struggling to pull away.
“I appreciate your anger on my behalf,” I say, words just above a whisper.
