Page 106 of Fakers with Benefits

“Don’t! Do you have any idea how violating it is to know someone has been following my every move? That you’ve had people watching my apartment and my jobs? How stupid I feel knowing you lied to me for weeks and I had no clue any of this was going on?”

“The situation is complicated—”

“I don’t care! I don’t give a flying fuck how complicated the situation is. If it involves me, then I have a goddamn right to know about it!”

His jaw worked as he clenched his teeth.

“You’re so afraid of something happening to me that you put your best friend and the head of your security on me, but didn’t think to tell me what’s going on so I could protect myself? I’m not the weak, flighty airhead everyone thinks I am.

“I might love pretty clothes and dancing and say weird shit that doesn’t always make sense to others, but I’m an adult. I’ve been on my own since I was sixteen. I’m not some naïve kid who doesn’t understand how the real world works. I’ve spent my entire life dealing with assholes who’ve taken exception to who I am because I refuse to change myself for the comfort of others.”

“Nick—”

“No, it’s my turn to talk and your turn to listen,” I steamrolled on. “You have no idea what life has been like for me. How many times I’ve been ridiculed and mocked and attacked just for being myself. How many bro-dudes have taken exception to my very existence because I don’t fit into what they feel a ‘man’ should be. Did that ever occur to you while you were deciding to keep me in the dark about my own damn safety?”

“Nick—”

“Fuck you.” The burning in my eyes faded, but the tightness in my throat was making it hard to breathe. “Fuck you for making me think you were different.”

Evan crossed the room, his strides long and purposeful.

I wanted to run, but my feet wouldn’t move.

“I’m so sorry.” He hauled me against his hard chest in a crushing hug. “You’re right. You’re right about everything.”

“A hug isn’t going to fix this.” I kept my arms at my sides, still too upset to give in to the comfort he was offering.

“I know. And I’m not trying to fix it. I’m just… I’m so sorry.”

Feeling awkward, I rested my hands on his bare hips. “It’s so not fair that you’re all gorgeous and sweaty while I’m trying to be mad.”

His low chuckle soothed some of the anger that still flowed through me.

“I’m serious. Why couldn’t you be in the middle of trying on parkas or maybe getting ready to tend to some bees?”

“Tend to bees?”

“Yeah, like in a beekeeper suit.”

“I don’t have any bees to tend to.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t have a beekeeper suit. It’s not like they check your beekeeper card when you go to buy one.”

He pulled back and held me at arm’s length. “I’m sorry, Nick. I know an apology isn’t enough. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I do want to explain things to you.”

“Fine. Explain.”

“Not here.” He pressed a sweaty kiss against my forehead. “Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

Taking my hand, he led me out of the gym. “My room.”

Still pouting, I followed Evan down the hall to one of the closed doors I’d nearly dislocated my arm trying to open.

“Why do you lock your room if you live alone?” I asked as he pressed his thumb to a sensor.

“Because my bedroom has a door to my office in it.” He motioned to the other closed door.

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