Chapter 16

“Like you didn’t want to be seen with me because I don’t fit the image of the perfect person you go after,” Charlie said dryly. “And I let that happen because I knew it was the truth, but I didn’t want to lose what little I had of you.”

“God, I’m sorry. I didn’t…I never saw what I was doing to you, how I was hurting you. Not until Jace told me.”

“He what?” Charlie pulled away in shock only to find himself back in Ricky’s arms seconds later.

“He didn’t say it was you. He just said my actions were hurting a friend of his. I thought he meant some woman, or,” Ricky smiled wryly, “even that he was talking about himself. That’s how much ego I displayed at the moment.”

“He wouldn’t have meant him. He’s straight,” Charlie said. “You know that.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Ricky nodded. “Like I said, my ego made more of it than it should have.”

Charlie chuckled softly. “You do have one. A big one. But then mostactors do I think, at least on some level.”