Chapter 43

“You don’t need this,” I whisper. “You can tell him—”

“If I wanted to,” he says with another laugh. “Maybe I like it like this, Mick, ever thought of that? Maybe this is what I want.”

“Maybe,” I say. “But what about him? What does hewant?”

He doesn’t have an answer for that. I can’t believe he doesn’t know.

* * * *

When you knock on his door again tonight, he’s already awake. Staring at the wall. Waiting. My words ring in his ears, cloud his mind, and he doesn’t like that. He’s never had to think about this before. He’s always just accepted it because he loves you and any part of yourself you’re willing to give him. He’s never wondered if you love him back. He’s never imagined you might be the one who wants more.