Chapter 47

Jake’s voice murmurs through him. “I never meant to hurt you.”

Ned is fully aware this isn’t an apology for fucking around—just for getting caught. “I have to go.”

“Wait.”

Ned listens to Jake breathe into the phone and tells himself to hang up but he can’t. Finally, when it’s clear Jake is waiting him out, Ned asks, “What?”

“I miss you,” Jake says again, in that damnably soft voice of his. “I miss us.Don’t you?”

You’re playing with me here.Ned hates the fact he’s too weak to put an end to this conversation. Like a cat with a mouse, Jake. You want it all, a steady relationship and a piece of ass on the side

“I miss trusting people,” Ned tells him. “I miss believing a guy can like me, onlyme, and not need to fuck someone else when I’m not around. I miss that, Jake. And you know, that’s not something you can just kiss away and make better.”

Jake has no reply. Ned didn’t think he would. His ice cream is melting, damn it. “I really should go.”