Chapter 43

Not wanting to be presumptuous about where this was all heading, but hoping like hell it would get there, I asked, “So tell me, what does this mean? What do you want, exactly?”

“I want…to feel normal. I want to enjoy being with someone who doesn’t mind that I might freak out sometimes during sex because of what happened to me. Someone who’s patient, kind. Someone who understands that I may not ever be relationship material. But then again, who knows? Do you get that, Wheeler?”

“I do. Hey, I understand that there may never be an ‘us,’ but I still want to be a friend to you. I went to the bookstore today.”

He laughed.

“Yeah, okay, so it wasn’t the usual stalker day, but I wanted to do some research, find out ways I can be supportive to you. I want to be there for you, Gregory, in every way I can.”

“God, you…” He took a moment to get his emotions under control. “You know, that’s it. Come on, small-town hero. I need to fuck you. Right now.”