Chapter 51

“Something happened, didn’t it?”

“No.”

“Please do not lie to me, Liam. One thing we have never done is that. I felt your touch. I think I did. And then I felt…”

“Yes. Y-yes then! But I w-would risk it again. I would t-touch you a t-thousand times and not c-care.” Liam sat forward, as though he might.

“My God, Liam!” Frank backed away. “Have you not even the sense of a young child burned on a hot stove?” Frank wanted to put his fist through the wall. He wanted to put it through his skin and his ribcage to tear out his heart and stomp on it. Doing that would hurt less.

“It was s-mall. Completely b-bearable,” Liam said.

“With a feathery pass. What would happen with more?” Frank turned his back.

“You are angry. Please d-don’t be.”

Liam reached. Frank sensed it. He whirled around. “I’m disappointed. I’m dismayed at the fact that I can never kiss you for real, but also because you have been lying to me.”

“No.”