“So,” he said eventually. “We’re telling them.”
“We’re telling them.”
“When?”
“Soon. This week. Before the band auditions if we can.” I lifted my head to look at him. “I’m done hiding. I’m done being scared.”
He tucked hair behind my ear. “What changed?”
“Jasper gave me some advice. About claiming the space I want instead of waiting for permission.” I kissed him softly. “And I want this. I want you. I want people to know.”
“Even though it’s temporary?”
The word hung between us, and I realized something: I didn’t want it to be temporary anymore. But saying that out loud felt terrifying. Felt like changing the rules without permission.
So instead I said, “Even though it’s complicated.”
He studied my face for a long moment, and I wondered if he could see what I wasn’t saying. If he knew I was already in deeper than I’d planned.
“I should get us some water,” he said finally, sitting up. “You want anything?”
“Water’s good.”
He pulled on his jeans and headed to the kitchen, leaving me to put my own clothes back on in the living room.
I was just pulling my shirt over my head when I heard it.
A knock on the door.
Then Dex’s voice: “Xander? What are you doing here?”
My heart stopped.
Oh no.
Oh God.
No, no, no, no. This wasnothappening!
“I haven’t seen you in over a week,” Xander’s voice carried from the entryway. “Thought I’d stop by, see if you wanted to grab a coffee. You’ve been weird lately.”
I looked around wildly. The bedroom was down the hall. I could make it if I was quiet.
“Now’s not a great time,” Dex was saying.
“You okay? You look... half-dressed.”
Shit.
“I was just…”
“Oh shit!” Xander’s voice changed, became knowing. “Is someone here?”
Silence.
I stood frozen in the living room, my shoes in my hand, fully dressed but obviously having just been... well. Obviously.
“Yeah,” Dex said finally. “Someone’s here.”
