“Oh, come on,” he prompts. “I’m dying to know your thoughts about me.”
My eyes quickly scan his frame, noticing the designer label on his jacket before looking past that to the breadth of his shoulders. Standing so close, I have to raise my eyes significantly to see his face, andyep,he’s still blindingly attractive.
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth, the sensation unfamiliar.
“I was just going to say you give off moregym-brovibes thantheater-kid.”
At this observation, Talon throws his head back in carefree laughter. As it washes over me, the sound warms my flesh faster than the heater above us.
“First of all,” he says, still laughing. “I’m pretty sure no one haseveraccused me of being agym bro. Second, I’m from New York. Of course, I know theater. And last, are you telling me someone can’t be both a gym-broanda theater-kid? Because honestly, that sounds like a very well-rounded individual.”
My ears snag on the most important words that left his mouth.
“You’re from New York? Like the city?” I hate how young the awe in my voice makes me sound. I also hate that as soon as the words leave my mouth, Derek’s voice is in my head. ‘It’s just a pipe dream. You know that, right? People like us don’t make it out of here.’
Talon beams when he answers, the pride in his voice clear as day.
“Like the city.”
“God, that’s mydream. I’ve never been outside of Montana, but I swear I’ll get there one day.”
Talon’s eyes widen with excitement. “You should totally go! The city is awesome. I mean, it’s really nice out here, too. I love how open it is, but I thrive on connection, and the energy of the city is like nothing else. I like the noise and the chaos. It’s comforting to me.”
Despite never having been, I understand what he means. My veins are buzzing just from hearing him talk about it, and I know I would love it as much as he does.
“It sounds perfect,” I muse wistfully.
“Like anywhere, it has its good and bad parts. There’s definitely a lot of crime. Some parts of the city are dirty and unsafe, but it’s all part of the human experience,” Talon says, beautifully putting into words things I’ve felt but could never describe due to a lack of experience.
Before I can answer, my phone pings, alerting me to a text.
Derek
What time is rehearsal tonight?
I’m not reallysurprised Derek ignored my thirteen apologies over whatever the hell happened last night, but a small part of me had hoped maybe he’d issue one of his own for the fingerprints he left behind.
But I should know better than to wish he’d change.
“What’s wrong?” Talon asks beside me, making me jump. I’d somehow managed to forget he was there. Then again, I suppose it’s not all that surprising since Derek drains the life out of me with every interaction.
“Nothing,” I lie.
“Your face says otherwise,” Talon points out.
I’ll have to do a better job of keeping my mask in place when he’s around. Apparently, he’s more observant than everyone else up here.
“No, it’s fine. It’s just my…roommate,” I finish, unsure why I called Derek my roommate and not my boyfriend. I’ll have to analyze that later, though, because his text demands an answer.
Me
No rehearsal tonight. I’m working the dinner shift at Summit.
Derek
I can’t believe the one night you don’t have to be at the stupid theater, you choose to work late instead of spending time with me.
Is he serious right now?
