“Come back to the dorm,” Franco said. “We’ll talk in person. Okay?”
“No,” Katt rasped. “I’m not coming back.Ever.”
“Katt—”
Katt ended the call and threw the phone onto the counter, where it skittered across the smooth surface before falling into the sink basin with a dull clatter. Katt gripped the sink's edge with both hands, knuckles whitening. Maybe Franco was just putting up a front and was in it with Todd.
It doesn’t matter, because like you said—you’re not fucking going back.
When the cell phone rang, Katt immediately grabbed it and turned it off. He didn’t want to talk to Franco. He didn’t want to talk toanyone.
An overwhelming nausea took hold of him as he stared at the bathroom door.
He couldn’t hide in here forever.
Katt had no choice—hehadto go back out there with a new understanding that changed everything.
11
Derek returned with a clean T-shirt as Katt emerged from the bathroom. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Katt put the shirt on, then slipped into his jacket. He knew he wasn’t fooling the two men. When he’d left the bathroom, the mirror had reflected a pale, sickly image.
“Are you sure?” Garrett asked, concerned. “You don’t look so good.”
What was he supposed to say? Reveal his humiliation? He needed to justleave.Tell them he was done and get the fuck out of there.
“Katt,” Garrett said. “You don’t have to keep going. If it’s all too much for you, it’s okay.”
The hurt and anger bubbling inside Katt had a strange effect on him. A part of him wanted to flee this place and never look back. But another part…
What? Wanted tostay?No, hedidn’twant to be here. Why would he?
Maybe because these guys have made you feel more welcome and included than anyone else ever has?
Sure, butwhy?So he’ll let them fuck him? He was just a conquest to them.
So, why is Garrett giving you an out?None of the men had pressured him. The things he’d done so far had beenhisdecisions.
“Do you want to leave?” Garrett asked. “You’re under no obligation to continue.” He glanced at Derek, who nodded. Garrett added, “If you want to stay and just hang out, talk, play pool, whatever… that’s cool too. What you do, or don’t do, is entirely up to you.”
In some ways, Garrett reminded him of Franco. Or, at least, the person he’d thought Franco was. Katt started to wonder if part of the hurt of this cruel joke was the thought that Franco was part of it. In less than a month, he’d really started to like the guy and thought maybe they could be good friends. Maybe he already thought they were, hence the hurt.
And Todd? Being lied to and played by his former best friend—who’d made Katt believe they could be best friends again—hurt like fuck. Why the fuck had Toddsenthim here? What the hell was his reason? Why would he do this?
Garrett’s “options” hung in the air between them. If Katt left, where would he go? He was living at college. He’d told Franco he was never coming back, but he had to. All his stuff was there. And he wasn’t ready to go back there. Not yet.
“I’ll… stay,” Katt mumbled. “But… I don’t want to do anything else.”
“All right,” Garrett said. “You don’t have to.”
“Yeah, sure,” Derek murmured. “Understandable. Things got a little wild there.” He smiled small. “They usually do when the twins are involved.”
Katt chewed his lower lip. “The twins… are theyactualtwins? Brothers?”
Garrett chuckled. “No. We just call them that because of their similar features and mannerisms. Though many people do mistake them for biological twins.”
“Okay.” Katt sighed. “I like them. They seem sweet, even kind of… innocent… when they’re not…”
