Page 46 of Fish Out of Water

Jake grunted as he lifted the heavy cardboard box, fingers gripping the bottom so it didn’t fall out. “Open the door for me, will you?”

Robbie opened the door, then turned to Jake. “So, Jakey, huh?”

“It’s just what my aunt calls me. And my parents.”

“It’s cute.”

“It’s childish.”

“Well, you’re a childish guy, so it fits.”

Robbie unlocked his car from the doorstep. Jake saw the flash of the lights and heard the little swoopy beep it made, momentarily transporting him back to a time not so long ago, when he was watching Robbie leave and wishing the circumstances had been just a little different.

In broad daylight, the car was much less mysterious. It fit into the artificial city landscape well enough, but out here, it stuck out like a sore thumb. No wonder people hated Robbie Eaton so much. To see someone flaunt their wealth, even in little ways like this, it had to get tiring.

“Just set it in there,” Robbie said, gesturing to the empty trunk as it slowly opened at the push of a button.

“You sure? I wouldn’t want to ruin your pretty little backend.”

“Just set it down, Jake.”

Jake heaved it into the back, dusting his hands off before stepping away. There were red indentations on his palms where the edges of the box had cut in, but already as he rubbed at them, they were fading.

“I’ll get the other one,” Robbie said. “Thanks for the help.”

“No, I’ll get it.”

Their eyes met for just a moment, and Jake hoped that his sincerity wasn’t lost on Robbie. He’d been sarcastic with him so many times before that he worried now that when he was genuinely trying to be nice, if only for his aunt, Robbie would mistake it for something else.

Robbie looked away, hesitating. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “I appreciate it.”

Jake brought the other box out to the car, depositing it beside the first, and Robbie let the back shut. It clicked into place after a few agonizing seconds, and they stood out there in silence, the afternoon sun beating down on them so hard that Jake had to squint to see Robbie.

“Tonight?” he asked. “The beach, I mean?”

“Yeah, tonight.” Robbie nodded stiffly.

“Are we…”

“No.”

“But what about at the table today?”

Robbie suddenly smiled, an almost pitying laugh escaping his lips. “A little footsie under the table got to you that easily, huh? I underestimated your need for?—”

“Stop playing games with me,” Jake said, his voice dark and low, the inches between them disappearing as his fingers hooked between the plackets of Robbie’s shirt. “If you want me, you can have me. If you don’t, just tell me and I swear to God, I won’t ask you ever again.”

Robbie’s gaze shifted down toward Jake’s lips. Jake could still smell the apple pie on his breath, where it mingled with strong, bitter coffee. It wasn’t pleasant, exactly, but he couldn’t stop himself from taking in another whiff of it before Robbie stepped back.

“I want you,” Robbie said suddenly. “I want you so much, it hurts to breathe when I’m around you. But I just don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s not going to end well, Jake. It can’t. People like me don’t get to live consequence-free the way people like you do.”

“What doesthatmean?”

“I can’t do a one-night stand,” Robbie said, desperation leeching through his hushed tone. “I can’t fuck someone and then walk away. I’m notlikeyou.”

Jake took a long, heavy breath. His chest felt as though a barbell were being pressed down on it, crushing him from the outside in. Like Robbie had said, his mere presence made it hurt to breathe.

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