Page 79 of Fish Out of Water

“I really didn’t think I’d be inviting you over tonight,” Robbie continued, ignoring Jake’s assurance.

“I’m glad you did. I don’t know what possessed you to finally ask me, but I’m sure as hell—” Jake’s eyes landed on the ceiling-to-floor windows leading out to the balcony across the room, and he stopped in his tracks.

“Sorry,” Robbie said, hurrying over to the windows to close the velvety curtains previously held back by braided ropes as soon as he noticed Jake staring. “If it makes you feel any better, no one can see in unless they’re trespassing. That’s the backyard, and it’s bordered by a couple of acres of woods belonging to the property.”

“What? Oh, I wasn’t worried about that. Leave them open; it’s fine.”

“You sure?”

“Positive. Relax, Robbie.” Jake turned his attention to the bed. A stark contrast to the twin-sized one in Isabel’s guest bedroom, this thing was big enough for an entire orgy—a king-sized bed if Jake had ever seen one. “How much room does one man need?” He jerked his head up. “That was uncalled for.”

“It wasn’t,” Robbie said. “It’s ridiculous, I know. I just like my space in bed, and…”

“It’ll be a nice change from the one I’ve been sleeping in.”

“I can imagine.”

Jake glared at Robbie for a second before deciding he deserved that.

“So this is it, huh?” He sat down on the side of the bed, his fingers sliding across the emerald green, down-filled duvet. “When’s the last time you brought another guy in here?”

“Uh…” Robbie ran a hand through his hair. “Never.”

“Okay, don’t answer then.” Jake fell back onto the bed, letting his legs continue to dangle over the side.

“Thatwasmy answer, Jake. I’m being serious.” Robbie sat down next to him. “I’ve never brought a date back here before. I don’t do this kind of thing. I don’t hook up, and if I do, I take them to a hotel or go back to their place.”

Jake sat bolt upright. “You’re joking, right? Tell me you’re joking.”

Robbie shook his head.

“What about boyfriends? Or friends? Has a single other human being ever been in this house since you moved back in?”

“Of course. I’m not a recluse, Jake. I’ve had people over, just not… in this capacity.”

“So no one besides you has ever slept in this massive fucking bed before?”

Robbie pursed his lips. Jake couldn’t quite make out if he was on the verge of laughing or crying. “That’s right.”

“Oh my God. AndI’mthe special one you had to choose to let into your heart?”

“Wormed your way in, more like.” Robbie pushed his hand against Jake’s thigh. “Get up and give me a minute to make the bed properly. Like I said, this wasn’t the plan.”

Jake glanced back at the rest of the bed. “It looks fine.”

“It’s not.”

“We’re gonna mess it up in a minute anyway.”

“Get up, Jake. Let me fix it.”

Jake rolled his eyes, but he stood, retreating to the door on the opposite side of the room. That was where the attached bathroom lay, and it had a large clawfoot bathtub and a separate shower the size of Isabel’s entire bathroom back at home. There were no cramped showers being taken inside a curtained bathtub at Robbie’s house.

“This is nice,” he said, closing the door again as Robbie finished smoothing out the duvet. “How often do you have a bath in that behemoth?”

“Occasionally,” Robbie said. He fixed his hair again, smoothing out rogue strands that didn’t exist.

Suddenly, it all made sense: his behavior, the slight quiver in his lip when he tried to smile, the furrow in his brow that wasn’t usually there. It wasn’t the lighting casting tight lines across his face; it was his anxiety.