Page 147 of Challenge Me

I’ll smile through the breaking bones,

And wake the god within.

There was a knock at the door, which I ignored. I didn’t think Amir would knock, but then again, he was disgustingly polite sometimes.

This time, I didn’t want him to come after me. I didn’t want him to fight for me. I wanted to lie in this bed and wallow.

“Pity party of one?” Roman asked from the other side of the door. It opened a second later, and he came in without asking.

“I want to be alone.”

“Tough luck, man.” He stood a few feet away and looked around, as if he didn’t basically live in this house. “I used to stay in here.”

“Why?”

“Long story. It was before Travis and I were together.”

“Cool.”

He went around to the other side of the bed and sat down. Leaning against the headboard, he held out a carton of ice cream.

“I’m good,” I said.

“That’s not really an option. It’ll melt, then we’ll invite bad karma.”

“Yeah? Do the ice cream gods get angry about such things?”

He chuckled. “We’re all gods, so definitively yes. This one’s cinnamon roll. It’s my favorite.”

Reluctantly, I sat up and took it from him. I sniffed it, then took a small bite. He looked at me smugly, as if to say, ‘I told you so.’

“Sorry about Travis. He’s a bit of a dumbass sometimes.”

I snorted a laugh. “Would he be upset if he heard you say that?”

“Nah. He’s a dumbass and I’m an asshole. We balance each other out in that way.”

“You know, people keep saying that, but I haven’t seen you act like an asshole yet.”

“You should’ve met me a couple years ago. Travis almost kicked me out of his house a few times.”

“Travis? I thought he was the nicest guy ever.”

“He is. That’s how you know it was bad.”

“Give me an example, otherwise I’m going to assume you’re a dirty liar.”

He hummed around his spoon. “I made it very clear that I didn’t like gay people. Then I told him his entire personality was being gay.”

With something like a cackle, I leaned my head back against the headboard. “I mean, his entire platform is about being gay.”

“Damn, nobody has ever taken my side on that one. Guess you’re something of an asshole too.”

“Maybe I’m feeling a little put out.”

“It doesn’t change anything, but they really are trying to help in their own way.”

“You’re right. It doesn’t change anything.”