Page 29 of Heart of the Race

“You just don’t care.”

“You’re wrong,” I said flatly.

“No. I mean, you explained about the foster homes before⁠—”

“Wait, now⁠—”

“And maybe that’s what you did. Maybe that’s how you handled it. You just shut down and turned off and insulated yourself from⁠—”

“I’m gonna hang up now, Graham, before I say something I shouldn’t.”

“Even in bed you’re so sedate, so calm, so… I don’t normally have to ask a lover if the sex was good—I can usually tell.”

He was judging me, and I hated it. “Bye, Graham.”

“Wait. Just⁠—”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t exciting enough for you.”

“Whatever. If that’s what you heard, that’s what you heard. But you can’t go through your life with everything being fine, Brian. I’ve never met anyone as calm as you. You’re not truly passionate about anything.”

“Then why even pursue a relationship with me?”

“Because like I said, the world through your eyes is a wondrous place full of possibility and hope, and of course, there’s the challenge to see if I could actually bring some life and heat out of you. I feel like if you just let yourself love and be loved in return, then⁠—”

“Thanks, Graham, I appreciate the advice. Why don’t you call me next week, and we’ll have lunch or something.”

“Brian?”

“Okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll try and remember to do that,” he said and hung up.

I swallowed down the quick ache and then braced my hands behind me. Stretching my legs out in front of me on the three steps, I sat there and waited for Varro Dacien to show up.