Page 255 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“How to read me.”

“I already knew how.”

“No.”

The word came softer than Elliot intended. Ronan stopped. Elliot continued.

“You knew what I gave you.”

That truth had already hurt them once. It hurt again. Ronan looked away.

“Yeah.”

Elliot’s chest tightened.

“Sorry.”

Ronan looked back. This time he didn’t complain about the apology. For several seconds, neither spoke. Then:

“Grace.”

Elliot’s body tightened.

“What about her?”

“Did I see you afterward?”

“No.”

“Benjamin?”

“Yes.”

Ronan froze. Elliot immediately regretted answering.

“When?”

“June.”

“June what?”

“Twenty-first.”

Ronan’s face emptied.

“No.”

Elliot looked at him. Ronan stood.

“No.”

“What?”

“That was my birthday.”

Silence. Fuck. Elliot had known that. Of course he had. He remembered everything about Ronan.

“I came home before midnight.”