Page 127 of These Wicked Hearts

Grey watches me for a moment, making me want to crawl out of my skin. “Atlas is a lot to deal with,” he says finally. “He’s got a lot of demons, and he’s going to need a lot of patience, but he’s one of the sweetest, most caring, loving men I’ve ever met. He’s got a heart so big he needs someone who knows how to handle it.” I swallow hard. “And if that’s not you, you need to let him down as gently as you can. Don’t hurt my friend more than you already are.”

“I’m not—” His words poke at me. I’m not hurting him. This entire thing was Atlas’s idea. Strangers with benefits. He came up with the idea.

Then I think of the snowman, and the comic room, and then him pouring his heart out to me, so afraid the man in front of me now was going to abandon or hate him.

“I don’t want to hurt him,” I say softly, staring at the wooden floor.

Footsteps come down the hall, and I suck in a steadying breath. I see Felix poke his head around the corner. “Oh, Gage.” He smiles, then turns to Grey. “Sorry, just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Grey’s arm slings around Felix’s shoulders, pulling him in for a kiss against his head. “I’m fine, Angel. Just talking to Atlas’s friend.” Felix’s hand pats his stomach.

“Just talking, huh?” He gives him a look.

Grey’s lips split into a smile.

“Hey.” Atlas walks into the kitchen. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Just getting some tea and talking to your friend.” Atlas rolls his eyes at him.

“If he’s threatening you, it’s all talk. He just looks mean and scary. I have the photo of him dressed as a mermaid to prove it.”

“You have a picture?!” Grey glares.

“Damn right. And I made copies.” Atlas sticks out his tongue.

“I was a very manly mermaid.”

“With a purple shelled bra and everything.” Felix laughs.

“Felix, I’ll send you a copy once we get home. Print out a poster-sized picture and hang it at the college.” Grey rolls his eyes at Atlas. “Are you okay?”

I blink, realizing he’s talking to me. “Uh, yeah. Just tired is all.” Atlas smiles, taking my hand in his. “We’ll see you all in the morning.”

Atlas leads me out, and I take one quick glance at Grey and the look he gives me.

Atlas is wrong.

His friend is very, very scary.

THIRTY

Gage

“Are you happy to be going home tomorrow?”

Atlas drops his bag by the doorway. I look around his small house, and all I feel is a sense of doom wash over me. Tomorrow we’ll be back home, which means I’ll have to face this thing with Jim. I know he’ll be there. I can’t avoid it any longer, and I’m no closer to figuring out what I can do.

All I know is that I don’t want this thing with Atlas to end, which is why I’ll have to end it tomorrow.

This was only supposed to be something fun, but it’s turned so unfun I can’t stand it. Grey’s words from the other night hit me hard in the chest. He’s right. I can’t keep this up if I don’t want anything serious.

“Why bother having all this here? Why not bring some to your apartment?”

He shrugs. “Hockey players have short careers. By the time I know it, I’ll be retired. I plan to live here when it’s over. I love it here.”

“Did you ever want to get drafted to the New Jersey team?”

Atlas smiles softly. “I don’t know. I didn’t really think about it. You pretty much go where they tell you. I wasn’t some first-round pick. I was just a guy who got lucky, really.”