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“Salem, it wasn’t about that.” Logan rubs a hand over his jaw like he’s trying to wipe the guilt off his face. “It wasn’t planned. I didn't⁠—”

“Oh, so you just accidentally tripped and fell onto Devon’s dick?”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen!” he explodes, voice rising for the first time. “I didn’t even know how I felt until…”

“Until what?” I scoff when I train my gaze on Devon. “You've been super quiet over there, Dev. What, nothing to say about boning your nephew?”

Those whiskey eyes flash, but Devon's face remains blank. “He's not my nephew.”

“Oh, right, my bad. Adopted brother.”

The two of them share a brief glance, but nothing more is said. The knot that's been slowly unraveling in my chest ignites into a ball of fury.

“Holy shit,” I whisper, everything snapping into place. The way Logan claimed he couldn't have sex until marriage, the absolute breakdowns he'd have after I'd peg him. “You’re gay. Aren't you? I was your fucking beard.”

Logan blanches as every head in the room rotates toward him, and he shakes his head quickly. “Absolutely not. I'm not gay, Salem, I… I love you.”

“Love isn't crawling into bed with me while you fantasize about someone else.”

He flinches before rubbing his chest like I've stabbed him. “It wasn’t like that⁠—”

“Then tell me what it was like!” I damn-near scream. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks a hell of a lot like you used me to live some kind of fantasy life.”

“I want you,” he says brokenly. “I chose you.”

“Because it was safe.” I step closer and blink away the tears burning in my eyes. “Because I played the part you thought you were supposed to want. Right? Well, that backfired, didn't it? Mommy and Daddy don't even like me, so you lied for fucking nothing.”

Logan shakes his head, eyes glossy when he reaches for me. “I’m not lying. I’ve loved you since high school, Salem. I'm just… I’m so confused.”

At the first crack in his best friend's voice, Huckslee pushes off the door. His large body comes between us. “Alright, we aren't doing this. That's enough.”

With a scowl, I wipe away an angry tear. “This doesn't concern you. You're free to fucking leave.”

“Whoa, Salem. Chill,” Taylor tries to intervene, but Huck cuts him off.

“I'm not leaving. And yes, this does concern me.”

“Why, because Logan’s your buddy?”

“No,” he answers quietly, staring me down. “Because I’ve been where he is. I had my sexuality dragged into the open before I was ready, and it nearly killed me.”

Everyone goes absolutely still. The air stagnates, almost like we each sucked in a collective breath. Memories of a horrible night at prom six years ago assault us all. Taylor looks away, rubbing at a phantom pain in his collarbone from when he snapped it saving his boyfriend’s life.

Huckslee ignores the room and gestures toward Logan instead. “You think he wanted this to blow up in front of everybody? You think he planned to be this messed up over something he can't control?”

Shame heats my face, but I cross my arms with a huff. “So I’m the bad guy now?”

“You’re hurt. I understand that, but we both know that hurt people say and do things they can't take back.”

Tay lowers his head, shoulders curling in like he wants to disappear. I’d feel sorry for him if I didn’t already feel like collateral damage in someone else’s story.

“This isn't just about Logan getting with Devon, Huck. He lied to me. I gave him my trust and my fucking body, and he spit it back in my face.”

Logan makes a garbled sound, probably struggling to breathe, but I don't care. Maybe he deserves to choke. Maybe I want it to hurt. At least then I wouldn’t be the only one suffocating.

No one says a word. Huck and I stand off in silence, both of us too stubborn to back down.

Just when I think we'll be here all night locked in some kind of staring contest, Devon tosses his arms over his head to stretch loudly. Then the bastard fucking yawns. “Well,” he says dryly, reaching for his jacket. “This has been fun.”