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“Tay.”

“Finn, it’s fine.”

I can hear in his voice that it’s not fine.

“I’ll make it up to you,” I say. “Soon. Promise.”

“Okay.”

“I love you.”

“Yeah. Love you too.”

He hangs up.

I put the phone down on the table.

Fox has stopped playing. He’s watching me from the couch.

“I just lied to my best friend again,” I say, mostly to the ceiling.

“I heard.”

There’s a long pause. Then Fox sets the bass down on the couch and crosses the room to me. He doesn’t sit in the chair across from mine. He kneels beside me, one hand resting on my knee, the other on the arm of my chair.

“Griffin.”

I look at him.

“Should I go?”

“What?”

“Should I go. I’ve been here over a week. I’m taking up all your time. I’m making you lie to people you love. That’s not what I came here for.”

“Fox.”

“I mean it. If this is too much, I can find a hotel in Burlington. Or I can just— I don’t want you to keep lying to Taylen because I’m sitting in your living room.”

I look down at him and run my hands through his hair. His eyes close for a second.

“I don’t want you to go,” I say.

“Finn.”

“I don’t. I’m not lying to Taylen because you’re making me. I’m lying to Taylen because I want you here more than I want to explain you to him right now. That’s my choice.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

I lean down and kiss him. His hand comes up to my jaw and his thumb moves back and forth across my cheek.

When I pull back, his forehead rests against mine.

“Stay,” I say quietly when what I should say is “what are we doing?”

“Okay.”