Page 40 of The Fake Divination Offense
We make it to the gate and security opens it for us. I don’t let go of Alexo’s hand until we’re blocked from the crowd by the tall brick wall, and even then, I stop walking, facing forward, keeping his hand in mine.
He’s the one who pulls away.
“Until next time,” he says, formal.
I’ve been pushing him away. I was the one to keep things surface level on our two dates—even after I told him I wanted to get to know him.
Even after our kiss.
Wanna know how many gods have been associated with regret? Exactly two. And neither are widely worshipped, or ever have been, because the concept of regretblows.
Alexo doesn’t look at me as he walks off into the parking lot. I stretch and curl the fingers of the hand he held.
A car’s running a few rows over, and he opens the passenger door but doesn’t get in. He’s talking to whoever’s in the driver’s seat, and I know very well who it is by the way Alexo’s face contorts in hurt.
That hand clenches.
“What thefuck, O?”
I whirl to see Seb and Thio followed us out.
Seb looks more than a little ridiculous with his arms folded and his expression crooked in annoyance while that foam dog head is wrapped around his face. “He’s not coming out with us? Whatwasthat? You two have met before, right?”
“Baby,” Thio tries, his focus pinging between us, and it’s really obnoxious having two perceptive people in my life now; what Seb misses, Thio picks up, and vice versa.
Seb looks at Thio, and they have a silent discussion that ends with Seb’s mouth going slack at me. “Did you—are you not together anymore?”
I look back at the car. It hasn’t left yet, but Alexo’s inside it now, the door shut.
My nails dig into my palms. “We’re still together.”
“That was not the attitude of two people in the early stages of a relationship.” Seb comes closer as a few more players and their families leave, a sudden burst of noise in the night-drenched lot. “He seemed… uncomfortable around you. What happened?”
I can’t tell him.
I signed an NDA.
And we’rein public, in aparking lot.
But Alexo got in the car with that guy again. And I’ll have to watch them drive away together,again, knowing they’re fighting. Is he safe? Why is that guy so pissed off with him? Why doesn’t that guyappreciatewhat he has?
Why don’tIappreciate whatIhave?
I tip my head back and unleash a frustrated growl to the sky before swinging on Seb and Thio and word-vomitingeverything.
How it’s all fake. How I didn’t want it to be. How I kept Urzoth as my patron god because the church offered to sponsor Alexo, and for whatever reason having Urzoth’s support was important to him, and I need him to have what he wants. How I’m trying to keep this professional but we kissed at the first game and I can’t think of anything other than that guy hurting him and the way Alexo performs like they’re the only times in his life he’s ever fullyhimself, fullyhappy.
By the time I’m done whispering-shouting all this down at them, Seb and Thio are wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Their heads crank toward one another and I throw a finger up.
“So help me, if you two have one of your silent conversations, I swear—”
Seb takes my hand, attention going behind me, then back.“Okay. O—we’ll talk about the whole Urzoth thing later, but right now, I think you need to go after him.”
“Go—what?”
I follow his gaze to see Alexo’s car starting to pull out of its spot. They’re leaving.
