Page 117 of So I'll Know
I think it’s a defense mechanism.
He nods like he doesn’t believe me. “Obviously, Charlie and her boyfriends, Lincoln and Trey; Sebastian is coming with Fiona and Brantley.”
“Are they a throuple too?”
Marcus laughs. “Not that I’m aware of. Pretty sure Seb hates Brantley.” He turns down a long gravel driveway, the rocks crunching ominously under the tires.
I’m so excited to see Trey. I’ve missed him like crazy. We still text sometimes, but ever since he met Charlie and got together with Link three years ago, he has understandably been distracted.
Marcus stops in front of a little craftsman-style house, and I hop out of the truck, taking in the property. There’s a break in the clouds, and the sun is just starting to set, casting a pink hue on the mist that envelops the fields and forested hills.
Marcus comes up beside me, careful not to touch. “No nearby neighbors, and when the weather’s nice, they have a stunning view of Mt. Baker.” He sounds jealous.
I glance at him. “Would you ever want something like this?”
He shrugs. “You know I want to leave the city. And I want . . . something. Maybe not here, but a peaceful place like this? Yes.”
I smile and edge closer to him. “Can I come with?”
He glances at me with a raised eyebrow. “Are you asking to move in with me?”
“Would that be a bad thing?”
Marcus sighs and doesn’t answer. I reach for him, but he pulls away, clasping his hands together. “Jeremy, I’m scared that I can’t do this.”
I nod, the hope I had in my chest just a moment before dimming. “I know, baby.”
Will he ever be ready?
While I understand it’s his choice to come out, it still hurts my heart. I desperately want to be his.
He looks at me apologetically, and I shrug, feigning nonchalance. What else can I do? We’re here, so I may as well make the best of it, despite my heavy heart. Will Marcus Conner ever put us first? Deep down, I’m terrified and angry that he won’t.
He sighs. “Let’s go inside.”
Marcus leads the way up the planked steps to the storm door, opening it for me. Laughter meets my ears as we enter the foyer, take off our shoes and coats, and walk through to the kitchen-slash-living-room. The space is open with warm wood finishes, cozy furniture, a huge movie screen on one wall, and tall windows that look out over the back of the property.
Charlie is in the kitchen mixing drinks, Trey and Lincoln are tucked together on the couch chatting with an older man, and Sebastian, Fiona, and Brantley are standing in the living room like they just arrived recently. We’re greeted by a chorus of friendly hellos, and I try to hide a smile when I catch Trey’s eye.
“Jeremy?” Trey says, and I smirk at him. I always knew he and Lincoln would end up together. They just needed Charlie to push them there.
I fold my arms over my chest. “Trey Walker, as I live and breathe.”
Trey gets to his feet, pushing golden-blond hair from his eyes, and catches me in a tight hug. He smells like apples and cinnamon, and it brings me back to long evenings spent watching movies and TV shows in his basement.
Just as we break apart, Charlie barrels into me, hugging me tightly, and I can’t help the silly smile that spreads across my face. I missed these people so fucking much.
“Jeremy, I didn’t know you and Marcus are friends,” she says when she pulls back slightly and looks up at me. “What a small world!”
“Hey, Kitty,” I say with a chuckle as I ruffle her long hair. “Small world, indeed.”
I glance at Marcus, who looks extra stiff and awkward, his face clouded with confusion. I suppose I could have told him that I actually know Trey, Link, and Charlie, but he was being standoffish all day, so I chose to omit that tidbit of information.
Oopsie.My bad.
“You were a grade ahead of me at Washington Prep, right?”
I look over, recognizing Sebastian from the photos I’ve seen. He’s almost as tall as Marcus, but slimmer, with messy dark brown hair and light blue eyes.
