Page 111 of Crease Collision

He won’t look me in the eye as he steps inside. “Are you busy?” he asks, glancing around as if he expects someone else to be here. “Sorry I didn’t call, but I had to see you right away.”

I wrap my arms around him, and he feels so good I moan.

“It is okay, baby. I’ve been wanting to see you too,” I say.

“Ozzy.” His voice breaks on my name.

I nudge his chin up and kiss him. His lips are trembling, so I try to be gentle and show him everything will be okay. When I pull back, his eyes are wide, but he looks calmer.

“We’ve got to…”

Without knowing what he wants, I merely lift an eyebrow.

“We need to talk,” he says. “It’s important.”

I take his hand and lead him to the couch, hoping this won’t be goodbye. “Take it easy, baby. I’ll listen to anything you want to say.”

My stomach twists. Whatever this is, it’s big.

“Kai? Talk to me.”

“Some of it’s crazy. Probably won’t make sense.”

“Then we’ll work on it until it does. We have to start somewhere, so tell me what’s on your mind.”

He pulls his hand away and makes little sounds in his throat while he stares at the floor. Finally, he raises his head, and his eyes are full of tears.

“There’s so much I haven’t told you.”

“I figured, but⁠—”

“Please say you won’t…” He chews his thumbnail for a moment. “You’re so special, Ozzy. I’m sorry I didn’t say all this sooner.”

“All what?”

“I don’t know where to start,” he says.

I put a hand on his knee and wait. If I keep talking, I’ll only confuse him more.

“Can I have some water?” he asks.

Fuck. Just tell me.

Instead of that, I say, “No worries. Hold on.”

I come back with two bottles of water and hand him one. His eyes are flitting around the room, and he looks like he’s ready to jump up and run.

Sitting still is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I can’t comfort him yet. Not until he tells me what’s bothering him so much.

“I can’t… Or I don’t…” He sighs. “I’ve got problems. And I didn’t want to tell you because…”

Another pause, and I want to scream.

He gulps half his water, and when he goes on, his voice is almost a whisper. “Sometimes people don’t like me when they know.”

“Know what?”

“Many times… Well, you must have noticed I’m different.”