Page 77 of Cheap Heat

I chuckled again, feeling a little better. “Do you already own the balaclavas?”

He paused. “I do own one, actually.”

My brow quirked. “Why?”

“A sex thing. When I was with Ben,” he casually told me, referring to his boyfriend from a few years ago. “I’ll spare you the details.”

I was kind of intrigued, but didn’t want to pry. “Well, okay then. I’ll probably be too tired to hang out tonight. I slept like shit. Maybe tomorrow?”

“Sure thing. Whenever works. Love you, bro.”

My mouth tipped up. “Yeah, love you too, bro.”

—

Ewen’s truck wasn’t in his driveway when I got home that evening, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

After getting inside, I promptly closed all the curtains downstairs before making myself some dinner while listening to my favourite true crime podcast in an attempt to relax.

I was still tense as shit though, because at some point, Ewen would come home. And then he’d be right next door.

After eating, I took a shower and pulled on my pyjamas. I’d made plans earlier to game with my buddies for a while, so I got settled at my computer and pulled on my headset.

“Ra-Ra-Rafeooo,” Teresa crooned when I joined the voice call that was already going.

“Hey. Sorry again about missing last night.”

“It’s good, bro,” Abed piped up. “How you feeling? Hangover finally gone?”

“I swear they’re getting worse with age,” Teresa added in a grumble.

“Uh, yeah.” I tensed. “Fine. I’m just still a little tired.”

“Where did you go on Sunday?” Suki asked with interest. “What bar was it?”

I squirmed in my seat. I did not want to talk about Sunday night. Or last night.

Before I could answer, Nev spoke up, his voice carefully light. “C’mon guys, let’s play. Rafe’s gotta head to bed soon, so we don’t have much time and we wanted to find that death crystal.”

“Sure,” Abed said easily. I could hear him clicking to load Black Oasis. “Let’s do it.”

None of the others knew what had happened. Hell, none of them except Nev knew I’d recently realised I was into guys. I’d tell them eventually, but I was still too raw. Besides, I wanted to forget it all tonight. I wanted to game with my buddies, not think about Dan fucking Ewen.

I actually managed to achieve it for a while, until, about an hour later, I heard a faint knock at my door over the sounds of the game.

I immediately stiffened, then ripped off my headset and went perfectly still, my ears straining.

After about ten seconds, there was another knock.

My gut plummeted. I was almost positive that it was him. I wasn’t sure why—maybe because I rarely got visitors.

My heart pounding, I leaped out of my seat and ran to close the door to the kitchen, just in case he pulled the same stunt as yesterday and appeared in my yard. I didn’t want him to see me sitting here through the kitchen windows, because then he likely wouldn’t leave. He was an overbearing dick like that.

Sinking into my chair again on trembling legs, I pulled my headset back on and kept playing, trying to calm my hammering heart.

“You okay, Rafe?” Reece asked. “You suddenly stopped moving.”

“Just went to grab a drink,” I said as casually as possible.