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“Sorry. Just…reminded me of something. I’m glad you felt comfortable sharing that with me. You know I’m not just good for jerking you off.”
“Let’s not jump to any conclusions,” I tease, which makes his smile return.
And I’m proud of myself that, despite making shit so heavy, I was still able to lighten it up.
“Seriously, I appreciate your listening. You know, you can be a real sweetheart when you’re not trying to stomp my ass in TaskFrat.”
“Yeah, and you can be more sensitive than you let on.”
“Eh, just don’t tell any of the guys.”
“I wouldn’t,” he says, like a promise.
Here I am sharing secrets with the enemy yet knowing he’s far from that.
“Do they know about your uncle?” he asks, and I shake my head. “What about Ryan and Keegan?”
“They know my uncle passed, that it was hard on me, but they haven’t pushed for details.”
“How did it feel to share it with me?”
I consider his question before answering honestly. “Like relief.”
“I’m glad.” His gaze wanders. “It’s like you said—life’s real shit sometimes.”
Again, he stares off in a way that makes me feel like I wasn’t the only one holding something back. “Everything okay with you, Lance? You know, if there’s something you want to share, I’d listen too.”
“I…think maybe I should head out. It’s getting late, and I have some homework to finish up.”
A wave of disappointment pulses through me because I like just lying here, chatting with him.
“So you just came here to get me off?” I ask. “That was sweet.”
I earn another smile from him.
Another win.
“I came here to get off as well, which I did. Epically, I might add.”
“How else could it have been when you’re fucking with Ty Lancaster?” It surprises me that, despite being terrified of sharing my secret with him, I feel better. Even more like my usual, cocky self.
Lance rolls his eyes and slides off the bed. “On that note, I’ll get out of here. Give you some time to let that ego of yours deflate.”
I grab my shirt, throw it back on as he heads for the door, stopping just before it.
“This was fun, Ty. I hope we do it again. And thank you, truly, for sharing that with me. It meant a lot. More than you could know.”
Again, it feels like he’s holding something back. Like what I shared with him might connect to something Lance has dealt with. Maybe he’s lost someone close to him too?
As I study his expression, he avoids eye contact, as though afraid I’ll see something I shouldn’t. I consider pushing, but I would never want anyone to probe for what I just shared. It’s the sort of thing that shouldn’t be put out there unless you’re ready.
“Thank you for listening, Lance. And like I said before, if there’s anything you ever want to share with me, I hope you know I’ll be here to listen too.”
His gaze meets mine, and he offers a sliver of a smile, those dark eyes glistening in the room light. God, how have I never noticed how sexy he is?
“Night, Ty.”
“Good night, Lance.”