Page 100 of A Cold Hard Truth

Remington bristled. Again with Rhys St. George and his insufferable existence.

“Rhys could outmaneuver an octopus,” Jace said. “If he’s involved, it’ll end soon.”

“Jace, I’m honestly impressed that you know how nimble octopi are.”

“I didn’t know they were nimble. But they are really good at moving through tight spaces and escaping. Callahan and I watched a documentary.”

Remington chuckled. “You just hit the definition on the head.”

“What? Oh! I did? Nice. Another word for the five-dollar list.”

“Do you think I should call him?” Remington asked, and in response, Jace choked on the other end of the line.

“What?”

“Should I call him?”

“Rhys?”

“What? No!” Remington frowned at the thought. “Sebastian.”

“Uhm…have you not?”

Remington scrubbed a hand down his face. “No.”

“Not at all? Not once?”

“Not once,” he confirmed, suddenly wondering if the whole time he’d been waiting for Sebastian to call him, Sebastian had been waiting for him to do the same.

“Remington.”

“What?” he asked, even though he knew.

“What if he’s been waiting for you?”

“I’ve been waiting for him.” But as he said it, the protestation sounded weak and wrong, and he knew it.

“This is your chance to show him your true self,” Jace said.

“He knows my true self.”

“Does he? Do you know his?”

“His is apparently not the kind of self who calls me,” Remington countered.

“Sebastian is probably neck deep in liquor dealing with Daniella and his brother and their dad and whatever shit she’s stirred up.” Jace paused. “I’m not trying to presume the…dynamics of your relationship, Remington, but aren’t you kind of in charge?”

“We don’t have a relationship,” he said quickly. “There’s nothing for me to be in charge of.”

“Were you not intimate?”

“You, above all people, should know that has no bearing on the existence of a relationship.”

“Ouch, Remington.”

“I’m sorry,” he apologized quickly. “That’s not… It didn’t come out how I meant it.”

“I know.” Jace’s voice softened. “This isn’t like you.”