Page 38 of Antagonist

“It used to take me just a handful of clicks to get your attention. But you’re not on the usual hangouts anymore. Settling down already?”

I bite the inside of my cheek to help me stay calm. It's one thing to be open about my sexuality but another to discuss it in public within earshot of other parents.

Jake is cocky and arrogant but also great in bed and discreet. We had the perfect arrangement because neither of us wanted a relationship. But there was always something about him that I saw only when he dropped his guard around me.

I see it now just under the surface. The need to control, to be in charge. To make me do what he wants.

“I can’t, Jake.”

“Can’t…” he says, inching closer, “or won’t? Come on, baby. It’s been so long.”

He smells the same. Spicy with citrus undertones. It used to drive me wild, but even before things fizzled out between us, it was already too much. Now, after months apart, his scent gives me a headache.

“Fletcher, honey, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”

I jump at the sound of Harrison’s voice and near enough squeak when he puts his arms around me and kisses my hair.

“I…hi. Yeah, I’m here.”

“Who’s your friend?” Harrison asks.

Jake holds his hand up. “Jake Hawthorne. I’m an old acquaintance of Fletcher.”

“Must be quite old because he’s never mentioned you, have you, snuggle butt?” Harrison asks in a sugary sweet voice that doesn’t suit him.

Why can’t the ground swallow me right now?

“And you are?” Jake asks, with his eyes pinned on me.

“Aww, sugar lips, you didn’t tell your friend about me?”

Harrison’s hold on me is tighter than it needs to be. Jake isn’t a threat. He’s just looking for a good time and will probably not be too happy to know I can’t just drop everything for him.

“I’m sorry, Jake. I’m not actually free to um…help you with that…thing.”

Jake looks at Harrison and then me.

“No problem. Maybe another time.” He takes a half-step forward as if he’s going to kiss me right in front of Harrison, but at the last moment, he gives up on it and leaves.

My whole body trembles with nervous energy.

Harrison is still holding on to me, and I still need to apologize about the kiss, but now I’m so confused, I don’t know which way is up.

I look at him, and his dark-brown eyes are laser-focused on me. He pushes my hair away from my face, and I smell the earthy, musky scent of his cologne.

Despite the iced coffee I had less than fifteen minutes ago, my mouth is dry.

“Are you okay?”

His voice is gentle, like a caress, and I want to lean against his chest and stay there while he tells me nice things with that voice. I want to feel the vibrations in his chest as he talks to me.

A car driving past startles me, and I push away from Harrison.

“Yes…sorry. Um…I…fuck.” What am I even trying to say? “You didn’t have to do that. Jake, I mean.”

“I know.”

“Why did you?”