Page 106 of For the Fans

He blinks at me, as if he doesn’t understand the question, and it brings me right back to the same level of frustration from earlier. It’s annoying as fuck that he just shows up here in the middle of the night, in secret, after treating me like a nothing little loser in front of his friends. I don’t know why I’m surprised, but it still irks me.

His eyes fall to his shoes, and I can’t make myself ignore how his sandy-colored hair is more strewn about than he usually allows, and how pink his cheeks are from the cold.

Still, he’s not speaking, and it’s testing my patience. “Did you come here just to sway around in front of me, or is there something you need?”

His chin lifts until our eyes lock. “I… I’m not tired.”

My forehead lines. “Okay…?”

“I just thought…” he starts, then clears his throat. “I thought maybe you’d want to… hang out.”

I narrow my gaze at him. “You didn’t think I was worthy of hanging out with earlier. What’s different now? Oh, wait. I know.Nowit’s the middle of the night and your friends aren’t around…”

He purses his lips. “Whatever, Avi. Don’t act like you care. You’ve never been interested in hanging out with football players. I did you a favor.”

“Thanks. You’re a peach,” I grumble sarcastically.

He’s right. Idon’tcare, about any of this. I shouldn’t feel offended that he only shows up at night, and only comes tohang outwhen no one’s around. Because that’s the nature of this whole thing.

We’renotfriends. We’re business acquaintances.That’s it.

So I force down the strange, uneasy feelings trying to slink up into my chest, and I step closer to him. “I take it you couldn’t get hard again… with your cheerleaders?”

His eyes narrow. “Fuck off. You don’t know shit.”

“Really?” I hum, and move in even closer, until our chests are almost flush, taking his chin between my fingers. “Were you thinking about our little secret in the locker room…?”

He slaps my hand away. “Back the fuck off, dipshit, or I’ll waste you.”

An easy smirk settles on my lips as I spin on my heel. “Fine. I’ll be in the bedroom whenever you’re ready to admit therealreason for your visit.”

Meandering away, I go to the bathroom real quick to freshen up. Because it’s only a matter of time before his stubbornness evaporates and he realizes that I’m right.

In my bedroom, I get the tripod set up and prepare my new video camera for optimal recording. I pick up my phone, checking it for a moment, only to find text notifications at thetop. But I choose not to read them right now, focusing on perfecting the lighting.

Business. This is a job. I’m atwork.

And I guess in this line of work, it’s totally acceptable to be getting a boner right now.

After a few minutes, I hear footsteps, and I cover up my triumphant grin with a sigh.I love being right…

Turning to ask him a question, the words dissolve in my throat when I find him already undressed down to his boxer briefs. I can’t help but gulp.

Okay… There’s his… body.

Kyran sidles over to my bed and crawls into it, lying down and letting out a shaky breath. “So… we’re gonna watch this before you post it, right? To make sure I—wedon’t look… stupid?”

I nod, lashes fluttering as I try to remember how to speak. “Uh… yea. Totally. Whatever you want.”

Stupid. That was a stupid thing to say.

But he just nods in response, settling into my bed. His leg hits something, and he flinches, moving the comforter to reveal a sleeping kitten.

The look of horror on his face is pretty satisfying. “Can you move this thing??”

Chuckling, I step over and pick Robin up. “What’s wrong…? You don’t like cats?”

“No, actually. I don’t.” He pulls a displeased scowl at the cat while I dangle her in front of his face. “Get it away from me.”