Page 90 of Make Me Bleed

“I asked you a question.”

“What?”

“I asked if you were okay?”

I swallow. “I’m fine.”

“What’s going on?” he demands, and I can’t lie.

Not to him.

Not anymore.

It’s all or nothing.

“I miss you.” Because while it’s not the whole truth, it says enough, and I think, maybe,hopefully,he’ll understand.

“I miss you too, runt. How about ifIcome over after practice tonight?” His feet scrape on the sidewalk.

I drop my head back onto the cold, metal chair with a silent groan.I wish.“No, it’s okay. I’ll meet you at your place. I’m gonna visit Mo in a little bit, and I don’t know when I’ll be back. Don’t want you waiting on me.”

A pause. “All right, if you’re sure.”

I nod, even though he can’t see it. “I am.”

“Just let me know when you make it safe, okay?”

“You do have my location now, you know…” I remind him cheekily, and he scoffs.

“That doesn’t fucking matter. I asked you to do something.”

“Yes, sir.”

He pulls in a hissing breath, and I almost laugh.Almost.“Abel, don’t you fucking dare start with me right now.”

“Sorry, sorry,” I say, even though I’m clearly not.

“Yeah, no, you’re fucking not,” Peris hisses, and I laugh. And it’s amazing to feel this good.

I’m standingoutside Peris’s place after visiting with Mo, and I know I should go in, but I just can’t bring myself to—the guilt is too much.

I gave up working. The security I had with that was for Mo, and I just gave it up. To what? Have a fucking relationship I’m not even sure is going to last?

What did I do?

Did I make a mistake?

“I can hear you thinking all the way inside.”

I jolt out of my skin at the sound of Peris’s voice. I whirl to face him and flush at the direction of my thoughts. Thankfully, it’s dark enough outside he won’t be able to tell, but I can feel the heat, and that makes me feel even more ashamed—more proof.

“Sorry,” I mutter and cross my arms over my chest, needing to feel closed and tied off and… I don’t know.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, and I shake my head.

“You’re thinking something that’s giving you that stupid look on your face, and it’s one of your least attractive looks, so you might as well spit it out.”

“I don’t have any unattractive looks,” I snap.