Page 150 of Make Me Mean It

Connor’s chin lifts.

His arms fold across his chest, and I nearly laugh. That stubborn little set to his mouth means it doesn’t matter what I say now. He’s already decided.

“I don’t want to go back inside, Theo.” Every word comes out clipped. Controlled. “I want you to tell me what’s going on.”

I swing my leg back over the bike and plant both feet on the ground.

He wants to do this?

Fine.

I cross the space between us in one stride.

Connor’s head tips back when I stop in front of him, and for one stupid second, my body remembers every other time I’ve stood this close.

I hate that even now some part of me still wants to reach for him.

His eyes flick away again, looking around us, checking who might be able to see us.

My stomach drops.

He doesn’t step away, though. He holds himself exactly where he is, tension running through every inch of him like standing this close to me out here is costing him something.

I almost laugh.

“I’m so fucking tired—”

The rest catches behind my teeth.

Because if I start, I don’t know where the fuck it ends.

Connor’s gaze drops. His hands curl into fists at his sides before he shoves them into the pockets of my joggers.

“Don’t stop yourself on my account,” he spits.

“If you’re so fucking tired, then why do you keep coming back?”

Connor’s eyes widen slightly, like he hears them a second too late. Like maybe he didn’t mean for them to come out like that.

I nod slowly.

Something comes out of me that might be a laugh, except there’s nothing funny in it. It sounds hollow, and I rake my fingers through my hair again because I need to do something with my hands before I do something really fucking pathetic, like reach for him.

“Figures.”

My tongue clicks against my teeth, and I try to smile, but I can feel how wrong it sits on my face.

“That’s what I get for falling into bed with a straight guy, I guess.”

“I don’t—”

“No.”

I step back the second he starts.

Connor’s body shifts forward like he means to follow, and I put another step between us before he can.

I need the distance.