Page 40

“And you thought, what?”

“I don’t get what you’re trying to⁠—”

“You thought that Max was there to see you or that I was there to see you?”

“What?”

“You’re not dense, so stop pretending to be.” His anger was there in his voice. “I don’t like it, and I don’t appreciate it. Answer the question!”

“Aaron—”

“Now!”

“Fine. They said Mr. Sutter was there to see me.”

I heard him inhale. “And you thought it was me.”

There was no point in lying. “Yeah.”

“Good. Now this part is important,” he said softly, slowly. “When you thought it was me, what were your thoughts?”

No way was I answering.

“Duncan?”

“What?”

“Don’t do that,” he warned. “Don’t hedge, just say.”

“It was a long⁠—”

“It wasn’t. Speak.”

“I’m not your dog that⁠—”

“No. You don’t get to pick a fight to deflect me either. Simply tell me.”

“This isn’t important.”

“I assure you, it’s critical.”

“Just—”

“Tell me now,” he demanded.

“Aaron—”

“Duncan,” he rasped, sounding breathless. “What. Did. You. Think?”

I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me.

“Please,” he pressed me.

“Fine, whatever. When I thought it was you coming in, I was happy. That’s stupid to even ask me!” I retorted, angry at him for making me go back and think about it. “Yeah, I wanted to see you. I was fucking dying for it. Does that get you off, make you hard?”

“You’re an idiot!”

“Fuck you!” I yelled.