Page 27 of Deviant Need

“Just weird. Avoiding me. Acting like I did something but won’t tell me what.” I run my hand over my buzzcut, frustrated. “I don’t get it. We’re fine, and then suddenly we’re not, and I don’t know what changed.”

Kelly exchanges a look with Alexei that I don’t understand.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Kelly says too quickly. “Have you tried asking him what’s wrong?”

“Da. Multiple times. He says he’s tired or needs space or some other excuse.”

“Maybe he does need space,” Alexei says dryly.

“From me?”

Alexei drops the weights with a crash. “You’re an idiot.”

“What?”

“You’re a fucking idiot,” he repeats, snatching his towel and wiping his face. “That’s all I’m saying.”

“That’s not helpful.”

“Wasn’t trying to be helpful. Figure it out yourself.”

I look at Kelly for help, but he just shrugs. “I don’t know what to tell you, Mik. Maybe just give him the space he’s asking for.”

“I just want things to go back to normal,” I say and start pacing, agitation building under my skin. “Something’s wrong, and he won’t tell me what it is, and I can’t fix it if I don’t know what the problem is.”

My phone buzzes on the bench. I check it, hoping it’s him, but it’s a notification from the club. Nothing important.

“Maybe you should go talk to him in person,” Kelly suggests. “Like actually sit down and have a conversation instead of texting.”

“I’ve tried. He won’t let me. He’s been hiding at Yulian’s office or locked in his room or just conveniently gone whenever I try to find him.”

“Then wait until he’s ready to talk.”

“What if he’s never ready? What if this is just how things are now?”

The thought makes my chest feel tight and wrong. He’s the only person who gets me, who can handle how much of a mess I am without running away. If he decides he’s done with me, I don’t know what I’ll do.

Alexei makes a tsk sound. “Blyat. You really are that oblivious.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Forget it.” He grabs his water bottle. “I’m done here. Kelly, you coming?”

Kelly squeezes my shoulder. “It’ll work out, Mik. Just give him time to sort through whatever’s going on in his head.”

Alexei sighs and leans in, whispering something into his ear that I can’t hear. Kelly looks over at him and smiles softly, and then Alexei takes his chin and kisses him while wrapping his arm around his waist to pull him closer. I spin around so I’m not looking at them making out and take another sip of my smoothie and frown because he forgot the protein powder again.

Someone touches my back, and I jump, nearly dropping the smoothie. Turning around, I find Kelly standing there, rubbing the back of his head, looking awkward.

“Just give him space or something. Maybe he’s going through things, you know? Have you ever wondered that maybe he’s just lonely? Maybe he wants a girlfriend or something. I mean, he only has you.”

What the fuck?

He’s never shown interest in anyone, never talked about dating, never brought anyone home.

“Don’t answer that, Mikhail.” Alexei grabs Kelly and shoots him a look that clearly says shut up. Kelly rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue.