Page 26

“I mean, yeah.”

He pouts, whining playfully. “Oh man, I knew it.”

“Stop it, I thought you were a big boy and can handle the truth.” I tap his arm, playfully, but there’s no missing the muscle I felt or denying how the mood shifted for us both as I did it. And just like that here we are, staring at each other in awkward silence, both too afraid to speak on what we both hope has always been there.

Our lips part at the same time, but all that filters through are small gusts of pent-up air. Both of us are afraid to be the first to break the silence.

Finally, Rennix clears his throat. “You first.”

“No, no, you.”

“I insist.”

“I insist back.”

Oof. This is getting painful.

“Fine, on the count of three, we’ll both go.”

I don’t know how us both speaking at the same time is conducive to, well, anything, but I like when Rennix takes a little initiative.

Rennix begins to count and I brace myself for impact upon the count of three.

“What setting do you want for the race?” flies out of his mouth as, “What the fuck is going on?” comes out of mine.

Well, that went as expected.

“Oh.” Rennix slumps in his chair and I follow suit in mine, crossing my arms. “I guess we’re not playing then.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

Look fine as fuck and adorable at the same time.

“That. Sounding all disappointed that I’m not going to kick your ass like I always do.” There’s an undeniable edge to my voice that I’d regret if it wasn’t the only defense I have against bursting out into tears.

I adjust my tone, not to the playful banter-filled one I’d like, but to one that doesn’t have daggers being tossed from it. Progress. “I need you to be honest with me, Ren.”

He sucks in his teeth, the sound is audible. “Now you’re the one doing that. You’re making me feel guilty.”

I twist my torso to face him. “Should you feel guilty?” It’s a cheap blow, but it’s all I got as I’m trying to maintain a stoic front.

The ink on his neck moves as he swallows thickly. “Yes.” The way he says it without hesitation makes my blood run cold. “But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do it all over again if I had to.”

My heart skips. “Care to elaborate?”

He breaks our eye contact, hanging his head low. I place my hand to his shoulder, kneading it in my palm. He crawls his fingers up to grab my hand that’s massaging him. Not to stop it, but to hold it, stroking it in his grip.

“There’s a lot I’d like to do, but right now I think we should focus.”

“I agree.” I’m hoping he’d take this as his cue to give me something to work with, but that’s not the case.

“It’s a good sign that the room is still intact. But it won’t stay like this for long. Eventually another door will appear, and when it does, we need to go through it so we can eventually make our way out.”

He drones on about something that sounds like an exit strategy, but my attention is fading, only able to focus on the questions swirling in my head. Unable to hold it in anymore I blurt, “Why did you bring me here? What is the point if all you want to do is get me out of here?”

“I didn’t.”