Page 43 of Burning Up

Bryce held up a hand. “It’s not just that. It’s… so many things. I can’t ignore that you two are a couple, but I can give you a little more time to get used to the idea of working different shifts or at different stations.”

“We’re a couple?” Matt asked, glaring at Bryce.

“Yeah, you and Toby. You deserve a chance to out yourselves, but you can’t keep working together the same shift.”

“But what about you?” Toby asked, his tone anguished.

“Like I said, this isn’t working for me.”

Matt looked at him like he was crazy. “You’re breaking up with us? Seriously?”

Bryce snorted, hating himself as he did it. “Breaking up? That’s a little dramatic, isn’t it? I’ve enjoyed fucking you, but we can’t keep this up.”

“The fuck that’s all this is,” Matt yelled. He moved toward Bryce, and Bryce braced himself for a punch, which was less than he deserved. He was being an asshole, but if he didn’t piss them off, they weren’t going to let him go. It was better this way, better not to admit what he was feeling.

Toby laid a hand on Matt’s arm. “It’s going to be okay.”

“The hell it is. You know.” He jabbed a finger toward Bryce. “You know this is more than just fucking.”

“I know it’s been hot as hell, but it’s over. I can’t risk my job for you.”

Matt showed shock and anger and something Bryce feared was disgust. “So now you’re giving us an ultimatum. Confess or you’ll rat us out.”

Now Bryce was truly pissed. “No, it’s not like that.”

“Sure sounded like that to me.”

Bryce exhaled sharply. “I’m asking you to come out.”

“If we get caught, we’ll keep you out of it,” Toby insisted.

“It’s not about that,” Bryce said. “It’s about keeping all of us safe on the job.”

“The fuck it is,” Matt yelled.

Toby ran a hand through his hair and twined a strand around his index finger. “Matt, you know he’s right.”

“You going to turn on me too?”

Bryce’s gut clenched. God, he hated this. He wanted to pull Matt into his arms so he could comfort him, but that would only make things worse, wouldn’t it?

Why don’t you find out?

No! He’d started down this road and he wasn’t turning back.

“No one is turning on you,” Toby said.

“Shut up!” Matt turned toward Bryce. “Just get out of here if you’re so tired of us.”

“That’s not?—”

“I think you’d better leave,” Toby said. His voice was calm, but pain showed in his eyes. Bryce wondered if either of them could see that he was hurting too. Apparently not if they believed the bullshit he was saying to them. How the fuck were they going to work together now?

Bryce almost said he was sorry, but he realized it wouldn’t help. He’d chosen to be an ass, and he had to see that through. Without another word, he turned and walked away. As he pulled out his keys, he realized he still had a key to their apartment. He should give it back, but he didn’t want to. The thought of giving up that link to them was more than he could handle.

16

Bryce pulled the covers over his head. What was that awful sound? Was someone hammering right outside his window? No, hammering wouldn’t make such a piercing screech. When the sound didn’t stop after several more head-throbbing moments, he lowered the covers so he could investigate. Bad idea. He squeezed his eyes shut against the piercing rays of the sun and wondered if his head was going to fall off his shoulders. Clearly moving was worse than listening to the noise.

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