Page 36 of Too Hostile

“Oh no,” I grumble, and I notice Ronan looks a mix between petrified and amused. I’m sure he’s worried about anyone seeing him here, but my instant annoyance is likely amusing to him. “If that’s one of my siblings or my mom, I swear.”

Yeah, he’s definitely smiling now. “Do they knock? I thought they just let themselves in.”

Oh shit. He’s right. “Well, not always,” I say. “Shit.”

He stiffens a little bit now. “You don’t think it’s them?”

“I’m sure it is.” I start toward the door. “Maybe they learned manners or something,” I try to joke, but then there’s another bang on the door.

“Hey, Fletcher, you home?” My eyes widen at the sound of Josh’s voice. Josh. What the hell?

“I, umm...” Ronan is still seated, but his arms are crossed as he watches me.

He’s probably waiting for an explanation, but I don’t have one. What is he doing here? I sigh. “Yeah, I’m here. Just a second,” I holler through the door and look over at Ronan. “So... it’s Josh.”

Ronan is watching me carefully. Obviously, he doesn’t know who Josh is.

“He’s a friend.” Sure, that’s a good way to describe him. “He’s safe. I promise, okay? He doesn’t go to this school or anything, so we have nothing to worry about,” I try to assure him because his safety is everything to me. “But I can send him away. Don’t worry,” I babble like an idiot.

“Fletcher.” I look over at Ronan, who’s pretty damn calm while I’m here freaking the hell out. I have no idea why the hell he would be here. I haven’t talked to him in months. “Breathe and open the door for your friend.” Something about the way he said friend makes it clear he knows something is up.

But honestly, that’s the only way I can really describe Josh. We fooled around a couple of times, but we were never lovers. We didn’t date. Hell, we barely talked. We probably can’t even be called actual friends. Acquaintances who bang? Is that a thing?

“Fletcher.” I look back over at Ronan and realize my thoughts have gone rogue. He nods toward the door. “The door.”

“Right.” I make my way over to the door and pull it open just a crack. Ronan didn’t seem too worried about being seen, but I still feel myself wanting to protect him.

Josh is standing there, staring at me with wide exasperated eyes. He tosses his hands up. “Finally! I didn’t think you were going to answer, man.”

“Uh, sorry,” I say awkwardly because it definitely crossed my mind to not answer it, thinking maybe he’d just go away. “What’s up?”

“I was in town and super fucking horny. Thought I’d stop by, and we could bang one out.” I make some sort of choked noise, and I swear—though it has to be my imagination—but I swear I hear a low growl coming from inside my apartment.

“I, uh...” I stand there, frozen in this awkward sort of limbo. This is so not happening.

But then I hear footsteps coming up behind me before the door is opened wider. Ronan stands by my side. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Again, the word friend has an emphasis, telling me he thinks we’re more.

And Josh’s loud mouth all but just confirmed that. Josh’s eyes widen as he stares at Ronan. “Woah, dude. I didn’t realize you had company. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine,” I say it, but I don’t mean it. I like Josh. He’s a decent guy, but I also want him to go the hell away so I can go back to eating dinner with my professor. “Josh, this is ummmm...” I turn to Ronan, not really sure how to introduce him.

“Ronan,” Ronan supplies, reaching his hand out for Josh.

Josh grins and shakes his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Josh.” Josh turns to look at me. “Didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

I’m about to tell him we aren’t dating before Ronan freaks the hell out, but Ronan surprises me and speaks up first. “It’s new.”

Josh nods his head, but I can’t help gawking at Ronan. Did he just say we’re dating? I mean, I know he did it for Josh’s benefit, although, I’m not totally sure why, but still. My mind does a little happy jig, despite myself.

Only for the summer. Only for the summer. Only for the summer.

I chant that phrase over and over again and nearly miss Ronan inviting Josh inside my place for dinner. “Oh, I couldn’t impose.”

I’m about to accept that and usher Josh out of the apartment, but Ronan won’t have it. “It’s not a big deal. Come in. It’s good to get to know Fletcher’s friends.”

He’s got to be kidding.

Josh doesn’t seem to care, though, because he just barrels into the apartment and helps himself to a big portion of the pasta, plopping his ass down next to Ronan. I close the door and walk slowly over to my seat.

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