Page 45 of Defend Me

“Where’d you grow up?” I asked.

“Eatonville.”

“Sounds quaint. Siblings?”

“It’s my turn. What’s your favorite color?”

“Depends on the day.”

“Today?”

I met his eyes and the corner of my lips lifted. “Blue.”

“Basic. I have two siblings. A brother and a sister, both younger.”

“You’re always giving me more than I ask for.”

“Maybe I like that you want to know me. I’m guessing you don’t feel that way.”

I pointed, then un-pointed my toes a couple of times. “That’s kind of a complicated question. I want to know you and I realize that has to be reciprocal. Facts are easy enough.”

“What’s wrong with the deeper stuff?”

“It’s not as pretty as the outside.”

“Why?”

“Are you gonna stay in Washington after you graduate?”

He huffed. “No idea. Answer mine now.”

“I don’t knowwhy. We’d probably need a psychiatrist to answer that.”

“Oliver is a psych major.”

“Well, I have no interest in being analyzed, but he’d definitely come if called, as long as Dean is there.”

“What do you mean?”

I raised a brow. “He’s got a thing for him. Don’t you see him checking him out all the time?”

“No. I didn’t know he was gay.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know, either. I haven’t taken the time to figure it out. Dean is straight, but sexuality is a spectrum. Maybe he’ll discover he’s sort of, like, demisexual when it comes to guys.”

“I’d ship them, even though they’d be kind of scary together. Too many muscles for one relationship.”

“Damn, now I’m invested in this.”

“Let’s get to class, then we can make an assessment. I bet Melissa will trade places with Oliver if we ask.”

I laughed at the idea of pushing them together. Maybe we needed to trap them in an elevator until they gave in. That or they’d kill each other.

When I got to my feet, Tilian followed suit. I latched onto his hand and pulled him closer. His lips parted and his brow tightened.

“Want me to let go?” I asked.

“No, I just figured you wouldn’t want to be seen holding my hand.”

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