Page 126 of The Manny

“Seriously?” He squinted at me.

I sighed. “Look, I… I have a right to control what people do on my porch. I have neighbors, you know.”

“Okay, but you could have been nicer about it.”

“Maybe I would have been, if that jerk hadn’t mouthed off to me.”

Thomas shrugged. “You came on a little strong.”

I held his gaze, all sorts of angry retorts circling my head, but in the end, I simply said, “Fine. I could have been more tactful. But don’t make out on my porch ever again. Got it?”

“Message received.”

“Great. Now how about you let me go to sleep?” I avoided his gaze.

“Jack, I’m just trying to move on,” he said quietly. “You made it clear you’re done with me.”

I hesitated. “If sleeping with that guy is how you move on, go for it. I don’t care. Just don’t do it here.”I don’t care?I was completely full of shit. I was seething with possessiveness. I wanted to grab Thomas and pull him down on the bed with me. I wanted to kiss him until he forgot all about Crispin’s mouth on his. I wanted to strip him naked and take him over and over, until he couldn’t even think of another man. Instead, I held his gaze and looked at him as if he was nothing to me.

He stopped in front of me, his blue eyes painted with hurt. “Why are you being so mean to me?”

“I’m not trying to be mean.”

He studied me. “I’m hoping to at least be your friend, but you don’t even seem open to that. I accept that you don’t want more with me. I don’t like it, but I understand that’s what you want. Why can’t you be softer toward me?”

“Soft isn’t my thing.”

“That’s not true. I’ve experienced your gentler side.” He sighed. “I hate this distance between us. Why can’t we still laugh together? Talk normally? Maybe you don’t feel like it’s right to sleep together, but is there some reason you can’t still be friendly?”

When I didn’t respond, an uneasy silence stretched.

Finally, I said, “If you’ve said all you needed to say, I’d like to go to bed.”

“That’s your response?” He frowned.

“I’m not sure what it is you want me to say, Thomas. I already apologized. Isn’t that enough?”

He sighed. “What is it about me that scares you?”

My chest ached at his plaintive tone. “I… I’m not scared of anything.”

“Liar. You’re terrified of feelings.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Where are you going with this?”

“I’m simply trying to grasp why you can’t be my friend.”

“This is a ridiculous conversation.”

“Why?”

I gave a harsh laugh. “It’s 3:30 in the morning and you want to talk about being friends.”

“I want us to find a way to be around each other that’s pleasant. That’s all.” He tilted his head, watching me closely. “I think you’re avoiding me because youwantto trust me. But you’re scared I’ll hurt you.”

“Hogwash.”

“Is it?”

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