Page 97 of Resting Beach Face
“Close enough to share a bed,” Brooks added. “You ready to talk about that?”
I spread my hands helplessly. “I’m not sure what he’d want me to say about it.”
“We’re your friends,” Poppy said. “Anything you tell us stays here.”
“Well,” I said. “He’s ace, and he’s possibly leaving, so basically I’m just floundering around hoping I don’t screw up everything. But we’ve, uh…we’ve been intimate. On occasion.” I hurried to add, “Only when he wants it.”
“Well, of course,” Poppy said. “So he’s not sex-repulsed.”
“No. I guess he’s more…gray ace? Like, sometimes he’s good to go and sometimes not. I just try to follow his lead.”
“Doesn’t that get confusing?” Fisher asked. “Like, what if you read him wrong?”
I shrugged. “He gives me lots of cues, I guess. Sometimes I just ask to be sure.”
“Communication is never a bad thing,” Sawyer said.
“I think it’s great,” Skylar added. “You’ll never cross a boundary if you ask first.”
Brooks slanted a glance toward Skylar, then cleared his throat. “You know, when Skylar and I got together, it wasn’t simple either.”
“You mean because you were a dumb straight boy?” I teased.
He laughed. “Uh, not exactly.”
Skylar leaned forward, keeping his voice low. “I was a bit fragile after my last relationship. You all heard a little about that, right?”
I nodded. Skylar’s ex had been a toxic, controlling asshole who’d shown up in town after Skylar left him. Brooks had stayed out at Skylar’s house to make sure the guy wouldn’t try anything.
“Well, as a result, I was nervous about relationships or even, um, being intimate. But knowing Brooks would always respect my boundaries? That was everything.”
My heart stuttered as I thought of the many times I’d hit on him.
“Shit, I hope my flirting didn’t make you uncomfortable.” I winced. “I was just trying to rile up Brooks. I wasn’t thinking…”
Skylar smirked. “Cash, your flirting is borderline ridiculous. It made me laugh. Don’t worry about it.”
I rubbed my chest. “Ouch. Kick a guy while he’s down, why don’t you?”
Brooks chuckled. “Your ego will survive. Especially if you managed to finally get Declan’s attention after all this time.”
“Which he obviously has,” Sawyer said, nodding toward the doorway. “Because there he is.”
I twisted in my seat. Declan was just entering the bar, looking hesitant.
I met him halfway across the room. “Hey.”
“Hey. I just brought Gray over,” he said.
“Thank you. And, uh, thanks for offering me a place to stay tonight. And giving Kat a ride back.” I laughed a little. “I guess I owe you a lot of thanks.”
“You don’t owe me anything.” He cupped my jaw with one gentle hand. “How are you doing? Are you okay?”
I’d been fine all day. I’d been wrestling emotions too close to the surface, sure. I was stressed and worried about my family. I was navigating a delicate relationship, often out of my depth. I was burning the candle at both ends, working two jobs.
And with Declan’s soft words, I couldn’t fake it anymore.
“N-not really,” I croaked.
