Page 97 of Psync
“I’m glad I ran into you though. I was actually about to call.”
So, they hadn’t planned to meet up. Good.
“I noticed when I was packing that your stuff is all gone. Did you move somewhere that made you feel safe?”
“He did.”
“I can answer for myself, thanks.” Eli poked him in the gut with his elbow. It was like being hit by a teddy bear. “I moved in with Haruka.”
“And you’re okay with that—and all of this?” Jace made a show of eyeing the way Haruka was wrapped around Eli.
“We’re dating,” Haruka said flatly. No point in dragging it out.
Jace looked like he’d just eaten something rotten. “Really?”
There it was. Haruka had had a feeling Jace was into Eli but couldn’t be sure. Now that he was, he could keep an even closer eye on the guy.
“Y-yes. We are.”
“And you’re sure?” Jace stepped closer. “About him?”
“He’s nicer than he looks. You’re just freaking him out right now.”
Haruka was, in fact, not freaking out. He was planning.
Planning to make sure Jace never came close to being alone with Eli ever again.
“Come with me to get coffee,” Eli said suddenly and grabbed Haruka’s hand.
He willingly allowed himself to be led away.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Eli said, “I know what you’re thinking.”
Haruka highly doubted that. He’d worked hard to make a sold barrier between his thoughts and Eli’s. Was it fair? No. But it was necessary. It wouldn’t be in either of their best interests for Eli to be intimately aware of just how obsessed he was with the boy.
It would only scare him.
No, things were good the way they were. All Haruka needed to do right now was keep the Jace situation contained until he went back home.
The way Jace was currently trying to stare him down as they walked away let Haruka know he wouldn’t make it easy.
That was fine by him. Haruka’s day had suddenly become completely free.
“What am I thinking?”
“That you think Jace is going to sprout fangs and claws, throw me over his shoulder, and make a run for it the second your back is turned.”
Haruka scowled. Maybe he was being a bit obvious.
“He’s had dozens of opportunities to do so if he wanted to, and he’s been nothing but friendly and understanding of my quirks.”
“I like your quirks.”
Eli’s neck flushed red. Haruka wanted to bite it.
“Jace won’t be here for long. He only needs to pack his things. I’d be surprised if he didn’t leave tonight.” Eli chewed on a hangnail. Haruka took his boyfriend’s battered hand and placed it safely in his own, then offered him a piece of gum. “No, thanks, that’s not going to go well with coffee. Anyway, you won’t have to deal with him for long. Do you think you could at least try to be nice?”
“No.” It was hard on Haruka when Eli asked for the impossible—he rarely asked for anything, and it made Haruka’s day to be able to give him what he wanted. “But I can try not to be mean.”
