Page 38 of The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose
“But that’s shitty, isn’t it?” Jonah asked. “Being mean because you like someone? And I don’t think that’s the case at all.”
“No?” Bastien hummed. “What do you think it is, then?”
“I think he genuinely disliked me, then... something changed, andhe’d established this weird relationship with me and didn’t know what to do to get past it. And even then, he’s not really done anything overtly unkind. Unwanted feedback, sure, and the lip biting, who knows if he meant to do that?”
“He was going to trip you at the Oliviers.”
“Well, yeah, but that was before he knew me.”
“So? What now, then? Are you going to rearrange the drinks?”
“I haven’t replied to him yet.”
Bastien kicked Jonah’s foot with an annoyed gasp. “Then do it. I’m going to call Casey, and you can text Dexter, deal?”
Jonah shook his head and finished his glass of wine. “Nope. No deal. You know what you’re going to say to Casey, I don’t know what to say to Dexter.”
“Tell him you want to suck his dick.”
“Bastien!”
“What?!” Bastien chuckled. “Don’t you?”
“Even if I did, I’m not texting him that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to look desperate.”
Bastien sighed and stood from his position on the sofa. “It’s not desperate,” he said, wandering over to the kitchen to put the ice cream back into the freezer. “But maybe just send something flirty without being overly obvious about what you want to do.”
“So, you get to tell Casey you want to marry him and you’re going to have a shining career on Broadway in New York with him, and I have to send an embarrassing message that shows how sexually starved I am?”
“Exactly that.” Bastien dropped the spoon into the sink. “You sure you don’t want to share the bed with me tonight? You’re happy out here?”
Jonah patted the duvet Bastien gave him earlier and grinned. “I’m fine.”
“Okay.” Bastien turned off the TV and yawned. “Well. We can regroup in the morning. I’m gonna make that call, then get my beauty rest. I’m already regretting the wine and ice cream. Omari will smell it on me. I forgot it’s double show day tomorrow.”
Jonah whined in response. “Don’t remind me.”
Bastien leaned down to kiss him on the cheek. “Sleep well. And text your archrival, yeah? Something sexy.”
“Yes sir.” Jonah saluted to him as Bastien shook his head fondly and left the room.
He’d stayed at Bastien’s before, usually when they were blindingly drunk and thought it would be a good idea to continue the party after the bars were closed, only to get to Bastien’s and fall asleep while microwaving frozen meals. The last time they did it, Jonah woke to find a half-eaten ball of mozzarella in his hand, the thing squashed and smelling like it died. Now, though, he had the warmth of a couple of glasses of wine to relax him but his mind was clear, and as he heard Bastien’s muffled voice from the bedroom a sense of contentment washed over him knowing how amazing his friend’s life was about to become.
His own life, however, left a lot to be desired.
He looked at Dexter’s last text and scowled at the screen for a while, still in disbelief at the shortness of the message and the lack of a kiss. Perhaps Dexter no longer wanted to pursue him, or maybe he was trying to remain professional... or maybe he really was just fucking with Jonah just to be cruel.
Jonah:Shame. Want to rearrange? x
He locked his phone after taking in the time. Dexter would be asleep, and even though he told himself over and over again Dexter wouldn’t reply, he fell asleep with his phone in his hand waiting for it to vibrate.
Seventeen
“Patroclus, my heart belongs to you.”
