I shrug.“I’m just not great with people.Crowds, socializing… it’s never really been my thing.”
He smirks, shaking his head.“You seemed pretty great with me.And not many people have the guts to put me in my place like you do.”
I chuckle, rolling my eyes.“Always so cocky.”
“That’s why you like me,” he teases.
We fall into a comfortable silence, the kind that feels easy and natural.As I finish the last bite of my meal, Fox leans back, his eyes never leaving mine.
“You know,” Fox says, setting his fork down.His intense blue eyes lock onto mine, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.“I never thought I’d enjoy moments like this—quiet, calm, and just… with someone.”
I tilt my head, curious.“Why’s that?”
Fox shrugs, running a hand through his damp hair.“I used to think I needed the noise, the parties, the chaos to feel alive.But being here with you… it’s different.Better.”
My chest tightens at his words, warmth spreading through me.“You’re saying that now.Let’s see how long you last without blasting your obnoxious music in the apartment.”
He laughs, the sound rich and genuine.“Touché.But seriously, Cam, I’ve never felt this comfortable with anyone before.It’s like you see right through my bullshit.”
“Maybe because you’re terrible at hiding it,” I tease, grinning.
“Or maybe,” he counters, leaning closer, “because you’re the only person I’ve ever wanted to let in.”
I feel my cheeks heat, and I look down at my plate, pretending to focus on the last bits of rice.Fox reaches out, gently tilting my chin up so I have no choice but to meet his gaze.
“I mean it,” he says softly, his voice dropping to a serious tone.“You’ve made me feel more in the past few days than I’ve felt in years.And I’m not just talking about the physical stuff, though that’s pretty damn great.”He smirks, making me laugh despite the lump forming in my throat.
“Can I ask you something?”
I glance at him, tilting my head.“Yeah, sure.”
His gaze meets mine, blue eyes uncertain yet curious.“What happened between you and Elias?Did you two…” He pauses, biting his lip as if searching for the right words.“I just want to know what happened.”
I blink, surprised.“Nothing.He had a boyfriend.”
Fox frowns slightly, leaning forward.“He does, huh?So… he wasn’t interested in you?”
“I don’t know.”I exhale, running a hand through my hair.“That night after the date, he drove me home, and I, uh…” I clear my throat, not missing the way Fox’s jaw tightens.“He told me he had a boyfriend.Apparently, they’re pretty serious.They’d had a fight, which is why he came here to hang out with his brother—to give his boyfriend some space to cool off.But by the time he dropped me off, they’d already patched things up.He apologized for giving me mixed signals.”
“Apologized?”Fox scoffs, leaning back against the couch.His tone turns sharp, biting.“So you were, what?The side piece?A little distraction to ease the sting of his boyfriend being mad at him?”
“Sidepiece?”I slap his arm, narrowing my eyes.
He chuckles, rubbing his arm.“What?It’s what it sounds like.”
“You can’t just say that!”I huff, crossing my arms.“You’re making me feel worse about it.”
“You were going to give him a chance,” Fox points out, his voice softer now but still edged with something unreadable.
“Maybe.”I shrug, getting up to avoid his gaze.I pick up our empty plates and head to the sink.“But honestly, he was just a distraction for me, too.You know, since you were too busy avoiding me, pretending I didn’t exist, and making me feel like a fool for liking you.”
Fox’s eyes burn into my back as I rinse the plates, his silence heavy with meaning.
“You know what I mean, Fox,” I say, shutting off the tap and grabbing a towel to dry my hands.“He was just the perfect replacement at the time.”
I turn to set the dishes down, refusing to meet his gaze.
“And it was stupid,” I mutter, voice low.“With Elias… he flirted with me all the time, but all I could think about was…” My words falter, and I bite my tongue, swallowing the lump in my throat.
