Page 148 of Maybe You

That first moment…

The earthquake comes disguised within deep blue eyes, chestnut hair, and a levelheaded, unflappable attitude.

It’s a kick in the gut.

A gunshot to the chest.

It’s a complication thrown in his path with a merciless, vicious laugh that rings out in the hollow silence of the room. The hollow silence of his whole existence.

He didn’t ask for this. Of course he didn’t.

He of all people knows he can’t have this. Knows the risks. Has lived through the fallout. Has shuffled through the debris of a life to retrieve pieces that could maybe be dusted off and put to use again and has come out on the other side with nothing of value except the deep, unshakable knowledge that he will never, ever let history repeat itself.

His fingers curl into fists, then. He squeezes his eyes shut.

It’s an anomaly.

That moment.

The earthquake.

The kick in the gut.

The gunshot to the chest.

The want that runs through his whole body like somebody has electrocuted the blood in his veins.

It’s not the first time.

Attraction’s been there before. It makes an appearance every now and then like a chronic condition. He’s learned to ignore it. He’s learned never to act on it.

But it’s never been like this.

Never this sudden.

Never this sharp.

He took one look at this man, and it all settled inside him without so much a thought.

Something deeper sank into bones and blood vessels and cells.

Knowing.

He took one fucking look, and he knew.

Him. Just him. Him and nobody else.

Did he try to fight it? Maybe. At first. But not really. Not nearly hard enough. It wouldn’t even have taken that much effort. All he really had to do was stay away, but he couldn’t manage that.

He lets out a shuddering breath and rubs his palms over his face.

Wren’s voice calling out his name echoes in his ears.

The look in his eyes.

All that hope.

Hope that he’ll love him back.