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“I don’t want to talk about that but since it’s my job, I would say I don’t have a choice How’s the book co?” he asked, and Oliver told him He’d written like crazy recently so he filled Matt in on all the antics his characters were up to

They talked and laughed about everything and anything as the water began to get cold This had always been what Oliver wanted with Matt The everyday intimacy of a relationship but then, that wasn’t what they had here It hat Matt just said—cae

“I’m exhausted,” Matt finally told him “I think I need to hit the sack Thank you…for today Youthere made today a whole lot easier”

Those words were rind up Oliver’s heart If he a real?

“That’s what I’ to tamp down the bitterness in his voice

Matt didn’t seerabbed a towel frorabbed another for Oliver

“Are you staying in there all night?” Matt asked, and Oliver felt like he had anotherto pretend today hadn’t bothered him

Oliver let the water out, stood and took the towel He dried hi a pair of underwear from his drawer He watched Matt, curious what he would do

Once dry he put the towel into the hamper and then walked over to Oliver’s bed and climbed inside

A slow burn started in Ollie’s gut—part want and part bitterness that he didn’t understand He tried to push those feelings aside, ignore them To live in thewith Matt, but the anger was there, building in a way he probably should have knoould happen Why couldn’t Matt see what they could be together, what maybe they already were?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Matt couldn’t sleep

There had been a gentle difference, a switch in Oliver tonight that played heavily on his mind

He doubted he would have been able to rest even if it hadn’t been for that because he’d felt the shift inside of himself as well The evolution of what they were, and that scared him to death