In the Middle of Somewhere (Middle of Somewhere, #1)(73)

“That all?”

“That I didn’t have to worry about Will and that I should come over tonight. And that he has the Internet now.”

“He didn’t have the Internet? That is insane. Wait, is he, like, way older than he looks?”

“He’s not old. He just said he doesn’t need it that often so he goes to the library when he does. Watch it, kid.”

“So, why’d he get it?”

“How the hell do I know? He started using it more, I guess. Or maybe now that it’s winter he doesn’t want to drag his ass to the library just to check his e-mail.”

“Dude, he totally bought you the Internet!” Leo says, socking me in the shoulder. “That’s so romantic.”

I stare at him.

“Come on, it’s obvious. You use it, right? So, he got it for you. Aw, man, I thought you were supposed to be smart.”

I have to call Ginger right away and tell her that I have found the human being that we would create if we ever had a child.




ONCE I apprehensively gave Leo my phone number after he extracted a promise that I’d teach him to fight this weekend, I went to prepare for class. It’s a miracle I didn’t bungle both my classes given how distracted I was. I couldn’t stop thinking about Will, and wondering what Rex was going to tell me when I got over there this evening. And, I can’t lie: a tiny part of my brain kept running over and over Leo’s idea that Rex got the Internet for me.

As I leave my office around four, I can’t decide whether to take Rex up on his offer and go right over to his house or go home, change, and drive over later for dinner. I take two steps toward my apartment and then find myself reeling off in the other direction, toward Rex’s. It’s only a few miles, and a walk is just what I need to clear my head before I hear whatever he’s about to tell me. The air’s warmed up a bit and the sun is shining. The leaves are brilliant colors and everything smells clean. If there’s one thing I’ll say for Holiday, it always smells pretty good. There’s no stink of fumes or garbage, and everything smells alive.

I’m just thinking how pretty the walk is when the skies open and it starts to rain. Then pour. Secure in the knowledge that my laptop won’t get wet—my case is waterproof—I kind of enjoy it.

But when I knock on Rex’s door, I know I must look like a drowned rat because he takes one look at me and pulls me inside, shaking his head.

“Daniel, don’t you ever check the weather?” he chides, and I shake my head. I’m shivering now, and he drops my bag on the mat and pulls off my sodden jacket. I kick off my shoes.

“Jesus, you’re freezing,” he says, eyes flashing. He shakes his head at me in frustration. “Come here,” he says and leads me to the bathroom, reaching over my shoulder to turn on the shower. I’m having major déjà vu of the first night I was here, in February, when Rex took me into that bathroom to look at my bruises. My cheeks heat a little, still embarrassed at how strong I came on that night. Doubly embarrassed if it turns out that, not long after, Rex was f*cking Will, probably telling him about the pathetic loser who threw himself at him. I can see Will’s perfect face smiling, enjoying the idea that his man is so irresistible. My hands fist and Rex jerks when I squeeze him.

“Sorry,” I say.

He sticks his hand in to test the water, then reaches for my sweater to pull it off.

“I can do it,” I say absently, pulling the sweater off from the bottom. He takes it from me and lays it out on the sink. Then he reaches for the buttons on my shirt. “I got it,” I say.

“Daniel, stop,” Rex says, his voice exhausted. I look up at him. “Please, let’s not be back here. This is my fault. Because of Will. I know. But, come on.”

I narrow my eyes at him expectantly. Rex looks at me exasperatedly, but there’s warmth there too.

He steps closer to me and closes the door so Marilyn can’t come in and drink the toilet water. He reaches for me and I step away from him.

“Well?” I finally say. Rex sighs.

“Will and I used to date. Years ago. But that was a long time ago. We’re just friends now. But, every now and again when he comes to town, we’ll—”

“Fuck,” I finish for him.

“Yeah. But that’s all it is.”

I look up at him, trying to read whether it’s true in his face. He meets my gaze intently, but he seems irritated or something.

“It didn’t seem like that’s all it was to him,” I say.

Rex snorts.

“Yeah, well, Will is contrary that way. But believe me, that’s all it is. He just likes to be alpha dog.”

“Hmm,” I say. “Interesting.”

Rex blushes.

“Look,” he says, running his hands up and down my ribs. “I know it was real bad timing last night. It must’ve seemed bad, what with everything you told me about Richard. But, Daniel, you have to know that I would never do that.”

I let out a breath and nod.

“I love undressing you,” he says. He kisses my neck, his mouth warm against my cold skin. “You always shiver just a little, and your nipples get hard.” He strips my shirt off my arms and pulls my T-shirt off. Then he runs his thumbs over my nipples and my stomach clenches. “You’re so beautiful.” He kisses my mouth and I put my arms around him tentatively.