Panic claws at my stomach. “No!”
“So, what, you’re gay now?” She almost looks hurt.
I groan. “I don’t know, Anna. But if I’m attracted to Otter, then logic dictates I’ll be attracted to other guys. You can’t be gay for just one person.”
Oh, so now you believe that. Hilarious.
“So you’re feeling insecure because of Otter’s exes—”
“I’m not insecure—”
“—and because they’re all hot or whatever—”
“Like they should be in porn—”
“—and Otter has doubts—”
“He does not—”
“—which for some reason you seem to be proving true with that asshat—”
“Proving true? Now wait just a damn minute—”
“I mean, what kind of name is Isaiah? Your new boyfriend sounds like a tool—”
“I don’t even know him—”
“And you’ve got the greatest man waiting for you at home—”
“I know!”
She glares at me. “Do you want to fuck other guys or not?”
“I don’t know,” I say honestly, after a time. “I don’t think so.”
“And is that because of Otter’s past or your own?”
“Shit.”
“Exactly.”
“I can’t lose him, Anna,” I say. I sound desperate.
“Then it’s pretty simple: don’t. I’m late for my next class. I gotta go.”
She starts to walk away. “Call him, Bear,” she calls over her shoulder.
“Don’t be an idiot and let this get away from you like you normally do.
Otter deserves better than that. Finish it now before you don’t have control over it anymore.”
I’m dialing even before she stops speaking. “Hey,” Otter says as he picks up the phone. “How was your first class?”
“Some guy hit on me and pressed me up against a wall, and I needed to hear your voice,” I say.
Silence. Then, “You okay?”
“Yes.”