Chapter eight
Cuddled up on the couch watching Scrooged, Tyler couldn’t help thinking about the earlier conversation.
It didn’t sit right with him that Davey thought about him like that.
He wasn’t egotistical. He had a fun outlook on life and tended to draw people in, but that didn’t mean everyone had to like him.
He felt like he needed to convince Davey otherwise. He just didn’t know how.
“Stop it. I can almost hear the gears in your head turning.” Davey kissed the top of Tyler’s head and snuggled him closer.
Tyler turned his head up to look at Davey who had his eyes focused on the movie. The crazy ghost of Christmas present kicked Bill Murray in the nuts on screen, making Davey laugh, but after a minute, he refocused on Tyler. He leaned down and rubbed their noses together. “I mean it. Stop thinking.”
“Can’t help it. What you said is really bothering me.” Tyler sat up, the distance he put between them felt cold and vast, though it was just a small section of the couch. Of course, he did pull the blanket with him, so he was still warm, but Davey wasn’t.
“What part? That Cole really does like you?” Davey sat up and turned to the side so he could stick his long toes under Tyler’s thigh. Tyler appreciated the physical connection.
“I don’t care about Cole and can’t help who he like-likes.
” Tyler rolled his eyes. “What I care about is the bigger picture, Davey. I don’t like the idea that you think of me as some kind of needy narcissist or something.
I don’t care if Cole likes me or not. I don’t care about Rico, past whether he joins the team. I care about you.”
“I know you do. That’s not what I meant at all.”
“That’s what you said.”
Davey sighed and ran his fingers through his short, dark hair. It looked darker in the low light, chocolaty. Tyler wanted to run his own fingers through it. He crossed his arms over his chest instead.
“Tyler. Stop pouting. You’re really making too much of this.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Don’t be silly—”
Tyler stood up and dropped the blanket back on the couch. The movie kept playing, and he’d always loved the part with the crazy fairy ghost, but he didn’t care about what was happening on the screen. He walked off, heading to the bedroom. Davey called after him, but he wasn’t stopping.
Tyler pulled off his clothes and grabbed a pair of black and yellow boxers. They had Ironman on the front of them, and they hugged his ass comfortably as he put them on. Then, he sat on the bed. Pouting.
Davey walked in, looking up at him through lowered lashes. “Tyler. I’m sorry.”
“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong. Just told the truth.” He picked at his fingernail where grease was stuck under it.
“Tyler.” Davey sighed and sat beside him on the bed. Tyler scooted farther away. “I don’t think you’re narcissistic. At all. You’re probably the sweetest, most lovable guy I’ve ever known.”
“That’s not what you said.”
“I didn’t not say that either.” Davey clasped his hands together and tucked them between his thighs. Tyler wanted to hold those hands instead of letting Davey stay so distant, but he also still wanted to fight. He couldn’t let it go—not yet.
“That doesn’t make sense. You said I have to have everyone like me. That’s narcissistic. Not sweet and lovable.”
Davey tossed his head and shoulders back, flopping to the bed. “You’re not listening.”
“I am listening. We wouldn’t be having this argument if I didn’t hear you.”
“No...that’s not what I mean.”
“You keep saying that.” His voice rose. He knew this was going to ruin their night, but a part of him didn’t care.
They needed to work it out. Either Davey had to change his mind or.
.. Tyler didn’t know what. How could they move forward?
“It’s like you suddenly have this distorted picture of me.
I don’t understand. Or are you really just jealous because you thought I was flirting with Rico? ”
“No. I mean, I was a little jealous, but I knew nothing was going to happen. It was just an observation. It’s like you don’t know it. You’re oblivious to it or something.”
Tyler stood up. “Apparently, I don’t know it,” he snipped, feeling flustered and hot and mad.
“I didn’t say any of this to upset you.”
“Well, you have.”
“Come on. Let’s just go watch the movie.”
“Fuck the movie. Fuck Bill Murray. This is something important. This is how you see me, and it’s not true.”
“Fine. It’s not true. Now—”
“No. You’re just saying that.” Tyler threw his hands in the air.
“Tyler. Come on.” Davey stood up next to him, hands out, placating. Tyler shook his head. “Let me try again.”
“Try what?”
“To explain.”
Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not stupid.”
Davey shook his head. “I didn’t say you were.” He chuckled a little as if he thought their argument was amusing, but that only pissed Tyler off more.
“Since you think I insist on everyone liking me, I’m going to show you how wrong you are.”
“What?”
Tyler grabbed his pillow off the bed and stormed back down the hall.
“What are you doing Tyler?”
“I’m not caring if you like me or not. I’m sleeping on the couch.” He called over his shoulder. He flopped down on the couch and pulled the blanket that Davey had left there over his shoulders. Davey had already turned the movie off. That was fine with Tyler.
“Come on, Tyler. This is silly. Come to bed.” Davey had followed him out to the living room and stood there waiting, but Tyler wasn’t giving in. “Ty... It’s Christmas.”
“It’s not anything if you think so lowly of me.”
“Damn it. Tyler. I don’t. It’s a part of who you are, and I love you.”
Tyler sat up. “I love you, too, but I’m pissed, and I don’t want to see you right now.”
“Fine.” Davey slowly turned and walked back down the hall to their room.
Tyler felt an empty, icy hole in his chest, but he wasn’t sure anymore whether it was from missing Davey or because he needed everything to be okay. Needed everyone to like him.