Cat's Got Your Heart by Jem Zero

Author:Jem Zero [Zero, Jem]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBTQIA+, contemporary, gay, trans, new adult, enemies-to-lovers, interracial, pet store, pets, snark, nerds, bullying, grief/grieving, hurt-comfort, romantic comedy/comedy of errors
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2020-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Harinder’s Life Is an Off-Brand Princess Movie

When he comes out much, much later, Jericho is sitting on the couch. Harinder winds the long way around so he can sit as far from Jericho as possible, still not managing to meet his eyes or look directly at him. He tries to tell what Jericho’s thinking from his posture, but Jericho isn’t giving anything away. He sits casually, but maybe too much so.

Okay, maybe his brain is getting ahead of him. It’s not like Jericho has a crush on him. Jericho is a really chill person—maybe a little desperate—and he’s okay with letting Harinder fuck up like that because he’s…nice. Nicer than Harinder expected or was willing to accept. Just because Jericho didn’t freak out doesn’t mean they get to make something of this, or anything else that Mint was implying.

“So,” Harinder begins, swallowing past his oppressively dry throat.

“Yeah?”

“So. Uh.”

He’s pretty sure he hears Jericho snicker, and tosses a scowl at him, but all he sees is a patient barely there smile. There’s a coppery beauty mark above Jericho’s lip. This close, Harinder can see Jericho has faint blotchy spots high on his cheeks and temples, mixed in with a few acne scars. Harinder doesn’t know why such things would be considered blemishes—they’re unquestionably adorable.

Wait. Holy shit, what?

“About. About what I said earlier.” Harinder is pretty sure that’s what he’s attempting to say.

Jericho waves a hand, flippant. “Don’t worry about it, man. You were stressed; I get it. We’re cool.”

Fuck.

“Alright,” Harinder hedges, staring at his fingernails and picking nervously at the polish, chipping away at the black over his thumb. “And, uh.” Jericho hums in acknowledgment. “What happened after that.” Jericho hums again, quieter. Shier. “Would it be okay if we didn’t make a big deal about it?”

Jericho’s face twitches. He turns away, shoulder lifting casually, putting a barrier between Harinder and any revealing expression that might cross his features. Against his better judgment, Harinder leans forward in an attempt to see him.

“Yeah, that’s fine. Don’t worry; I won’t bring it up. Like it never happened.” Jericho sounds completely cool, unbothered, even.

Harinder’s back straightens. “Why would you do that?”

Jericho sends him a reproachful look over his shoulder. “You literally just asked—”

“Not what I meant.”

“Enlighten me, then.”

“Not making a big deal out of it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.” Harinder ignores the way his palms are cold with sweat. “I just don’t want you to think it means something you don’t want.” That sounds…weirdly ambiguous, and also not what Harinder is trying to say. “I’m just, I’m trying to…”

Fuck. Why is being sincere hard? He gives up, blurting out, “I don’t even know if you’re gay!”

Jericho whirls around. For a sick, terrifying second, Harinder thinks he’s about to get punched.

“What do you mean, ‘don’t know if I’m gay’?” Jericho all but yelps. “Holy shit, of course I’m gay.”

Harinder’s mouth hangs open, lax. He didn’t expect this at all, even after Jericho showed no qualms about kissing him back. “Jericho,” he says slowly, “you’ve said ‘no homo,’ like, eight times since we met.

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