Page 86 of Play With Me

“—I… Uh.” He looked confused, standing there with his hands over his junk. “She’s not at home?”

“No, can you call her?” I asked. “I think Trench Coat Mike is stalking her.”

“Trench Coat Mike?” he asked.

“Yeah, I went to school with him, and he had a phase…” I waved my hand, this was not important, “bleached his tips in the locker room.”

Jaimie was horrified. “What year was this?”

“Mike Jones?” Has asked and I nodded.

“Not to be crass, but he’s been sniffing around her shit for weeks—‘’ I held the photo out to him.

He sighed. “He’s not sniffing around Lou,” he said. “He’s my ex.”

“YOUR EX?” Jaimie and I said at the same time.

“Mike is gay?” I was totally bewildered.

“Wait, who the fuck is Mike?” Jaimie said, hands on hips—but naked, so it was ridiculous.

“Yeah. Super gay,” Has said, handing Jaimie the photo. “We broke up in May.”

Jaimie took it, still frowning. "And what, Hasan, he’s sniffing aro—‘’ His face brightened. "Oh you found the photo!"

“Wait,” I said turning my whole body to him, “You’ve seen this before?”

“Mmhm, I saw it on the club’s Instagram and thought it was gorgeous,” he said. “I thought it would help if Louisa saw it…”

“And so you put it on her door?”

He looked worried. “Yeah? I printed it at my Nana’s,” he said nervously. “I mean I texted it to her first, I’m not that creepy, but she never texted me back.”

That was actually very sweet of him. Has groaned and rubbed his beard—but naked, so…

“Have you been playing hangman with her in the studio, Jaimie?” I asked.

“I mean I’ve been playing hangman on their whiteboard, but I thought it was Rachel⁠—‘’

“Spit it out, Will. Stop interrogating him and get to the point,” Has said. Good man, stepping in for his fella.

“Did you text her after the ball? Send her breakfast?” I asked, and it finally clicked for my boy.

“Oh my god, Jaimie,” he said, wiping his whole face. “I gave you her number, but never gave her yours. And then you sent me breakfast when I got back from the city, and I didn’t say it was from you because Will was there…”

I can’t believe I had it so wrong.

Lord help us. Might be time to ask the questions to the answers ye’ve been guessin’, son.

“Wait, why would my being there be an issue?” I asked. “I thought you weren’t taking the things happening to her seriously.”

“No, I just.. fuck,” he said, shoulders deflated. He threw his arms up. “I’m just a guy, Will. I liked being just a guy with the guys.” My face must have malfunctioned. Has winced.

“What does your being bi have to do with anything? Does Lou know?”

Hasan took a deep breath. "I’m not bi. I’m gay.”

Fucking what???