That night in the privacy of his own room, Micah couldn't stop thinking about lunch with Hunter. His brain was scrambled into words that didn't make sense, feelings he rarely had to say, and a desperation for Hunter to understand his side of things.

He glared at his reflection on the ceiling before tossing onto his side, phone in hand. He opened his notes app and began practicing everything he wanted to say to Hunter.

By noon, he'd written approximately ten drafts and was working on an eleventh as he walked to the venue. Benny was working that afternoon, so he had no one to listen or answer to if they asked, "What've you been doing on your phone all morning?!"

Micah arrived early to find Kennedy already there, fidgeting with her phone and napkin. She'd ordered a tall glass of water where normally, he'd see a bloody mary.

"Hi," he said.

"Did you even sleep? Here—" She pulled out her concealer from her bag and sat him beside her. She dotted it under his eyes and blended it in.

"You told me to practice," he said. "I couldn't stop."

"Jesus... Okay, well, I'm glad you practiced at least," she said, her sigh shaky.

"Why did you organize this if you're so nervous about it?" he said. "Benny and I were fine with me not attending."

"It's—Well—"

"I actually asked her to arrange this."

It had been two years since Micah last heard Hunter's voice. It was untethered and deeper than he remembered, though just as awkwardly paced as it was back then. He'd always been careful with his words, which made him lethal in Micah's eyes.

He watched as Hunter circled the table and lowered to the seat across from Micah. The man's eyes were on his placemat, hands hesitant to lift from the table after lowering himself down. He tucked his hands on his lap.

Hunter didn't look like he'd gotten much sleep, either. Kennedy offered her concealer.

"No, I'm fine. I don't wear makeup," he reassured, smiling at her. "Thank you, though."

"I think you'd look good in makeup," Kennedy said with a smile, and Hunter stifled a laugh, eyes on his placemat again.

Micah couldn't stop staring at him—at them.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Micah said, incredulous.

Hunter took a deep breath, shoulders tight. He met Micah's eyes. "Yeah. I think—"

"Maybe we should eat first?" Kennedy squeaked, stumbling around for her menu. "A conversation is better had on a full stomach!"

"Good idea," Micah said, though he'd lost his appetite.

Micah licked his lips and studied the menu. His eyes were blurring words together, entire lines. He was looking at the alcohol menu. He flipped to the food section.

When the waitress arrived, Micah couldn't think, much less decide. He looked pathetically to Kennedy.

"And... you're still serving breakfast, right?"

"Yes."

"He's getting the eggs Benedict, and Hunter, a Rueben?"

"Yes, please," Hunter said, softly.

She orders for him, too? Micah thought.

Kennedy requested appetizers first, and expedited. In the awkward silence that followed, Micah wished he'd ordered a gin and tonic.

"So, um," Kennedy said, eloquently. She took a deep breath and looked to Micah. "I feel like Hunter would be interested to know what you've been up to."

"Trust me, he wouldn't," Micah said.

"I've been curious," Hunter admitted, quiet. The usual judgmental side-eye wasn't there when he glanced at Kennedy.

"Been whoring around," Micah said, leaning back in his chair. "Had a boyfriend for, like, three weeks. Didn't work out."

Hunter blinked, expression hollowing out. "I didn't realize you two broke up."

Micah rose his eyebrows. Of course Benny had mentioned Rory. Rory was probably the entire reason Hunter felt comfortable talking to him—because Micah was taken.

"Did you cheat on him?"

"No, I didn't fucking cheat on him," Micah said. "People don't tend to date people with my body count."

"Okay, that's not true," Kennedy said to him, and then to Hunter, "It's still fresh."

"I'm fine. I'm being practical," Micah said. "And if it makes Hunter feel any better, I'm chronically undateable. That kind of comes with my territory."

"I'm—Wow." Hunter cleared his throat. "Benny doesn't believe that, with the way he talks about you. He was really happy about you and Rory."

Micah's throat ached. He tried to swallow and couldn't. "Yeah, well."

"I'm sorry it didn't work out," Hunter said, which would have felt nice coming from someone who cared.

"Yeah, right."

"I'm serious."

Micah looked at Kennedy for help. She was staring at him like she wanted him to shut up.

"Tell him about your living situation," she prodded.

"No. That is personal," Micah said, "and none of his business."

"It... is sort of my business when I'm going to be living with Benny in the future," Hunter admitted, flatly. "My lease is up in July."

Shit, Micah thought, shit, shit, shit.

"Benny didn't mention that," Micah said.

"If we have overlap, I don't want us to have... glaring issues with one another. It would make it uncomfortable for Benny," Hunter said. "And he won't say it, but I think he really wants you at his birthday party."

"Why the sudden change?" When Hunter didn't respond with anything more than a furrowed brow, Micah explained: "Why are you suddenly okay with me being Benny's friend? Is it because I was in a monogamous relationship?"

"Micah," Kennedy warned in a whisper.

"That," Hunter said, slowly. He straightened in his chair, "but I realized that you're right. Benny would never date someone with your... body count and relationship style issues."

"H-Hunter—"

"Relationship style issues," Micah repeated. He knew he should be offended, but Hunter's insult nearly made him laugh.

"And more importantly, Benny would never emotionally or physically cheat on me with someone like you. He cares too much about our relationship to do that.

"And I worried for a while that you're in love with him, but I don't think that's true. If you love someone, you wouldn't abandon them for two months without a word."

"I love Benny," Micah said, though he knew it was fire on oil. "He's my best friend."

"Best friends don't disappear," Hunter said. "If you really cared about him, you would have listened to Kennedy and unblocked him. But you didn't. Because you're an inherently selfish person, which I prefer. This isn't a bad thing."

"You can't just insult my character a dozen different ways and say they're all good qualities, actually. And you don't know what you're talking about, about why I left. I did it for the both of us."

Hunter clenched his hands on the table, leaning forward just enough for Micah to get the impression that he wanted to strangle Micah. "Benny was distraught when you left. Inconsolable. He spent a month in a depressive state and you didn't think to call? To text?"

D-Depressive state?

Micah shook his head, eyes shut. "I know he was upset—"

"Upset is an understatement," he hissed. "You weren't there when he cried himself to sleep every night—"

"Okay, fuck you. I was there—after you left," Micah spat, lips curled in a sneer. "And at least I knew how to stay gone. It's unfair to go back to someone who would take you back without question. But you used that to your advantage, didn't you?"

"What are you even talking about."

"I left and stayed gone because I knew the problems we had wouldn't be solved by me caving and going back," Micah stressed. "An apology I didn't mean, nor would I give, would be enough to satisfy him into brushing everything under the rug. Has it ever occurred to you how quickly he took you back? Have you even talked about the issues you had before? Worked on them?"

"We're in couples counseling, not that you would know," Hunter said.

Micah leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his fingers over his forehead, blood pounding in his ears. "The point still stands. It's cruel to go back to people who wouldn't make the distance themselves, even if it's for the better."

"I don't expect you to understand our relationship, or honestly, even what it means for me to be here right now," Hunter said. "I'm not threatened by you anymore."

"Good. You shouldn't have been in the first fucking place," Micah said.

"That's in the past," Kennedy said.

"What I want to know is why you're threatened by me if you don't even love Benny," Hunter said.

"I fucking told you. I love him like a brother," Micah seethed.

"And I don't believe distance is valid... evidence of love!" Hunter said, voice pitching in frustration. "You really hurt Benny! And you're telling me you never apologized?"

"I'm threatened by you because I think you're a selfish prick for going back to Benny," Micah said. "I can... acknowledge, I guess, that you've made some changes. And if it's true that you're in counseling—"

"They are," Kennedy confirmed. "I've driven them before."

"Point being: it feels to me. That you're taking advantage of someone who loves unconditionally and unapologetically," Micah said, "When your love has—historically!—been calculated by the time you spend together, the emotional effort you put in, the money you put in, and how Benny prioritizes you. What he can do for you. When he would do anything for you without question or critical thinking."

Hunter stared at him, the words caught in his throat as he swallowed. He glanced away, eyes glassy, and looked to Kennedy for help.

The waitress saved them by delivering appetizers.

Jesus Christ, Micah thought, leaning his head on his hand. We haven't even gotten to the main course yet.

"You need to be the one thinking critically about the things you ask of him when he'll always say yes," Micah stressed.

"I do think about that," Hunter insisted, quietly so has not to break the words.

"Yeah, well, think harder." Micah shoved a handful of bruschetta into his mouth so he wouldn't have to talk again.

After eating in silence for a minute, Kennedy cleared her throat. "Well, I think that went better than expected."

"Me, too," Hunter whispered. He glanced at Micah.

Micah glared at him. "I... suppose we aren't at the ER right now. So. That's a plus."

"Would you really beat up a guy half your size?" Hunter said.

"Oh, without question," Micah said.

Hunter fidgeted with his hands. A man who just realized his life had been in active danger seconds prior. "What, um. What gym do you go to. If you don't mind me asking."

"What, so we can see each other at the gym now?" Micah said.

"I could attend a different location..."

Micah gave him the name, and the one he frequented.

Hunter sighed. "Fuck. Yeah, that location's really convenient..."

"Yeah, I know."

"Micah should give you a tour of the place," Kennedy suggested. When Micah stared at her, she said, "Oh, come on. What are the odds you two would even see each other there. It's, like, four stories."

Micah sighed. He hoped Hunter read the message in his eyes that told him to decline.

"I mean..." Hunter said, wincing.

Micah sighed again, this time in defeat. "Alright, fine. What're you doing after this."