ALEX HAS NEVER LIKED Liam’s house. It’s massive, ugly, and decorated in the worst sort of pretentious interior design. He’s spent nights here before — he and Paul both have, crashed out together in one of the extra rooms when they’ve been hanging out with Liam, Carly, and a couple of bottles of wine. More often, they all get together at Carly’s place, which Alex prefers anyway. Her more modest apartment is one of the most normalizing things in his life. What Alex has never figured out about Liam’s place is why. It doesn’t suit him at all.
“Have you ever actually read any of these books?” he asks as Liam ushers him into the den or the great room or whatever. He slumps down into one of the leather chairs.
Liam shrugs. “Some of them.”
“Really?” Alex asks skeptically.
“Sometimes I get bore
