No, entering into a relationship had nothing to do with being brave and everything to do with being stupid. It’d been beyond fucking dumb to put his faith in Kevin, being the disgraceful closet-case chicken shit that he was, but ever since then something had always told Max that to give away his heart a second time was just plain foolish. Because for the most fucking part, human beings sucked. Always letting each other down, lying, cheating. Never thinking about others before themselves. It was a selfish fucking world inhabited by assholes.
Minus Scott, of course. And Max’s mom.
But Sean? No, Sean would end up just like the rest. It was only a matter of time, no matter how pretty he was. Kevin was pretty, too, after all. And Kevin wound up being a dickhead prick. Because he couldn’t own up. Because he had no fucking balls. Because only his insecurities mattered. Fuck the rest. Himself included. Because the guy was too scared to be real.
Max was the brave one. And even then, he got burned.
Because lovers were dickheads in disguise.
Fuck Kevin and everyone like him. They could all rot in hell.
Mood plummeting fast, Max stopped in his tracks. He needed to stop thinking about this pointless shit. Needed to go find Scott instead. For one, so he could help Max put the platform back, but also to help he cool the fuck down. Because Scott was Max’s happy place. His rock on sturdy ground. His stabilizer. His go-to for friggin’ everything.
He turned to head back out, to go hunt his roommate down, when he heard a small sound to his left. Max glanced toward the observation room. Seemed Scott was closer than he thought.
Working to steady his angry pulse, Max strode over and opened the door.
“Yo, Scott. I need your help with the—Whoa.” Utterly surprised, he slammed on the brakes, taking in the sight before him. Scott and Tad, the two “just friends” shirtless and one second away from kissing. Max supposed this really shouldn’t be a shocker. But it was. An eyeful he hadn’t been expecting.
Scott stilled where he had Tad backed against the glass, and slid Max an irritated look. “Knock much?” he muttered.
Max frowned at his tone, then glared at Tad. What the fuck kind of game was he playing? From what Scott had said earlier, Tad made it clear he wanted to keep shit platonic. So why would he be letting Scott try to kiss him now? And why—
An unmistakable aroma wafted past Max’s nose. He stiffened immediately. His anger spiked. “It reeks of sex in here,” he ground out accusingly.
Tad froze, as if busted, as if caught in the act. The act of straight-up messing with Scott’s head. Max bristled harder.
That little tease.
“You need to leave.” Scott glowered Max’s way. “Now. And shut the fucking door.”
Max glared right back at him, not appreciating the dismissal, but Tad quickly reclaimed his attention. Specifically, the way all color had drained from his face as he scrambled to swipe up his shirt.
Max’s brows furrowed lower. “What the fuck is wrong with him? He’s white as a fucking—” Max froze in realization. “Oh, Jesus.” Tad was a closet. Suddenly everything made sense. Max shot Scott a look of disbelief. “Seriously, bro? Are you stupid?”
Tad loosed a tiny groan.
Scott clenched his jaw. “Max. Shut the fuck up and leave.”
Holy fuck. Max felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Hard. By his best fucking friend. “Scott,” he bit out. His heart fisted tight. “Fucking look at him. He’s a goddamn—”
“Max!” Scott cut him off angrily.
Max stopped. Then seethed. How could he? How. Could. He? Bring a closet into their goddamn home?
Tad pulled on his shirt and gestured for peace. “It’s okay. I’ll go. I was leaving anyway.”
Yeah, I bet you were, Max fumed, beyond furious. Got what you wanted. Now it’s time to bolt. He wondered how long Tad would stay away this time. How long he’d make Scott wait for him to call.
Scott clutched Tad’s elbow as he tried to get by. “I thought we were gonna hang out.”
Tad paused and shot him a look, but didn’t speak.
Max glowered at the two. This was fucking insane. Since when had Scott become such an idiot?
Scott exhaled sadly and released Tad’s arm. “C’mon.” He gestured to the door. “I’ll walk you out.”
Max’s gut churned with betrayal. Bile surged up his throat. Did Scott forget that a closet case just like Tad had ruined his fucking life? He glared steely daggers. At his friend. Then at Tad. God, he could see it all so clearly now. What Tad was; fucking poison.
Just like Kevin.
Max snarled in disgust and pivoted around. He couldn’t stomach a second more. Had to get the fuck away before he snapped. Which was fine. Once Tad left, he and Scott would be having words. Because over his dead body would he let that closet case hurt his friend. He’d fixed Scott once, put his broken ass back together. Now Max would make sure that he stayed that way.