“Hey, you know that’s not true, don’t you? None of what he said. Not the shit about us or the things about you and your future either.” When Brax didn’t respond, I added, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone out there. I just… You take care of other people so often. I wanted to take care of you too.”
Brax froze, gaze snapping to mine, sparks igniting off it and landing in my chest. I could see it in his eyes, how much those words meant to him, how much he’d needed to hear them, no matter how simple they were.
The music raged on in the other room. If anything, it was even louder.
“Let’s go stay at my place.”
I expected him to say no, but he didn’t, nodding instead. We finished getting dressed, got clothes and our school stuff together, and then he surprised me by going to my car with me and getting in.
Watty, Ford, and Collins were awake when we got there. Playing video games half the night wasn’t anything unique for them.
“What’s up?” Ford asked, all their gazes on Brax.
“Nothing. We’re staying here tonight. Make sure you guys keep it down. We have a test in the morning.”
“Bet,” Collins replied, and Watty turned the television down.
I took Brax’s hand and led him to my room, where we stripped, got into bed together, and went to sleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Brax
“I killed it on that test,” I told Ty after class, and he groaned. “You don’t think you did well?”
He shrugged. “Whatever. I don’t know. Probably not. I mean, I didn’t fail it, I don’t think, but for once, I’m not nearly as confident as you.”
It was shitty that he was doing something he hated so much. I wanted more for him, wanted him to follow his dreams. I wished I could call his dad myself and tell him to fuck off and let Ty do what he wanted to do, kinda the way he’d stuck up for me with my brother.
While it had only been a day, I was still obsessing over what had gone down between Ty and Asher. I’d been pissed at Asher too many times to count, but I’d never wanted to slam my fist into his face as much as I had last night. I was used to his shit. I could deal with it, but Ty hadn’t deserved that.
Ty, who’d gone out there for me.
Ty, who’d thought about me, cared, and had my back.
I wasn’t used to that from anyone besides Grandma. I’d always been the odd one out with my brother and my dad. I didn’t let myself get close enough to guys or friends, except for Manny, and as much as I loved him, he was the kind of person who felt like he just needed to mind his own business. He hadn’t ever gotten involved in our family shit, but Ty had, and fuck, there were no words for how much I appreciated that.
The little bastard had been taking up way too much space in my mind lately. Between what went down with Asher, and Ty spending time with Grandma, he had me feeling some kind of something that I should want to evict from my chest but didn’t. I really fucking didn’t.
“Come on.” I took his hand, and he let me. We went back into the building, then up the same stairs we’d used the first time we’d hooked up. I picked the lock on the empty classroom.
“You gonna get on your knees for me?” Ty asked.
“Yep,” I replied simply, and I did just that, showing him with my mouth how much I wanted him, how much I appreciated him, until he spilled his load down my throat. I swallowed it down, sucked him for a minute afterward, just liking the feel of his softening cock on my tongue. “I was hungry.”
I winked, tucked him away, pulled his pants up, and stood. Ty’s mouth came down hard on mine. He opened my jeans and took my dick in hand, stroking me until I was right on the edge before kneeling and taking me into his mouth so my cum spurted down his throat.
We kissed lazily for a few minutes, arms wrapped around each other, tasting ourselves as our tongues tangled together.
We didn’t talk about what was going on between us, about the change that crept up on me like the sun slowly peeking over the horizon until it was high and bright, undeniable.
If we didn’t talk about it, we could pretend it wasn’t happening…because a part of me knew Asher had been right. Even if I wanted us to, Ty and I wouldn’t last. We didn’t fit, and there was no changing that.
So I slid my sunglasses on and tried to deny the sun had risen.
We walked to Adler House. I sat on his bed, my back against the wall. Ty lay down and put his head in my lap. “Pet me. I want attention.”