“It costs nothing.”
“Liar.” Luka smirked at Reno, who had the sense to look bashful. “Just cancel it. I’ll figure it out later.”
“Okay,” Reno said and Luka could tell he was trying not to sound excited. Reno was too thoughtful for his own good. “What else can I do for you?”
Luka let his eyes fall closed again, feeling like his head was full of cotton and the sunlight pouring through the windows was too bright. “Will you text August and let them know I’m sick and will have a new flight home soon?”
“Of course.” Reno handed Luka his phone to unlock then took it back. “Oh, where is your text app? Wait, I think I found it. Okay…ano?3…” Reno trailed off and started typing before saying, “I let them know.” He put the phone back on the table and turned to Luka who slowly opened his eyes.
Reno’s expression was searching, and Luka sighed. “I’m okay, really. You can leave me here, and if I start dying, I’ll text you.”
“Okay.” Reno still looked concerned. He reached out and tucked a stray hair behind Luka’s ear. “I’ll come running.”
Reno turned his attention to the medicine, peeling the pills free from their wrapping and handing them to Luka, who took them without complaint. Once Luka was lying down again and a fresh glass of water was beside him on the end table, Reno hovered awkwardly at the edge of the couch, looking very much like he didn’t want to leave.
“Go." Luka shooed him away. “I’ll be here when you get off work.” He looked up at Reno and reached a hand up to brush against his. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Reno’s expression softened, and he turned his hand to run his fingertips, so rough from years of pressing against strings, against Luka’s palm. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Luka’s temple, then promised to be back later.
1 I see/I understand,
2 I understand.
3 Um…
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Joy.
Reno’s heart was choking him.
He ignored Jasmine as she greeted him. There were thousands of people in London named Joy. There had to be a large percentage of them that happened to be lesbians who hung out at the gay clubs. There had to be a Joy other thanJoywho was in Luka’s phone, telling him to get better soon. There had to be. There had to be.There had to be.
“Seb.” Reno closed the door behind him, and a small, broken part of him that refused to heal was grateful that it was Sebastian, of all people, who was in the studio. “Help me.”
“Oh, shit.” Sebastian put his bass down and rushed to Reno. His hands hovered over Reno’s arms before Reno squeezed Sebastian around the middle and hid his face in his chest. “I’mhere," Sebastian said, wrapping his arms around Reno.
Behind them, Reno heard the door open and close, then felt Sebastian shake his head. Reno didn’t bother to see who it was; he loved and trusted anyone who would come through that door without knocking first.
“I can’t do this again.” He murmured, feeling himself shaking, and Sebastian put his chin on his head. Reno neverforgot being in the courtroom, passing by the small but hungry crowd, and witnessing a stranger lean over and whisper to their friend?—
'Can you believe he did that? …Disgusting.’
‘How disappointing.’
It had felt like there were hundreds of angry eyes on him before he even had a chance to defend himself, and he never forgot the voices that stuck to him like hungry leeches, lingering for years, believing he was everythingJoysaid he was. He’d still wake from dreams occasionally, ones where she was following him again, where she was still spilling her lies andhis fearsto a vapid audience online. In these nightmares, the masses hunted him for their own sick entertainment.
“I can’t let her do this.” Reno gasped.
“What’s going on?” Jaewon put his hand in Reno’s hair and gently turned his head to face him. If there was anyone in his life who didn’t let him hide, it was Jaewon. His dark eyes searched Reno’s face for answers, and it was clear he didn’t like what he found. “Do we need to call security?”
“No.”
“I haven’t seen you afraid in a very long time,” Jaewon said, his hand cradling Reno’s skull. “And, never without good reason.”
Sebastian squeezed him tighter. “If she broke the restraining order, I’ll personally make sure she stays in jail this time.”
Reno shook his head. “Technically, no.” He swallowed, trying to figure it out well enough to explain. “I don’t even know it’s her.”
