There’s no making this better. Not today.
“I love you,” I say as gently as my temper will allow. “But I need you both to get the fuck out of here. And maybe have a conversation with Hedy and Edison.”
“Hey, is everyone okay here?” Rami, ever the family peacemaker, asks from the door. “Can I come in?”
Cupcake’s tail thumps against Sy’s leg.
I glare at my fathers, then wave Rami in.
He steps into the bedroom, grimacing. “I saw them leaving the penthouse. Just wanted to make sure we were all…in one piece?”
“We’re fine,” I say. “My fathers are going to go home, think about what they’ve done, and come up with an appropriate apology for my boyfriend.”
Rami takes in the scene, including Silas and me, clearly naked under the sheets. He grimaces. Awkward.
“Oak, we will reach out to you in the next day or two,” Papa says, gripping Dad’s arm. Dad allows himself to be taken out, but not without first glaring at Silas over his shoulder.
Cupcake growls and Sy shushes her. My dads quicken their exit.
I let my head fall back. “Thanks, cousin,” I say, staring at the ceiling.
“You two gonna be all right?”
“We will be. Could use a little privacy though.”
He lets out a soft laugh. “At the very least, people need to stop busting in on you two,” he jokes, then heads out.
What a fucking nightmare.
I wish I’d done a better job of standing up for Silas. Of finding a way to explain how I know he’s not dangerous.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t suppose you have any alcohol in this place.”
“Actually…” He pulls away from me, his eyes so blue it hurts. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”
“Please don’t take what they said to heart, Sy.Please.”
“But they’re not exactly wrong, y’know?” he says, angling himself away from me as he stands from the bed. “I’m dangerous. If I were them, I’d wonder if I could love you the right way too.”
Damn them for poisoning the water.
Cupcake puts herself between Sy and me as Sy pulls on a pair of shorts. I wait for him to call off Cupcake, but he just stands there,awkward.
Oh.
He wants me to leave. But he doesn’t know how to ask for it.
My heart feels so fucking shredded.
I can’t stand that today is ending this way, but my presence can’t make it better. The only thing to do is give him what he needs.
19
RONAN AND THANE
Thane doesn’t loosenhis grip on his husband until they reach the parking garage.
When he does, the first thing he sees is tears. Carefully, gently, he wraps Ronan in his arms.
