“Are you playing with me?” Santino liked the teasing side of Orsen. “Teasing me because of what I said?”
Orsen shrugged, then flicked the takeout menu Santino held in his hand. Clearing his throat, he pointed to three different options. “Can I try these?”
“Deflection. You’re good. I’ll give you that.”
“Does that get me a kiss?”
Santino rolled his eyes. “And persistent.”
“Please. You’re really going to make me wait?”
Santino put his hands on Orsen’s shoulders and looked into his eyes, eyes like fire that made him forget what he wanted to say. Those were some pretty eyes, unlike any that Santino had seen before. Orsen stood on tiptoe and kissed him, then smiled. “It’s the eyes. Ambrose would tell me he could get a lot of money for me because of them. I used to hate them, but I like how you look into them.”
“You shouldn’t kiss me like that.”
Orsen stepped back and straightened, his face hardening. “I’m not a child. I haven’t been one for years. I know I don’t know as much about everything as I should, that I’m… innocent, but I’m not. I’m tired of always looking over my shoulder, of feeling alone and scared and horrible inside. I want to laugh and tease you, and I want to eat pizza with you. I want to get to know you, but I also want to kiss you. I really want to kiss you.”
“Can you give me time?”
Orsen slumped, then shrugged. “Fine. You can have time, and I’ll ask Cody to take me out.”
“That isn’t fair, Orsen.”
“Life isn’t fair, Santino. I should know.” Orsen handed the menu to Santino. “I’m not hungry. I want to go home. Oh right. I don’t have one. Silly me. Guess it’s my age.”
“Stop it,” Santino snapped. “This petulant, childish behavior isn’t helping, and you haven’t let me explain why I’ve asked for more time.”
“I’m childish now. Well, I amonlyseventeen. It’s not like I killed someone, is it?” Orsen pushed past Santino and stormed into the study where his bag was.
“Stop.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do, and I don’t like you right now.”
Santino grabbed Orsen by the shoulders and held him in position. “You listen to me. I’m attracted to you and I’m having a couple of issues with it. They are mine and not yours, so I asked for time to work my way through them.”
Orsen stopped pushing Santino and asked, “You do like me?”
“I do, and I told you that, but you are seventeen. You’ve been through a traumatic experience. Your upbringing has been atrocious. You’re just now stepping out into the world and seeing what you’ve missed for all these years. I’m the first person you’ve interacted with who isn’t from here. This could be you confusing emotions because you’ve never really had them before—” Santino shook his head when Orsen went to say something, “—and I don’t want to get hurt. What if I do begin a relationship with you and then you realize you don’t feel the way you thought you did and you leave? What if you decide I’m too old for you or have more life experience than you and you can’t accept that? I’ve been hurt before, Orsen, so I’m being careful.”
Orsen moved between Santino’s arms and hugged him. “I’m sorry. I’m being impatient and stubborn.”
Santino hugged him back, realizing that in the time he’d known him, Orsen had grown an inch. “You’ve grown.”
“It happens. I’ve been told I might grow another inch now that I’m getting proper food. I like being smaller than you. I’m five foot nine now. What are you?”
“I’m six feet. Let me order pizza and then we can start fresh. I’ll get us a few so you can try them.” Orsen stepped back and rubbed his shoulder, then moved it back and forth. “How is it?”
“I had the stitches out and need to do more therapy. They gave me exercises, too. They’re boring.” He grinned and Santino chuckled at him. Walking back into the kitchen, Santino picked up the phone and placed their order, then went to the fridge and grabbed a can of soda for Orsen. Placing it on the table, Santino put fresh water in Charlie’s bowl, then gave him some food. Charlie almost barged Santino out of the way as he scarfed down his food.
“I don’t think I want a party for my birthday.”
Santino sat opposite Orsen and sipped his water. “Why not?”
Orsen frowned and let the tip of his finger slide over the condensation from the can. “It doesn’t feel right to me. I want something quiet. I don’t want to have what is expected because I’m a teenager or because I’ll be eighteen. That isn’t me, and it’s not because of what I’ve been through. I don’t need everyone to be there. I can be happy with you.”
“I know the others are planning something for you on your birthday. Why not have it, then we can do something after?”
Orsen’s eyes sparkled. “Can we go back to your house? Maybe later I might want to go out somewhere nice, but not yet. I don’t feel ready for that.”
