Page 98 of Silent Damage

“Because I—”

I pause, really thinking about the question, trying to understand why, myself.

“Because you mean everything to me, and I’m terrified you’re going to get hurt working for Tobias. I can’t turn off how much I care about you. No matter how much you hate me.”

Jason’s mouth falls open, and his eyes become glassy. “I don’t hate you,” he says.

“No?”

He reaches his hand out to me. “Come here.”

I do, crossing the divide to stand right beside him on his stretcher.

He squeezes my hand. “I care about you, too.”

“Yeah?”

He nods, then asks, “D-does this mean…you’ll talk to me now? Like this?”

The way he asks it…it’s so precious.

My mouth opens, but something stops me from answering right away.

Can I?

I look into his blue eyes, wide and hopeful. The boy I’ve loved my whole life stares back at me with need.

And I need him, too.

“Yes,” I say.

Relief washes over his face. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

He squeezes my hand and whispers, “Thank you.”

I smile because, even though his face is so beaten and bruised, he looks happy.

And that’s all I’ve ever wanted for him.

Then he looks down with an embarrassed expression and mutters, “I’m sorry I was jealous of Torren.”

I bark out a laugh, surprised by this sudden shift.

I mean, if we’re really being honest here…

“I was jealous of Tobias,” I add. Jason’s face relaxes, and a smile appears, sending my heart into overdrive. “I guess we’re both jealous dickheads, huh?” I say.

Jason grins. “We’re a match made in hell.”

We stare at each other for another second, then Jason starts to snicker. “We’re a fuckin’ show, Gabe.”

That’s when we both lose it—cackling like we used to until his laugh morphs into a wheezing cough, and I panic.

“Shit. You could have broken a rib or something. I need to get the medic.”

I turn to leave, but Jason grabs my arm. “Don’t go.”