Page 321 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Elliot looked away. Prison. Years. Decades. Ronan gone. No. He pushed the thought away. Ronan saw.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Elliot.”

“I don’t want to think about it.”

That honesty seemed to satisfy him.

“Okay.”

Ronan kissed his temple. Elliot closed his eyes. Maybe he could survive uncertainty if Ronan kept doing that. Maybe. At 9:03 A.M., Rebecca knocked. Neither had gotten dressed. Ronan looked toward the door. Elliot looked at him.

“No.”

Rebecca knocked again.

“Elliot?”

Ronan whispered, “You deal with her.”

“She’s your stepmother.”

“She birthed you.”

“Technicality.”

“Pretty significant technicality.”

Rebecca called again.

“I know you’re awake.”

Ronan frowned.

“How?”

Elliot pointed toward the floor. Their laughter.

“Fuck.”

“Exactly.”

Ronan pulled on sweatpants. Elliot immediately looked. Ronan caught him.

“Seriously?”

“What?”

“You’ve seen me naked.”

“Still looking.”

Ronan shook his head.

“You’re unbelievable.”