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He wishes he were numb.
He doesn’t want to feel.
But he does and it hurts.
It’s plain as fucking day in his eyes. No one sees. No one but me. His eyes could never lie to me.
I’m about to call out to him, thankful to have him back, when Dante beats me to the punch. My blood boils at seeing that guy. Penn winces slightly but then greets him with a friendly slap on the shoulder. Fake. Fucking fake. I clench my fists, attempting to keep the irritation at bay. Penn hasn’t officially come out that he’s gay and if Dante so much as breathes a hint of it to anyone, I’ll throttle his ass.
I can’t help but stare blatantly at them. Penn is clearly giving him the back off vibes, but that dumbass just keeps stepping closer. Slamming my locker door shut, I take satisfaction in the way both their heads snap my way. I pin Dante down with a glare that has him visibly flinching.
That’s right, motherfucker.
“Yo, Penn,” I call out. “Come here.”
He nods, his features relaxing as he waves off Dante. I motion for him to follow me around the corner away from Dante’s view. Leaning my shoulder against the wall, I wait for him to mimic my actions.
“Everyone knows Dante is gay,” I warn him. “And his over-the-top greeting points at you as his new conquest.”
Penn rolls his eyes at me. “I’m nobody’s conquest.”
Damn right.
“Tell that to Dante,” I taunt.
His jaw clenches as he looks past me and then locks eyes with me again. “I told him not to say anything to anyone.”
I let out a derisive snort. “And you trust him?”
“I have no choice, Cope,” he snaps.
We have a silent standoff. The heat in his fiery gaze burns me. When you’ve been dead inside for years, the burn feels good. It makes you feel alive.
“Do I need to have a talk with him?” I’d love nothing more than to take Dante out back and get in his pretty boy face.
Penn’s gaze hardens. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were jealous.”
I bark out a cruel laugh. “I just got my best friend back after two years. Seems you forgot how much I had to look after you back then.”
“I can take care of myself,” he sneers. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Whatever, man,” I grumble as I start past him.
He grabs my bicep and drags me through the nearest door. The staff bathroom. Thankfully no one is inside. I get shoved against the wall as he glowers down at me.
“What?” I demand, attempting and failing to shove his big ass away from me.
He fists my shirt and leans in close. So close our stomachs rub against each other. When I realize he’s hard through his jeans, a wave of disgust washes through me. That is, until I feel my own dick growing stiff. What the fuck?
“Lose the attitude,” he rumbles, his voice dropping low. “I had enough of that shit for two years. If you want to be my friend, stop acting like a douchebag.” His eyes drop to my lips, sending rage exploding through me.
I shove at him again and he stumbles back, but never lets go of my shirt. We end up on the other side of the bathroom with him backed against the wall this time. My eyes sear into his as I ready myself to spit out hateful words. But the words never come. When his eyes dart to my lips again, my cock jolts in my jeans.
“I’m not gay,” I growl. “Stop looking at me like you can change that.”
He grits his teeth but doesn’t respond.
“This,” I hiss as I grind my hips against his, “is just what happens when you haven’t gotten laid in a while and someone touches you. Don’t ever confuse this for anything other than a reaction.” He licks his lips and fire lashes at me just below the surface of my skin. I track the movement of his tongue, hating the forbidden desire that pools in my stomach. “Don’t even think about it,” I warn.
I can see it in his eyes.
He wants to kiss me.
For a split second, I almost wish he would. So I could punch him in the face and not see him again for two more years. At least the past two years I’ve been numb. Right now, I feel anything but numb. I feel alive and on fire. And I hate him for making me feel this way.
“Penn,” I rasp out. “Don’t fucking kiss me.”
But I don’t move away. When he leans forward, his lips just inches from mine, I freeze. He’s really going to do it. He’s going to ruin everything again. Still, I don’t move.
“Kiss you and lose your moody ass again?” he whispers, his breath hot on my lips. “I wouldn’t dare.” He bypasses my lips and brings them to my ear. “If you want a kiss, you’ll have to take it yourself.”
