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“That’s what I’m trying to establish,” Shaun grumbles at Marcus, probably annoyed because he knows he can’t bring up Vixen’s Lodge in front of him or the others. Not until we’ve talked, at least.
“I’m ok. Bad sleep last night. That’s all.” It’s not a total lie. I had a terrible fucking sleep last night.
“Wanna come over to my place after the exam? We can have a sleep date.” Marcus presses his lips against my ear, but before I can respond, Garrett’s deep tone beats me to it.
“I’m spending the afternoon with our girl today.”
Marcus stiffens behind me before his arms drop from around me. “Is that so?”
I spin to face him. “Sorry. We can have a different night together. How about Monday?”
“Monday?” He frowns, his dark eyes boring into my soul. “What about Sunday night?”
I shake my head. “I can’t. I have a family thing on Sunday night. But I’m available Monday night.”You fucking liar, Rhys!
He tips his head back and sighs. “Fine, but you’re coming to Simon’s tomorrow night when you get back, right?”
“Dude, you wanna back off a bit?” Shaun hisses over my shoulder, and I sigh.
FML!
“You wanna mind your own business, Bossi?” Marcus grits between his teeth, and I drop my shoulders, feeling defeated.
“I can’t do this right now. Talk later.” I walk off, passing Simon as he approaches, his smile morphing into a frown.
“Where’s our girl going?”
“Ask Grady!” Shaun snaps, and that’s all I hear as I zone them out and go in search of anyone other than someone I’m fucking.
As I approach Tillie and Bell, the teachers start ushering us into the stadium, so I remain quiet and look around for Tyler, needing to lay eyes on him, but he’s nowhere in sight.
The exam is a bust. I failed it deliberately. All I wrote is that there is protein in semen, and then put my pencil down. I can’t do this. I can’t sit in this room and think about school stuff when it feels like the sky is crashing down on me. I feel like I’m suffocating, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold my breath.
By the time the exam is over, I’m a fucking mess. I’m shaking. My heart rate is skyrocketing. And I’m on the verge of showing everyone my inner turmoil.
As soon as I pass through the inner doors of the stadium, I turn right and head in the opposite direction of where the students are being ushered out. A teacher calls out to me to come back, but I ignore him, pushing my legs until I’m running. I don’t really know where I’m going until I reach Tyler’s office on the second level and burst through the door.
The room is empty. He’s not in here. Where the fuck is he?
“Kitten?” Shaun puffs behind me. “You gotta get out of here. The others are looking for you. They can’t find you in here.”
“Where is he?”
Looking over his shoulder in the doorway to see if anyone is coming, Shaun turns back to me, frowning. “I don’t know where he is. Let’s go. We can call him or something.”
I nod. “Yeah. Ok.”
I glance around his office again, noticing his gym bag on his chair. My legs move before I realise what I’m doing, and I find myself rummaging through his bag, and I pull out his t-shirt. It’s a red soccer jersey with white lettering. I bring it to my nose and inhale, his scent seeping into my airways, reminding me of how his strong arms feel around me and how his lips tease mine open with little effort.
“Kitten. We have to go.” Shaun whispers in my ear. I didn’t even hear him approach, too wrapped up in fawning over Tyler’s belongings. Then, like a stalker, I quickly shove his jersey into my bag.
Shaun’s brows hitch, but he doesn’t tell me to stop, instead standing guard by the door until I join him. We run off down the passage side by side, my hand in his. Before we round the corner to where I know there’s a horde of students, he tugs me into an alcove and pushes me against the wall. His eyes bounce between mine, studying me as he grips my shoulders. Then he leans in and presses his lips to mine. I welcome his invasion, needing it as much as I need oxygen right now.
Shaun Bossier always seems to be around when I’m falling apart. He’s seen me at my worst, so it’s not surprising he can sense that things aren’t good for me right now. I’m so lost in the kiss and this emotional rollercoaster that I don’t even realise I’m crying until he pulls back and wipes my tears away.
“Talk to me, Rhys. Please. Don’t keep whatever this is in. It’s killing me to see you hurting like this.”
A sob escapes, and my legs give way, sending me south to the cold linoleum floor. Shaun follows me down, keeping his arms around me, not willing to let me go, and I hold on to him, feeling like if I let him go, I’ll sink into a black hole and never see light again.
