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After a few minutes, Jared convinces Simon to shoot hoops with him, so I park my arse on the cool concrete path next to the drive to watch, and Marcus and Gaz join me. As I watch Simon, I notice the playfulness which typically lights him up isn’t as bright today. His smiles are the fakest I’ve ever seen, and so are his laughs. I’m aware he often hides behind his humour, but today he isn’t able to hide it very well at all. The stuff going on with his parents, and his mum wanting him to leave Fox Pines, is taking a toll, and with the end of the school year looming over us, Simon’s time is running out.
I dropped a hint to my old man about having Simon live with us, and in exchange, he would work on the farm after school and on weekends. My dad made it clear that he won’t be paying for Hastings to go to the uptight school I go to, but he’s thinking about my suggestion of giving Simon a place to stay. I fucking hope he says yes.
“You’re quiet, Bossi.” Marcus nudges my shoulder, and I drag my eyes off Simon and Jared, wrestling for the ball, and take in the mate I betrayed, sitting next to me.
“There’s a lot going on. I’m feeling… out of sorts.”
He nods, his dark brown eyes shooting to the ground between us. “Yep. Same. Everything has changed in such a short time.”
A lump forms in my throat as prissy emotions twist my gut. “I’m really sorry, man.” I push the words out before I can cower, and his brown eyes flick up to mine again.
“What for?”
“What I did to you. It was a cunt’s act.” I take a moment to swallow down the bowling ball-sized lump in my throat before I continue. “Mates don’t do that to each other.”
Marcus frowns, tilting his head at me. “Whydidyou do it? Like I get that the first time you didn’t know it was Rhys until it was too late, but you went back for more.”
Even though he should sound pissed at me, he doesn’t. Marcus just sounds curious.
“I was weak. I still am. I’m not willing to give her up for you or anyone else, but I still feel fucking awful about doing that to you.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, well, I’m not fucking giving her up either, and honestly, I haven’t thought much about the betrayal lately. Just Rhys, and how much I want to make her happy.”
I nod in understanding. “I’m sure Hastings feels like shit about it, too. He didn’t know about me and Rhys when things happened between them.”
“Hastings was never going to be able to fight our girl off.” Marcus glances over at Simon as Simon tries to get the ball out of Jared’s grip. “I know she said it was just about sex, and I honestly think that’s what she thought at the time, but it’s always been more than that. I don’t think she understood the difference between her attraction to sex and her attraction to each of us. She was drawn to us through the bond we’d already formed with her. Now she’s learning the difference between the two, and I want that for her. I want her to feel that sort of love.” Marcus shrugs and sighs. “Do I hate that I can’t be the only one to give her that love? Yeah, it bums me out a bit. But sharing this with you guys also has an appeal. I feel like we are more than mates now.”
I grin. “Yeah. More like family.”
He nods, and Garrett leans forward. “I’m good with the family thing, as long as you keep your cocks away from my arse.”
We throw our heads back, laughing, halting the game Jared and Simon are playing as they come over to us.
“What’s so funny?” Simon asks, and Marcus answers.
“Garrett said he wants you to fuck him up the arse.”
“I’m pretty sure my comment was the opposite to that,” Garrett grumbles as I laugh harder.
“Are you guys like… hooking up, too?” Jared asks, looking mortified, and I can’t breathe. Laughter stabbing my side like a stitch.
“What’s wrong Crowley? Scared you’re missing out?” Simon grins. “You want me to take you up the arse?”
The look on Jared’s face is pure terror. “Stay the fuck away from my arse!” Jared hisses, and Marcus joins me in hysterics as Simon prowls toward Jared.
The moment Jared turns to run, letting out a squeal fit for a chick, we all fall into hysterics that I’m almost certain will cause us to stop breathing.
Chapter Fourteen
Rhys
Ican’t take it anymore. I feel like a caged animal, and Kitty is feeling my frustration to the core. I think about taking Big Jim for a spin, but I need more than the object. I need sound and visuals. I need a sex-filled atmosphere.
I haven’t spoken to Will since the argument yesterday. I’ve avoided him like the plague, but today I’m feeling all sorts of bratty, mainly because I’m bored as fuck, and he is cock-blocking me. He also seems to have a problem with hownot normalI am, so fuck it. I’m gonna show him just how not normal I am.
“Can I pleeeease have my laptop?” I whine, hovering by the kitchen table where Will is working today. I’m not sure why he isn’t using his office. Probably to keep a better eye on me. “I reeeeally need it.”
“No, Rhys. You’ll just use it to contact people, and right now, you need a break from that.” He doesn’t even look up from his laptop. Ugh. He’s so frustrating! Maybe I can snatch his laptop and keep it captive and see how he likes it?
