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He leans his forehead against the window and closes his eyes for a minute.
“I don’t think he’s a threat.” Jonah is slurring his words as the bourbon hits him. He doesn’t drink often, and he’s got an empty stomach.
“I’ll talk to him,” I say again as I pull up to the diner and park. “Come on, let’s get some food in you.”
“I would rather have you in me,” he grumbles, and I chuckle as I open the door and get out of the truck. When he doesn’t move to open his door, I do it for him and catch him as he damn near falls out.
“Was that the Boones back there?” Jonah’s serious eyes meet mine. I hate the defeat and fear in his face.
“Yeah, it was.”
His shoulders slump, and he leans his head back. “Will we ever be safe?”
I step up on the running board so I’m as close to him as I can be in public.
“Just a few more months, then we’ll be out of here.”
He takes a deep breath and holds it for a minute before releasing it and turning to get out of the truck. But he’s still buckled in, so he lets out a drunk squawk as the belt strangles him, and I laugh.
“Jesus, you gotta get your shit together.” I unbuckle his seat belt, and he climbs down, stumbling when he hits the ground. I get him standing upright, and he’s able to walk into the restaurant unassisted, thank God.
It’s pretty busy here with the booths and tables full of students from prom, still all dressed up. There aren’t many empty tables as I look around. This was a bad idea.
The girl at the hostess stand, Vicki, looks at me, then glances around the space.
“Mr. King, some of the football team is sittin’ in that corner booth in the back. Looks like they got some room. Otherwise, y’all will be waitin’ a while.”
I look over and see which table she’s talking about. Most of the guys aren’t bad, but Jared is over there, and honestly, I still want to rearrange his face. It’s not the best idea, but Jonah needs to eat.
“That’s fine, Miss Vicki. We’ll head home instead.” I nod to her and grab Jonah’s arm, making him stumble as I turn him around. “Careful there, drunky.”
“Roman!” I hear my name, and I sigh as I look over. We can’t leave now. They’re waving me over. Pulling him behind me to the table, I have Jonah sit down first, next to a girl, Sarah, from the cheerleading team. She’s not too bad as cheerleaders go, but she’s seen my dick, and I’m sure Jonah doesn’t know that. Nor do I want to deal with it. Her light brown hair is curled over one shoulder, and she’s playing with it absentmindedly. She gives Jonah an unapproving once-over but catches my glare and turns away.
“Where’s Mary?” One of the guys on the other side of the table, Craig, asks me.
“She had to get home. You know how her dad is.” I turn back to my menu, but Jared scoffs and mumbles something under his breath.
“What was that, Cass?” I say, my tone sharp. The table gets quiet as everyone watches to see what’s going to happen. I’ve never liked this kid. He’s always thought he was tough shit, but he has no idea who he’s fucking with.
“So the preacher is worried about his daughter being out with you, but not his son?” Jared meets my eyes across the table like he thinks I won’t pummel him right here in the diner.
“Jonah is eighteen and no longer has to live by his father's rules.” He’s been living with me for months, and most people are aware since he rides to and from school with me, but they don’t know exactly why. They won’t be told my father is the one who found us and called Paster Cohen, that my father beat me while I yelled at Jonah to run. They won’t be told that his father found out he was gay and literally beat him with a bible before kicking him out. No one knows that Taylor’s mom took us in, patched us up, and took care of us until my father wrapped his little red sports car around a tree outside the school.
“Your hair is so pretty.” Jonah leans too close to Sarah. “I want to touch it.”
I grab his arm and pull him against my side.
“Leave her alone.” My tone is harsher than he deserves, but I’m on edge, and the last thing he needs is for rumors to spread that he molested her.
He looks up at me with a dreamy look in his glassy eyes.
“Aww, are you jealous? You have perfect TV boyfriend hair.” Jonah reaches up and runs his fingers through my hair while I raise my eyebrow at him.
“You are so drunk.” I shake my head at him, and everyone laughs.
“It’s your fault.” His disgruntled tone is cute as fuck, but I can’t tell him that or show it. Jared is watching us, and it makes my skin crawl. I’m going to fuck him up if he doesn’t leave us alone.
The waitress brings plates of food and huffs when she notices us sitting here.
