AllFreeNovel
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When we finally turn into his long driveway and park, Anthony turns toward me.
“You’re welcome to go anywhere in the house, but please avoid the sheds outside.”
“Why?”
“I have…business in there that you would not want to see.”
I nod quickly, getting out of his car and following him up the stairs to the house. Angel is waiting outside, almost as if he was expecting me. His hair is pulled back into a small ponytail and his blue eyes light up when they land on mine.
“Hi again,” he says, pulling me into a hug. He smells like honey and sunshine. Just pure goodness. No wonder Anthony wants to protect him.
“My dad said you’re sad. I know just what you need.”
I don’t even try and fight it, just let him lead the way.
* * *
“You feel better?” Angel asks as we sit in an actual movie theater in the basement. I didn’t even know it was possible to have something like this in a house, but then again, I’m sure whatever Angel wants, he gets.
“I mean, I still feel like shit, but this has distracted me, yeah.”
For the past hour, I’ve sat with Angel, a romantic comedy playing on the screen in front of us. I watched some of it, in between bouts of intense sobbing.
My phone was blowing up, so I turned it off.
I just need some time. I can’t face them all yet, knowing I ruined their friendship. Knowing I broke my dad’s heart and his trust by lying to him.
A beep turns my gaze to Angel’s phone.
“Tatum’s calling.”
I let my head fall back against the plush seat and say, “Go ahead and answer. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”
Angel puts him on speaker, and I hear my best friend say, “Yo, you have him, right? Because those three guys are going crazy. I mean, not that I’m complaining. It’s like super-hot. They’re all grumbly and disheveled. And they’re wearing suits. Like how much can a gay boy handle?”
Angel laughs softly. “Yeah. He’s here.”
“Thank fuck. Yo, hotties. Ben’s with my friend. I’ll show you the way.”
“We don’t need you to—” I hear Cash say, but then the phone call ends.
I stare at Angel. “I guess I have to face it, don’t I?”
“Sadly, yeah.”
Angel sits up and reaches over and fiddles with my hair.
“You look like a hot mess though. Let’s fix you up before they get here. You need to go out with dignity. At least that’s what my dad tells me.”
I let him lead me upstairs, passing a few guards milling around. I avoid eye contact with all of them. I don’t want them to see me as a threat and accidentally shoot me.
But we make it safely up to the bathroom, and Angel proceeds to fuss over me until I look presentable. Or at least as presentable as I can be with my red-rimmed eyes and puffy nose. I am not a pretty crier.
Suddenly, Angel freezes and then smiles at me. I hear shouting and a crash downstairs, and I sit up straight, my heart thumping in my chest.
“Oh, it’s like a real-life movie. They’re here to get you, babe.”
I shake my head and run a trembling hand down my throat.
