Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Van knew this? Van was involved in getting Caleb caught?”
Jonathan’s eyes went wide. “No one meant for him to get sent away.”
“I like kissing you so much,” Caleb whispered against his skin. “I wish we didn’t have to go back to school.”
“Me either,” Shane admitted. “I can try to come over tonight, if my mom’s not bad.”
“Okay,” Caleb replied. “If not, I can come to you. I don’t want her to wake up and you’re not there. It’s more important for you not to get caught than me. I wish I could help you with her.”
Shane shook his head. He didn’t want to talk about his mom. “It’ll be fine.”
“Okay, you go first. I’ll sneak out afterward.”
Shane nodded and put his hoodie over his head. He began walking the long way around through the woods to get back to the school. If he cut straight through, there wasn’t enough cover. He’d come out right by woodshop where they’d see him.
The bell rang right as he made it back to campus. If Caleb didn’t hurry, he’d be late, but they’d done that plenty of times before and never gotten caught.
The rumors started by the end of the day. Caleb had been caught skipping.
Shane’s gut twisted and turned a million different directions. There was no way they’d know what he’d been doing out there. That he’d been kissing Shane. No way they’d know it was the two of them.
When he didn’t hear from Caleb, he waited until it was late to sneak over. He knocked softly on Caleb’s window, hoping he wouldn’t get caught.
Caleb slid the window open a small crack. “You gotta go,” he whispered soft and urgent.
“They’re that pissed about you skipping class?”
“They’re that pissed I was in the woods making out with another boy.”
Shane’s heart went a million miles an hour. “What the fuck, dude?” But then, why hadn’t he gotten called out of class? “Why didn’t I get in trouble too?”
“My parents just want to keep it quiet. They don’t want anyone to know.”
Because obviously, it was a tragedy for their son to like kissing other boys. So instead they’d let Shane off the hook and just Caleb would catch the raw end of the deal? “No. I’ll tell them it was me too.”
“They know it was you.” Caleb frowned. “I admitted it.”
Oh shit. They knew?
“It’ll blow over,” Caleb said. “I’ll get a hold of you when I can.”
Shane nodded, a rock in his gut that somehow told him it wouldn’t blow over. It wouldn’t be okay. “It doesn’t seem fair for you to be in trouble and not me.” Just to keep it quiet they were going to pretend Shane wasn’t involved? Was it really that fucking bad?
“Nah, it’s fine. It’ll be okay, Shane. You’re my best friend, ya know?”
Yeah…yeah he did. “You’re my best friend too. That’s why this doesn’t feel right.” Caleb was the only friend he had. The only person in the world who knew he was gay. The only person who knew him.
Shane’s eyes went wide and Caleb turned toward the door when there was a noise from the hallway. “Go,” he said and Shane ran. He ran and ran and ran until he got home.
That was the last time he saw Caleb. His family moved away a few days later.
And Van had caused it.
What other shit from the past was going to crop up during their relationship? He couldn’t handle the reminders of his past life and all the insecurities he’d lived with, all the reminders of what he didn’t have then, what he didn’t have now, and what he’d never have in the future. It was all too much.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Van smiled when Shane’s number flashed across the screen of his cell phone. “An extra call today. You must really miss me, huh? It’s okay because I miss you too.” He frowned when Shane didn’t answer right away, his stomach automatically tying in knots. “Is everything okay? Did something happen with your mom?”
“No,” Shane replied, his voice rough like sandpaper. “I talked to Jonathan today.”
The weight in his gut intensified, got heavier. Fear gnawed at his bones. “Is it my mom? Is everything okay.”
“Shit,” Shane cursed. “She’s fine. I didn’t think about that. I promise she’s okay.”
But there was obviously something wrong with Shane. Something had happened with Jonathan so his muscles didn’t relax and his pulse raced a little too hard. “You’re going to have to help me out here, Shane. I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
“Caleb,” Shane said. “You outed him for no reason. Do you know how messed up that is? And why? Because I was your punching bag when things were bad with your dad? Because he was friends with me? You dealt with a lot of shitty stuff in your life, I get that. I fucking do, and I’m sorry for it, but that doesn’t make it okay to purposefully out someone. Do you know what that can do to someone?”