Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Jayden nodded hesitantly and chewed on his bottom lip. “Okay.”
“Okay.” Gray leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to the side of Jayden’s head.
It made the boy quirk a strange grin, and his cheeks turned pink.
Their little problem about the sleeping arrangements was sorted when Gray suggested they push the beds together and wrap up their stay in Texas with a slumber party. Jayden had never had one before—actually, neither had Darius—so Gray took charge. He remade the beds, making it more comfortable for Jayden in the middle, and told Darius to pick a kid-friendly movie. The final touch included chips, candy, and soda.
Jayden showered while Gray prepared everything, and he stepped out of the bathroom dressed in his Iron Man pajamas. With excitement lighting up his eyes, he jumped up on the bed and did a somersault where he landed on his butt right in the middle of the two beds.
Gray laughed.
Darius was the next to shower and get ready for bed, and Gray did his best not to think about it. Not Darius’s out-of-this-world sexy body, not the sex they’d had in the past, and not the nightmares that followed once Gray was asleep.
His goal since they’d started their road trip together was to always fall asleep last.
He wasn’t sure it was a very successful strategy, partly because Jayden had already woken up once because Gray had talked in his sleep, and partly because Darius never missed anything. But it was all Gray could do when they slept in such close proximity.
When Darius reemerged wearing only a pair of sweats and the towel he had thrown around his shoulders, Gray averted his gaze, grabbed his toiletry bag, and located his own sweatpants that he slept in. Then he fled to the bathroom that was completely fogged up.
He shook his head to clear it and rummaged through his little kit to find his meds.
It’d been a good day. He was even starting to be glad that Darius had tracked him down and joined them. But fuck if it wasn’t rough at times too. He’d just have to take it one day at a time.
Seven
Help me, Gray! P-please do something!
Gray watched with bile rising in his throat as Milo crawled toward him on the floor, blood gushing out from the gunshot wound in his head. His green, bloodshot eyes pleaded desperately for mercy.
Save me. I don’t want to die.
“I’m sorry.” Gray gritted his teeth and felt tears burning their way down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Milo.”
He woke up with a pained gasp and sat up in the bed. He blinked rapidly and wiped at his cheeks, and then he groaned and carefully rubbed his jaw. Fuck, that hurt. How long had he been grinding his teeth? The entire area was sore. Pain radiated from his face when he tried to bite down.
“Ah fuck.” He gently massaged his jaw and glanced around him. The hotel room was empty, and sunrays were trying to push through the blinds. Thank God the night was over.
The second he rose from the bed, blinding pain drilled its way through his skull.
He stumbled toward the bathroom and rubbed his temples, hoping idly that Darius had taken Jayden to breakfast or something. Gray needed alone time until the agony faded.
He sat on the toilet for a long time and focused on calm breaths while waiting for his painkillers to set in.
The nightmares kept getting worse.
If it wasn’t Milo begging to be saved, it was Jonas or Jackie. Sometimes one of the other guys they’d lost too, but mostly those three. Every fucking night.
After washing up and brushing his teeth—very goddamn carefully—he gave the mirror a quick glance and immediately wished he hadn’t. He looked like he’d aged ten years overnight. He hadn’t shaved yesterday either. Two days’ worth of stubble, the shadows under his eyes, and a bed head resulted in one unkempt-looking motherfucker.
Back in the room, he pulled on a pair of jeans, a black tee, and his shades. They were similar to the ones Darius wore and would hopefully hide his fresh roadkill appearance.
Right before he opened the door, he hesitated. Maybe he should grab a hoodie. But once he twisted the doorknob and felt the sun’s warmth, he walked out and made sure he had his phone, wallet, and room key.
He didn’t have to search for Darius and Jayden. He heard them in the parking lot.
Gray descended the stairs and tried fruitlessly to muster any expression that didn’t tell people to fuck off.
Darius and Jayden were by the Wrangler. Darius was squatting, one knee on the pavement, and he had his palms open, which Jayden was using as boxing pads to practice punching on.
“That’s good,” Darius said. “Quick jabs. One-two-three, one-two-three.”
Jayden grunted and pulled back, then hit Darius’s palm with a closed fist.
Gray’s untied All Stars scraped against the ground, alerting the others to his approach, and Darius gently caught Jayden’s fists and grinned at the boy.