Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 555(@200wpm)___ 444(@250wpm)___ 370(@300wpm)
“Aunt Cheri, Uncle Mel, this is James.”
I noticed he didn’t qualify it. Didn’t call me his teacher or friend, or try to justify why I’d be there.
I shook their hands.
“Hi, James,” Cheri said. “It’s wonderful meeting you.”
“If I’d known you guys were coming, I would have offered to bring something back.”
“We’re fine,” Mel said. “We had a bit of a drive, but ate before we came in.”
I handed Kyle the bag with General Tso and garlic chicken with crab rangoon—his favorites. I had to admit, I was disappointed that his aunt and uncle had arrived before I had a chance to be alone with him, but I was glad to see that at least other members of his family had shown up to support him.
“I’m gonna go to the restroom real quick, but I’ll be right back,” I let him know before slipping out.
I stopped by the nearby facilities to use the urinal, and after washing my hands, turned toward the door, when it swung open. I saw those bright blue eyes coming at me quickly and felt his arms hook around me before he spun me around and shoved me back against the door.
It was disorienting, and he kissed my chin instead of my lips, as though on accident from the frenzy he was in to take what was his. And when our lips met…Jesus, it was like everything I had been wanting, selfishly and for him, was finally there and real.
We tugged at each other’s bodies. We hadn’t wrestled like that since those early days of exploration, when it was like we were trying to fuck so the experience wouldn’t escape our grasps. When we felt so hungry and needy and desperate.
And he needed me.
“I’m here,” I whispered to him. “I’m here.”
I felt his tears against my face as I continued whispering the words between kisses, wanting him to know he wasn’t on his own right now.
I would never let him be on his own again.
42
Kyle
I couldn’t stand to be away from him any longer.
It had been hard enough when Taryn and Ben had been in the room, when I could tell they were noticing him sticking around.
They knew.
Fuck, there was no way I could have hid it then, but I didn’t give a shit, and I knew fucking well enough they didn’t either.
Befitting of my friends, they didn’t ask questions, giving me the space I needed.
We were so fucking close…too close to fuck it up now.
But when he’d headed to the restroom, it was too much for me not to take advantage of an opportunity I could seize. Tasting his lips made me want to rip off his clothes so that he’d help take away this searing pain within me, the fear that I might lose the man who’d been there for me in the darkest of times, who’d saved me and given me a reason to believe that life could be better.
With each frenzied, reckless kiss, James helped me forget.
A push from James, followed by the sound of the swinging door, made me jump back and whirl around to the sink behind me, as though while I’d been allowing myself to follow my desire, my subconscious had been prepping me for a possible escape.
As I rinsed off my hands, another guy entered the restroom and headed into a stall.
James and I turned to each other, sharing a smile before he led the way out.
I was right behind him, and some selfish impulse made me take his hand and tug him back, pushing him against the adjoining wall and kissing him once more, quickly, knowing I had to be cautious, before pulling back and looking into those affectionate brown eyes that had given me so much relief night after night since December.
But even knowing he would be there for me through this didn’t take away the pain. Just gave me enough comfort to keep powering through.
I stayed with James in the waiting area until Cheri and Mel returned to swap out with us, since the nurse had pressed for us to limit the number of visitors.
I wanted to race back and see Tex, but nearly as soon as they’d settled in their chairs, Ms. Eiken walked in, carrying a brown bag in her arms, a warm smile on her face.
“Hey, I thought I’d swing by. I hope that’s all right.”
“Of course,” I said, surprised she’d bothered.
“I brought a Bundt cake I picked up at Kroger. My mom always said you can never have too many Bundt cakes, though the amount I take home after parties tends to suggest otherwise.”
“I think we can definitely make use of that,” Mel said.
“You must be Kyle’s parents.”
“I’m his aunt,” Cheri said. “Tex’s sister. This is Mel, my husband.”
“Oh, sorry. I just assumed.”
She glanced at me, like she was awaiting some explanation, but I didn’t offer one. And I was glad that Cheri and Mel didn’t either.