Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 48808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
"Fuck," my brother growls as I stomp across the hallway to the bathroom.
I'm shaking when the door slams behind me. Part of me wants to cry. Another part wants to rush back in there and raise hell. But I promised Trystan that I'd let him worry about Wyatt, and I'm going to keep that promise now. I can't make my brother accept us. I can't go back and undo the morning, so he doesn't walk in and see me with his best friend's dick down my throat. But I won't let him turn us into something that needs defending and justifying, either.
That isn't fair to either of us.
We're adults, making the best choice we can in a situation that has always felt impossible and overwhelming. I've spent a lifetime trying to convince myself that I'd be okay without Trystan. I think he's spent just as long doing the same. But it isn't okay. We spent so much time fighting what we felt for the sake of everyone else we love. We hurt each other. We hurt ourselves. I'm not doing that anymore.
For once, I want us to come first. Wyatt doesn't have to understand that. He doesn't even have to agree. But I won't allow him to interfere. At the end of the day, it's simple. What we decide has nothing to do with Wyatt or our families. It never has; we just convinced ourselves it did because that was easier than facing why we really fought each other so hard.
I quickly throw on my clothes and brush my teeth before battling my hair back into a ponytail. My eyes are a little wild and watery. But I don't cry. And I feel a little calmer when I step out into the hall.
I hear Trystan and Wyatt murmuring back and forth in the bedroom, but Thanos is stationed by the bathroom door like he wants nothing to do with that shitshow.
"Come on, big guy," I say with a sigh, leading him to the kitchen. We stop long enough for me to slip my feet into shoes and to clip his leash onto his collar, and then escape outside.
By the time we get through the front gate, Tom is already waiting for us, his fluffy little nose poking through the bars as he dances from paw to paw. I stop to pet him, just like always. Thanos tries to keep his distance, also like always.
It's a glaringly mundane moment in a day that feels anything but ordinary.
After a few minutes, I rise to my feet, ready to make the trek to the park. But I don't even manage to move before Tom focuses on something behind me. I don't have to turn around to know Wyatt is standing there. I feel him like a brick wall blocking the sun.
"I'm an asshole," he says, his voice softer than it was inside.
"Is this supposed to be breaking news?"
"Clo, don't be like that. I'm trying to apologize. I walked in on you with his… Jesus Christ," he grunts like he can't even say it. "How did you expect me to react?"
That has me spinning to face him.
"Are you kidding me?" I glare at him. "It's not like we were fucking in your kitchen, Wyatt. We were in bed! And it's not like we knew you were going to barge in without knocking. You aren't even supposed to be home for another two days!"
"Shit got handled before we touched down," he mutters vaguely. "We never even left the base over there."
"Oh." Guilt pricks at me. He was just overseas, probably preparing to do something that will give me nightmares for life if I think about it too hard. "Um, I guess that's good?"
"Yeah." He jerks his chin in a nod, his gaze flicking to Tom. "Hey, Tom."
Tom yips at him and then runs in a circle before scurrying up the front steps and through his doggie door. Two seconds later, he appears in the window, watching us from his post.
"Is he giving Thanos a hard time again?" my brother asks.
"No, just Trystan."
Of course, that makes him smile.
I roll my eyes at him. "You don't have to look so smug about it."
"Forgive me for being scarred by what the fuck I walked in on. It serves him right if Tom kicks his ass. At least one of us should get that pleasure."
I swallow hard, nudging a tuft of dying grass with my foot. "Do you hate him?"
"Christ," Wyatt growls, stomping toward me to pull me into his arms. "You really think I could hate him for loving you?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
My brother sighs, shaking his head. "I was pissed that I walked in on that shit. I'm pissed that he's taken so fucking long to finally admit how he feels about you. I'm pissed that you're sleeping together and haven't told a goddamn soul. And maybe I'm a little pissed at myself for not seeing it coming. But I don't hate him, Clo."