Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
If I look at Sev for a moment longer, I’m afraid I might actually start to believe what he said, and nothing could be scarier than that.
He doesn’t mean it.
He’s just emotional.
Sev doesn’t fall for anyone, especially not a living burden like you.
“Stop,” I hear behind me, and I recognize Noah’s voice.
A moment later, something hard connects with the side of my face. At first I don’t even register that it’s someone punching me, because it feels more like a goddamn rock hitting the side of my jaw.
“Kieran, don’t,” Sevan says, rushing to my side as I break my fall with my forearm on the stone ground.
I squint up to see Sevan blocking Kieran from punching me again at the last moment. Noah seems to have run out after him, trying to protect me.
The pain that blooms out from my jaw almost feels like a mercy.
Finally, I feel something.
Real pain.
Not floating in dissociation.
“What’s going on out here? Are you in on it, Berlant? Getting your own sweet cut of the bribe?” Kieran is roaring at Sevan. “Guess you’re loyal to your fucking boy toy now, because the hatefuck was just that good.”
“Shut your mouth,” Sev says to him, keeping him in a headlock and pulling him toward a bench. “Were you working with Thorne, Kier?”
Kieran is jerking his arms around, trying and failing to find any way to struggle out of Sev’s grip. “I have no fucking clue what you’re talking about. Who is Thorne?”
Kieran seems unhinged. Like he’s on drugs, and probably took way too much.
Noah goes in and tries to help Sev restrain him, but an erratic swing hits Noah directly in the face.
It’s a bad hit.
Kieran’s wearing a couple of rings on that hand and one of them seemed to get Niko right on the cheek, and the blow hit him directly in the nose. More blood hits the stone below us and Noah sinks to the ground, crying out in pain.
“Fuck,” he groans.
Sev’s looking over, frowning as he still tries to restrain Kieran.
“His nose is broken,” Sev says. “And he’s passing out. Call an ambulance, Wes.”
20
Sev
“I’m fine. Glorious, honestly,” Noah says from the hospital bed.
“Perfectly fine, and that’s why your face looks like an ink blot right now?” Weston asks him, slightly teasing him but hovering over his bed like he’s a worried, loving parent. “You didn’t have to try to protect me, Noah.”
The low beeping sound of the heart monitor fills the air as Weston puts the back of his hand to Noah’s forehead for the third time in a row.
I don’t know what my heart feels every time I look at Wes.
A mix of guilt, deep empathy, and disbelief swirls through me like a potent fog.
There are so many questions that are still unanswered, and both of us had secrets. But right now, all I care about is making sure Wes knows I was never truly spying on him.
And that nothing between us has been fake, in any fucking way.
“I’m sorry, guys,” Noah says, shifting in the bed. “I had too much to drink. Obviously. I’m… I’m a fucking shitshow.”
“It’s okay, Noah.”
We’ve been in the room for at least an hour now. The nurse and doctor have confirmed that his nose is broken, but it’s not as bad as I thought based on what I saw out on the deck.
It will heal up with time, and he won’t need major surgery. The doctor said he passed out due to shock, with no signs of any substances in his system other than some alcohol.
Noah’s expression falls, and he looks down at his hands as he bites the inside of his cheek.
“I ended up screwing up the dinner for all of you. I was trying to help when I came outside, not ruin the whole night.”
Wes gives him a pointed look. “Kieran was the problem, not you. You were the least of our issues tonight, Noah. Promise. You do need to take care of yourself, though. In more ways than one.”
Noah’s eyes glisten like he’s about to cry but he won’t let himself, due to misplaced pride or something else.
“I need to do better,” he whispers.
“Grabbed water,” Niko says as he walks into the room with Oliver by his side. He’s carrying a little plastic tray with water cups for each of us, and he still looks a little bit shellshocked, but mostly okay.
“Thank you,” Wes says, grabbing one and draining the whole glass in just a few gulps.
A nurse comes by soon after, giving a polite smile to all of us surrounding Noah’s bed.
“I’d like to speak with Noah one-on-one for a bit if you guys don’t mind,” the nurse says.
“Come on. Let’s give them some space,” Weston says, herding the rest of us in standard Frat Dad fashion, leading everyone out into the waiting space outside the room.