Chapter Fifteen

Luis sat at the kitchen island, his shirt still off. He kept his arms in his lap. No doubt that was more for Kendrick's benefit.

Caden might not always have been the most serious person in the world, but he wasn't stupid. He knew Luis had problems. Hell, it wouldn't have surprised Brad if the reason Luis had come to him finally was because Caden had said something first.

Brad went right to Kendrick and kissed him on his cheek. "You smell like onions and garlic."

Kendrick chuckled.

"You're about the cutest thing in all of Pickleville, Kendrick." Luis smiled as if the conversation in the hallway had never happened.

It made Brad wonder how long Luis had been feeling ill if he could play the part of healthy so well.

Kendrick blushed and averted his gaze. "Thank you." He turned to Caden. "We'll need a big bowl and the ribs next."

"Yes, chef." Caden grabbed the biggest bowl they had, which was a big metal one they seemed to have obtained over the years. Brad didn't remember where they'd gotten it.

Kendrick put the onions and garlic in the bowl and then took the rack of ribs from Caden when he handed them over.

A knock sounded on the front door. Brad gave Luis a silent command not to leave the room.

Luis nodded. "I know."

Caden's expression confirmed what Brad already suspected.

Kendrick stared at all of them, wondering what was going on, but all Luis did was smile.

Brad left the room, knowing Caden had Luis's back if it came to anything. Since Luis had laid himself bare in front of Brad, it seemed as if his mood had improved. Maybe Luis had given Brad just enough of the burden to make him feel a bit lighter. Brad would take it all if it made Luis well again.

As soon as Brad opened the door to find Royce standing on the stoop with his hands in his pants pockets and a scowl, he knew they wouldn't make it through dinner. Again.

But maybe it was all for the best that shit went down sooner rather than later.

Brad stepped aside and let Royce enter.

"I'm here to talk to Luis, if he's home."

Brad sighed. Shit.

Brad figured he could handle the situation one of two ways. He could micro-manage the shit out of Luis and Royce's relationship, or he could let it play out.

There were pitfalls to both, because Luis needed him in ways that might include stepping in front of Royce if it became too much.

If he did that, he may just piss off Royce, which was secondary to Luis's mental stress anyway, so he didn't know how much he cared.

But if he let it play out without responding at all, Luis may interpret that to mean he was alone in his struggles and that was the last thing Brad wanted.

"He's in the kitchen." Maybe something in between was the right approach.

Royce walked on through to the kitchen and stopped as soon as he got in the room.

Brad wasn't sure why until he moved close enough to see Luis's scars.

Brad moved past Royce, stepping next to Luis, making sure he knew he had Brad's support.

Luis turned and upon seeing who it was, turned right back around. "I don't want to talk to you."

Kendrick moved around the kitchen island and closed the distance between himself and Royce, hugging him. "Hey. Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? And why are you here?"

Royce never took his eyes off Luis's back, which just pissed Luis off even more. Luis always got silent right before he exploded all over everything.

Kendrick followed Royce's gaze. "Oh my god. Luis."

Kendrick's reaction, while more vocal, matched Royce's. And then Kendrick's eyes filled with tears.

For one fraction of a second Brad's insecurities came rushing to the surface, and he thought maybe Kendrick would think he'd done that to Luis, but then Kendrick closed the distance between them and hugged him, wanting the comfort Brad provided.

Kendrick touched Luis's shoulder, getting his attention. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

Luis smiled. "Thanks, Kendrick." To Brad he said, "I'll go put on a shirt."

Before Brad could pull out of Kendrick's arms, Caden came around the island. "I'll go with."

Brad nodded.

Luis walked past Royce.

Royce grabbed Luis's wrist, stopping him. He didn't let go, even though it seemed as if Luis tried to pull out of his hold. Royce turned Luis's forearm until he and everyone in the room could see the scars and the newer open wound. "What is this?"

Caden stood a few feet behind Luis and met Brad's gaze, looking for guidance.

Brad shook his head and held up one finger, telling Caden to give them time.

Luis pulled again, and the second time Royce let go. "What's it to you? You didn't want me before you knew I was a scarred-up freak and you definitely don't want me now."

Royce's scowled again. "Who did that to you, Luis?"

"None of your business." Luis tried to walk past him, but Royce got in his way.

"It is my business, God damn it. You're my fucking business."

"Let me pass, Royce."

"Not until you tell me who did that to you."

"I did it to me. I did." Luis took a step back, holding out his arms for Royce to see. His voice grew in volume as if it was too big for the space. "Are you happy now? Guess you made the right fucking decision today, didn't you? Since I'm one cut away."

Royce shook his head. If Luis had kicked him in the balls, he would have had less of a reaction.

Brad let go of Kendrick in favor of taking control of the situation. Brad knew as soon as he touched Luis, he would crumble, and that was exactly what happened. Luis fell into him as if gravity had made his body heavy.

Brad met Caden's gaze. "Can you get him a shirt?"

Caden nodded and left the room.

Of the three of them, Luis was the most sensitive. He carried the world on his shoulders, even when someone told him he didn't have to.

Brad lifted Luis in his arms. "Do you want to go now or wait until after dinner?"

"Go where?" Royce asked.

Neither Luis nor Brad answered. Instead, Luis answered Brad's question. "After dinner."

"Do you want to stay here or lay down on the couch in the living room?"

"I won't cut. I promise."

"Bedroom's out of the question, Luis." Brad knew Luis kept his stuff somewhere in his dresser, although he didn't know his exact hiding spot.

"I don't want to be around." Luis sounded tired. He'd been fighting the monster for so long it had exhausted him.

Brad lifted Luis off his feet, carrying him into the living room. "You don't have to fight alone anymore."

"I wanna be a ghost." When Brad laid him on the couch, Luis pulled his knees up to his chest.

Caden came in with a shirt, laying it on the couch arm before sitting on the floor, as close to Luis as possible. Caden took Luis's hand and held it.

It was when he met Brad's gaze that he seemed to grasp the full ramification of what the breakdown meant.