Chapter 25

Kai

Once I had West tucked in- which had been entirely too hard- I ran a hand through my hair. I knew that I might have to pick him up at a certain point in the night, but I was pissed off that he'd gotten so drunk. He knew better.

Shit, I should've known better than to let him go alone. He shouldn't be entirely my responsibility, but who else was going to take care of him?

"Will you sleep with me?" he mumbled.

I sighed. "I can't, West."

"Why not?"

With every fiber of my being, I wanted to tell him about me and Sen. I wanted to share my happiness with my best friend. I knew that he would be happy for me and understand why I was setting new boundaries, but it wasn't my place to out Sen.

"Let's talk about it tomorrow," I suggested.

"You don't love me anymore?"

"Of course I do. Get some sleep, okay?"

It didn't take long for him to start snoring. I really hoped he wouldn't throw up in my bed.

After one last look to make sure he was asleep, I changed into a pair of basketball shorts and left the room. I was about to knock on Sen's door when I heard what sounded like crying. My heart started to beat faster. Ever since that guy recognized him in the parking lot, he'd been acting strange. Whoever he was, I didn't like him and he needed to stay away. I just wished I knew what was going on.

I thought about letting him work through it on his own. He'd left, seemingly to do just that, but I couldn't do it. The door was unlocked, so I stepped inside and looked at the bed. He was covered completely by the blankets, not an inch of him visible. There was an ache in my chest as I approached.

Crouching beside the bed, I put a hand on what I could only guess was his shoulder. It startled him and he stopped crying, although I could still hear him sniffling.

"Baby," I said softly.

"Please go."

"Not a chance."

I grabbed the top of the blanket and pulled it down. He was lying on his stomach with his face buried in the pillow. I just ran my fingers through his slightly sweaty hair while I waited for him to talk, or at least look at me.

When he finally turned toward me, I moved my hand to his cheek. "Hey. I want you to know that you look adorable."

He rolled his eyes. "Don't lie to me."

I smiled and his expression softened. "Scoot."

He moved over enough for me to lie beside him. I wrapped my arm around him so that he could rest his head on my chest. His breaths were still stuttering from how hard he'd been crying and he gripped my side firmly, keeping me in place as if I would want to be anywhere but here.

"We have to talk about this at some point," I noted.

"I know."

"Will you tell me who that guy was?"

"He's… a therapist."

"Oh. One that you go to?"

"I did."

As I stroked his back, I tried to read between the lines. Did this have to do with his sexuality or was it a completely separate issue? Had the guy hurt him? The thought made me tighten my grip.

"I want to tell West about us," I said.

He tensed. "Why?"

"Because if he finds out another way, he'll be hurt. Brooks knows, which will make him even more upset if I keep hiding it. He won't say anything."

"I know he won't, it's just… The more people who know, the harder it is to hide."

"Yeah, but I think it's important to be transparent with your friends, at the very least. It helps to have a small circle that you can trust and their support will help you get more comfortable when you do come out."

He only nodded before he tucked his face into my neck.

It was silent for a long time, only his breaths filling the small space. I clung to each of them and paid attention to how they sounded. Eventually, they evened out and the tension eased from his body. I wrapped my other arm around him, clutching him to me with every intention of protecting him from all of the things he couldn't tell me about.

What happened to you, Seneca?

*****

"Hey, dumbass," I shouted extra loudly when I entered my bedroom. West didn't notice when I threw a water bottle at him, so it hit him in the shoulder. He shot me a glare that could make a dragon cower in fear.

I sat on the bed and dropped a paper bag beside him. He immediately grabbed it and pulled out the sausage and egg croissant. If I ate that when I was hungover, I'd throw up, but West was a different breed. Pretty sure food could solve all of his problems.

After his first bite, he groaned and leaned back against the headboard. "You're an angel, Kai."

"So I've been told. The face helps."

"Really? I think you're kinda ugly."

"I had to carry your fat ass out of a frat house last night. You should be on your knees thanking me." He raised a brow and I rolled my eyes. "Not like that, you pervert."

Chuckling, he grabbed the hash browns from the bag. "You're too good to me."

"I really am." I shifted so that I was facing him. "West, there's something I have to talk to you about."

He paused momentarily, then continued eating. "I know I've been a little off lately."

"It's not that, but we will be talking about your bullshit behavior later. This is about me. I've been seeing someone for a few weeks."

His eyebrows shot up before he broke into a grin. Even in his hungover state, it hurt like a bitch when he punched me in the arm.

"That's why you've been weird," he laughed. "Why'd you keep it to yourself for so long?"

"Because he doesn't want anyone to know yet."

"Is he ashamed of you?"

"No, asshole. People don't know that he's gay and I don't think his family is safe for him. He hasn't told me everything, but there's trauma there."

"That's shitty. So, you've adopted a little baby gay to raise."

My nose wrinkled. "Why are you like this?"

"Ask god. When do I get to meet Mr. Right?"

"It's Sen."

His jaw fell halfway to the floor. "Sen? As in, our Sen. The golden-haired, sharp-jawed ex quarterback who is literally the boy-next-door to you."

"Yeah, that would be him."

I couldn't contain my smile and I could tell that West was studying me. "Did you turn him gay?"

"I told you-"

"I know. I'm kidding. So, are you in love with him?"

With a groan, I stole one of his hashbrowns. "I will be. That's all I know right now."

"Damn. I never would have guessed, but now that I know, it makes sense. You'll be adorable together."

"You can't say anything. I mean that."

"I'm great at keeping secrets."

I grunted to show my disagreement. We could trust him, though. Even if he had pretty shitty impulse control, he cared too much to slip up.

"Now, do you want to talk about your rabid dog act last night?"

"Not until my head isn't trying to tear itself apart."

"Fine. I'll be next door."

He made a disgusted sound. "I'd better not hear anything through the walls."

I held up my middle finger until the door closed behind me. When I entered Sen's room, it was empty. If he'd run away, I'd be very annoyed.

After I sat on the bed, something vibrated beside my leg. Sitting up, I grabbed the phone and looked at the screen. When I realized it was Sen's, I moved to set it on the nightstand, but my eye caught on the text from his dad.

Dad: Tell me about your appointment. You're supposed to keep me updated.

Appointment? Was he supposed to be somewhere right now? My automatic concern was that something was wrong. He didn't seem sick and he hadn't said anything. I remembered what he said about the therapist and my worries became mixed with anger. His dad was making him go. But why?

I set the phone on the nightstand and tried to put it out of my head. Sen returned a moment later, looking less at peace than when I left him in bed.

"You got a text," I informed him, nodding toward the phone.

His jaw clenched as he picked it up. After typing out a quick response, he set it face down and knelt on the bed to hover over me.

"Is West alive?" he asked before he kissed me.

"Screw West."

Planting my foot on the bed, I flipped us over. He landed on his back and stared up at me with dilated eyes. I pushed his shirt up and licked a path from his belly button to his chest. His hips moved and I became acutely aware of his dick against my inner thigh. I palmed it through his shorts, drawing a sexy groan from his throat. My lips pressed against his trachea as I ran my hand over his length so that I could feel him make that sound.

"You're so perfect," I murmured. "So goddamn perfect."

Just as he slipped his fingers inside my waistband, his phone started ringing. He shot into a sitting position, nearly headbutting me. There was panic in his eyes, a kind that felt familiar. I'd seen similar expressions from West and Willow. When I glanced at his phone, I confirmed that it was his dad calling.

"Ignore it," he said, slamming his mouth against mine again.

Only when the phone went silent did I start to relax, but then it went off again.

"God damnit!" He gripped his hair at the roots while shaking his head.

"You can answer it."

"No, he'll know. He's gonna know if I lie to him."

"Just don't mention anything about what you're doing."

"It's not that."

With a growl, he grabbed the phone. He tried to stand, but I wrapped an arm around his waist to keep him with me.

"Don't go through this alone," I murmured in his ear. "Please. Let me be here for you."

His eyes closed as he nodded. I pinched his chin and turned his face to me.

"Hey. No fear, baby."

He tapped the screen, then brought the phone to his ear. "Hey, Dad."

There was a raised, angry voice on the other end. I couldn't make out specific words, but the despondency on Sen's face told me enough.

Scratch that. It wasn't enough.

"Speaker," I whispered. His eyes widened and he shook his head. "I can't protect you if I don't know what's going on."

He obliged and dropped the phone on the bed.

"We trusted you, Sen. How could you do this to us? To your mother. She's a mess because of you."

I had to take a deep breath to keep from yelling at this asshole myself. No wonder Sen was so terrified.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sen said in a shaky voice. "I've been going to my appointments."

"That's not what Mr. Hamilton said."

Sen's face paled. "H-he talked to you?"

"He called me this morning. Do you have any idea what you're doing over there? Holding hands with a…" His dad let out a frustrated sound. "You haven't been to your appointments in three weeks. Three weeks! You're lying to us, slipping in your therapy. You're with a man for fuck's sake!"

I moved to sit behind Sen and wrapped my arms around him. He leaned back, trembling all over.

"Well?" his dad went on. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I-I don't know, Dad."

"You're coming home. It's non-negotiable."

"No!"

"And you're going back into Dumont. They have an all year program. I'll keep you in there until you realize how fucked up you are."

Shaking my head, I grabbed the phone. Sen tried to protest, but I ignored him.

"Hey, sir. My name's Kai. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but from what I've heard so far, it's really not."

There was a long pause before he responded. "Are you the one who's been confusing our son?"

"I think you mean the one who's helping him heal from you."

"Excuse me?"

"I know people like you, Mr. Taylor. Plenty of them. And where I'm from, what's coming out of your mouth is considered abuse. He may be afraid of you, but you don't frighten me one bit. If you have anything to say to Sen, maybe you should come out here to talk to him so that I can meet you in person."

As he started to say something else, I ended the call. My hands shook with my anger. Sen collapsed against me and I held him tightly.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I shouldn't have done that."

"It doesn't matter. He's gonna pull me out of school either way."

"No, he's not. You're an adult."

"If he doesn't pay, I don't have a choice. I screwed everything up."

He jerked away from me and got to his feet. I watched him warily as he paced. He grabbed the lamp off of his desk and threw it against the wall, making me flinch.

"Sen, talk to me."

"There's nothing to talk about. We can't do this anymore."

I stood and marched over to him, grabbing his jaw. "I don't accept that."

"You have to. I don't have a choice."

"No. I told you that you're mine. That's not something you can take away just because your dad is a dick."

"You don't understand."

"Not personally, but I've met people like him and like you. I've seen them living their lives free of that abuse and it's not easy, but I'm not letting you go back to them so that they can try to stop you from being yourself."

Pressing his hands against his eyes, he inhaled shakily. "I don't want to go back."

"I know. You don't have to go home."

"Not home. D-Dumont."

"What's Dumont?"

"I can't go there. I can't, I can't, I can't."

A fresh round of sobs began, making him stumble into me. I pried his hands away from his eyes and leaned my forehead against his. I knew this was the major piece that would help me to understand Sen. It was what I needed from him. He was terrified of it and, frankly, so was I.

"What's Dumont, Sen?"

He met my eyes. There was a darkness there I'd only caught glimpses of over the past two months. So much pain and suffering; loss and heartache.

"It's a conversion program," he said. "I went there for three summers so that they could fix me."

Words escaped me. All I could do was pull him against my chest while I prepared myself for the full horror of what he must have gone through.