“Come here,” Dane said. He waved his bound hands. Bas shook his head. “Come on. I can’t go to you for obvious reasons. Socome here.”
With a heavy sigh, Bas rolled out of the bed and carefully perched on the edge of Dane’s. His eyes glistened with unshed tears. And Dane knew only one thing had seemed to help him the past few days. He could offer that much up to Bas.
“Closer.”
“Any closer and I’ll be lying on you. These beds are tiny.”
“I’m strapped down, but you need someone to hold you. You don’t want to break down in front of Adam or Ru or even Tommy because you always have to be the fucking super queen.” Dane shook his head as Bas began to protest. “Hush. You know it’s true. You think if you show them how bad you have it,theirlives will somehow get worse. Whether it’s depression that begins to eat away at them or real live bullies, you’re terrified that if you let them see the real you and all the pain you suffer, you’ll hurt them and they’ll turn away from you. That’s never gonna happen.” Dane nodded his head toward his chest. “Now lay the fuck down and accept some human comfort.”
“You’re too messed up to be that smart,” Bas said as he carefully crawled into the bed beside Dane. He set his head on Dane’s chest, and Dane liked the weight of it there. He wished again that he hadn’t been stupid so maybe he wouldn’t have to be bound and could hug the man draped across him.
“You’re not really one to talk.”
Bas reached out and yanked free the strong Velcro on one of Dane’s wrists, then the other. “Still believe I’m a unicorn?”
“Yep. Even unicorns have bad days.” Dane wrapped his arms around Bas, pulling him close and snuggling up with him. “Do me a favor and stay away from your brother from now on.”
“Agreed,” Bas said, sucking in a shaky breath. “He admitted he wanted me dead. Said he was in the bathroom a year ago when Hank and Nate….”
“Shh.” Dane rested his chin on Bas’s head. “That’s all in the past. You’re here now. You have great friends and plans for a life that will make everyone look at you in awe.”
Dane shifted, giving Bas more room and letting the man bury his face in his shoulder. He patted Bas’s back as Bas began to sob in harsh, body-wracking cries. All Dane could do was hold him and whisper the sweet lie they all longed to hear.
“It’s gonna be okay.” It didn’t matter that neither of them believed it. For the moment, it was all about taking comfort in not being alone.
