31
Tobias
Am I dreaming?
Everything’s blurry. My eyes. My head. My vision. It almost looks like Elijah’s standing there at the door. Red-faced and furious, with his hands fisted at his sides.
I must be imagining things. What would he be doing here?
Everything’s too loud. The pressure in my head is building. I slam my hands against my ears as I slide down the wall.
“Get the hell off of him!”A voice yells out.
Holy shit, that’sElijah’svoice. Heishere.
Oh, dammit. And he’s really mad.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Elijah this angry before.
But this time, his anger isn’t pointed at me. I watch as he grabs Gabe’s shoulders, pulling him and tugging him away off of me.
Did he just kiss me or did I imagine that too?
Shit. I think itwasreal.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get more fucked.
I wipe my mouth off with the back of my hand.
“You fucking bastard,” he grits out, his hands curled around Gabe’s sweater as he drags him to the door.
“I was just trying to calm him down. Look at this place! He was freaking out. I didn’t know what else todo—”
“You don’t fuckingkisshim. You keep your disgusting lips to yourself.” Elijah spits, throwing him out.
“I promise. I was just trying to help.” Gabe stutters. “He needed you, and you weren’t here.” He calls out, waving his hand out in my direction.
I feel a rush of guilt hit me in my chest as I pull my legs up to my chest.
Hewasn’there. I wasalone.Always alone.
I drop my head between my knees, arms crossed over the top to shield myself.
“Listen to me, and I want you to hear me very carefully.” Elijah says in a slow voice so deep that it gives me chills. “You’re abadperson and you did abad thing.I don’t trust you and I don’t want you around Tobias. If it doesn’t have anything to do with work, don’tfuckingtalk to him.”
I look up with blurry eyes to see Gabe’s eyes flick over Elijah’s shoulder at me. My eyebrows pinch as I hold myself in my arms, feeling sick all of a sudden.
This is all too much.
“But…he’s my friend.” Gabe says softly.
“Find new friends.” With that, Elijah slams the door in his face.
I jump, startled at his aggression.
“Eli—” My shaky voice croaks, pushing my heels into the ground.
Elijah softens, shoulders slumping as he rests his head against the door, trying to relax.
