“Why are you moving out? Because he told you to, or because you want to?” Bridger questioned, a lot calmer than their still seething friend Rex, who was busy pacing back and forth.
“A little bit of both?” He didn’t want to outward lie to them, but Aneski hadn’t been the one who’d suggested moving in right away either. He wasn’t a fan of jumping ship like this so spur of the moment. If he’d had a say, he would have asked for a week to tie everything up and leave the gang on good terms, but…
He also understood where Flix was coming from. It was his own damn fault for pushing the Brumal member and making him think he was a flight risk in the first place. If their roles were reversed, Ani didn’t think he’d be able to trust Flix living in a separate house either. He’d be too worried about him pulling avanishing act, or finding someone else, or coming to his senses and—
“When are you coming back to class?” Kage asked.
“I’m not sure.” He was gearing up for that topic. He figured once they were done here and he’d shown Flix he was willing, it’d be a better time to bring up school and how badly he wanted to return. “We haven’t come to an agreement yet.”
“He’s acting like he’s your dad,” Rexton growled.
“Hey, if Aneski wants to call his man daddy—”
“I’m about to call my man up here so he can shoot you in the dick.” Aneski sent Kage a warning look, chuckling when his friend made a motion of zipping his lips and then held up both hands in surrender. “Anyway, it’s already done. I’ve been named his Onus, which means I can’t live here anymore, and I can’t remain a part of the gang.”
“Why not?” Kage blinked when they all sent him pointed stares. “What? Oh, come on. We’re not an actual threat to the mafia. If we were, they would have taken us out a long time ago. Why does it actually matter if you’re a member? Hell, if anything, you’d think that would be a good thing. Give them a literal foot in the door so they can keep a better eye on us.”
Bridger sighed, and Rexton shook his head.
“You’re such an idiot,” Rex mumbled. “Sometimes I seriously wonder what Bridge sees in you.”
“I have a nice ass,” Kage answered, like it was no big deal and he wasn’t kind of insulting himself.
“We’re heading to Void Manor after this,” Ani said then, wanting to get them back on track. “So we’ll see how that goes, but I plan on telling Baikal Void that I quit. Meaning, one of you is going to have to step up and take over my position.”
“No way,” Rexton stated. “We’re not doing that. You don’t just get to abandon us and—”
Bridger pulled Rex back and gave Ani an apologetic look. “Don’t worry. We’ll talk some sense into him and figure something out to say to the rest of the gang. We understand.”
“We do not,” Rex insisted.
“This is your choice,” Kage added, then scrunched his nose at Rexton. “Stop acting like a little bitch. Aneski has wanted to be with Flix for as long as I’ve known him, and now he’s finally getting his wish. What kind of friend tries to block the fulfillment of a lifelong wish?”
“He can’t be trusted,” Rexton said. “He ditched you once, who’s to say he won’t do it again?”
“The circumstances are different now.” Ani kept packing, refusing to meet any of their gazes. On the one hand, a part of him did truly believe that, but on the other, it was hard to set aside old fears. Flix playing with him? That thought had been circulating in his mind for so long now that it was practically ingrained in his subconscious. But it was that fear that also allowed him to relate to why Flix was tightening the reigns so much.
“He’s just as afraid of me betraying him,” he explained. “We’re working on it.” Because, at the end of the day, no relationship would last without trust. They just had to get there again, find that place where they were both comfortable and believed in the other without hesitation or suspicion. “I don’t know how long it’ll take, but it’s enough that we’re both willing to try.”
“And making you have sex with him in front of a live audience,” Rex snapped, “that was meant to help rebuild trust? Gannon came home a mess.”
“Gannon deserved it,” Bridger pointed out.
“Yeah,” Kage agreed. “It was harsh, but someone needed to get it through to him once and for all that Aneski just isn’t into him. You know how many perfectly good relationships he’sturned down over the years just because he was holding out hope?” He clucked his tongue. “This will be a blessing in disguise for him.”
“Let’s set a meeting for the end of the week,” Aneski suggested. “I’ll come by, and we can name a new leader. That’ll give you guys time to figure out which one of you wants the job.” And him time to convince Flix to let him attend. On his own.
A week should be enough time for him to prove himself, prove that he had no intentions of running, and Flix could let him roam the city without any doubts.
“What about Russ?” Rexton asked.
“What about him?” Aneski tossed the bundle of letters into his bag. He would leave them behind, only Flix wanted to read them. He’d gone over every one of them himself when he’d received them from Gannon, each more cutting than the last.
“That’s it? You’re just going to forget all about him?”
“Let me ask you this honestly.” He straightened and turned to his oldest friend. “Name three times my brother ever did anything for me that proved he gave a shit.”
Rexton’s brow furrowed.
