“Matthew?” Alex turned to look, but Matthew was already sprinting to the car. He was going to listen. Alex wouldn’t have to worry about him going through the same horrors he’dsurvived.
Jason was starting to recover from whatever Gage had done to him. As he stumbled to his feet, Alex saw his chance. It was lowly, and he knew he might not be proud of it in the morning, but after everything Jason had put him through, it was the least he could do. With all his might, Alex kicked Jason in the nuts. Jason cried out and collapsed to the sidewalk, and Alex stepped over him so he could follow Gage and Matthew to thecar.
“What did you do to him?” Alex asked Gage as he settled in the passengerseat.
“I kicked him in the back of the knee. Hard.” Gage wrinkled his nose and merged into traffic as quickly as he could. “He was going to hurt you. I couldn’t lethim.”
“Thanks.”
“Where am I taking you?” Gageasked.
Alex glanced over his shoulder at Matthew, who was in the back seat. Silent tears ran down his cheeks. He’d made the right choice, but just like Alex had once upon a time, he didn’t feel good about it. He’d need Alex to coach him through what he was feeling and correct the wrongs that had been done tohim.
“I need to go back to Laurence’s place,” Alex said. “Matthew, this is my best friend, Gage. He’s friends with your dad, too. Gage, this isMatthew.”
“Matthew?” Gage looked at him through the rearview mirror. “You mean I’m going to meetGwynning?”
“If you stick around long enough,” Alex said. “Also,Gwynning?”
“Take it up with him.” Gage shrugged. “I’m TeenDad2, so I don’t really have a leg to stand on when it comes to screennames.”
Alex laughed. He plopped back in his seat and ran a hand through hishair.
After all this time, he’d found the closure he didn’t know he’d needed. Meeting Laurence had put him on the right path, but seeing Jason again had hammered home what he’d come to learn over the last few months—he wasn’t the boy he’d once been. He’d been mistreated, abused, and broken, but that didn’t mean that he could never be anything more than a broken plaything. He was worthwhile, both to others, and to himself. And as hard as it was to accept it, if he’d managed to save Matthew, the growing pains were worthit.
“So, um, you’re going to have to tell me where exactly Gwynning lives,” Gage said apologetically. “Think you cannavigate?”
“Yep.” Alex pulled himself back together. He had a job to do. “I’m onit.”
They left the studio and headed home, leaving Alex’s past behindthem.
33
Alex
Matthew unlockedthe front door of the Gwynn house and glanced over his shoulder at Alex. Tears glossed his cheeks and reddened his eyes, but otherwise, he held himself together. All hearts took time to heal. Alex remembered his first few days after having escaped Jason—lonely, empty days where all he could do was hide beneath the covers in his old bedroom at his parents’ house andcry.
He was in awe of Matthew’sbravery.
“You guys want to come in?” Matthew asked. His voice was rough, but it didn’twaver.
“If it’s okay.” Gage came to stand at Alex’s side. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Is your dadhome?”
“No.” Matthew pushed the door open and stepped inside. Alex followed, Gage on his heels. “He’s at work. He won’t be home until close tosix.”
When Gage was through the door, Alex closed it and locked it. He watched as Matthew kicked off his shoes. The air was stagnant with regret, and it coated Alex’s insides like grease on a kitchen hood. He knew what Matthew had been through, and now Matthew knew that he’d been through the same. What was he supposed to do about it? What was he supposed tosay?
“Does anyone want to tell me what’s going on?” Gage asked, breaking the awkward silence. “That was Jason,right?”
“Yes,” Alex said quickly, cutting Gage off before he could inadvertently ask any more damaging questions. “Just… I think that Matthew and I need to have a talk. Matthew, if you’re comfortable with it, Gage can sit in and offer an outside perspective. He was with me when I was with Jason, and he knows what I’ve been through… and how much ithurts.”
“I’m also very good at listening,” Gage said. “I won’t make a peep if you don’t want meto.”
“Yeah. Fine. Whatever.” Matthew shook his head. “I’m going to sit in the living room. If you want to come, no one’s stoppingyou.”
As Matthew left for the living room, Alex glanced at Gage. Had they been like that as teenagers? Sixteen didn’t seem like all that long ago, but Alex suddenly feltold.
Gage shrugged at him. He nodded toward the living room doorway, and together, they went to join Matthew for what Alex was sure would be an uncomfortablechat.
