I nod my understanding. “Thanks. I’m sure. It’s just…”
“Not what you were thinking?” he finishes for me, and I nod.
“Yeah.”
“It never is, buddy. It never is.”
You’re freaking telling me.
Chapter Thirteen
Right Fuckin’ Here
Cedrick
My blood is boilin’ in my veins.
I want to claw the very skin from my bones. Peel it back layer by layer until my meat is exposed to the damp, humid air of the night I’m shrouded in. And then, I want to sew it all back together with Madison trapped right inside so he’s stuck against me—with me. With nowhere else to go.
He’s talking to that fuckin’boy. In his bed.
They’re eatin’ together, and I can fuckin’ see them. Laughing and talkin’ without a care in the world.
I hate it.
I hate all of it.
He won’t text me back, but he’s sitting there with this… whoever he is. In hisbedroom.
My fingers curl around the branch of the tree I’ve hoisted myself up in.
It’s the biggest stroke of luck that my little treat’s bedroomhas a front row view to a tree not more than ten feet away—and hidden in the shadows at that.
I mean, if he looked hard enough, he’d see me, but I dressed in dark clothing for a reason. Not like that’s outside the normal for me, but still.
I don’t want him to see me just yet.
As the two of them finish up their meal, I pull out my phone and tap on my conversation with Madison. He hasn’t texted me back since I told him I miss him, and I gotta admit, it stings a bit, but I expected it.
He’s scared…
I scared him.
That brings a wicked smile to my face.
Fuck. I love him all small and scared.
But he’s just gonna have to get used to it. That’s all there is to it.
As him and the other boy leave the room, paper plates in hand, I lean back against the bark, relishing in the scrape against the back of my neck as I ponder what to do next.
Work tonight was exhilarating ‘cause I’m still ridin’ the high that is Madison Thomas Payne.
Such a pretty name for such a pretty boy.
It was kind of pathetic how easy it was to find him. But I have no regrets. Especially not now that I’m here, watching him. Only a pane of glass separating us.
But even I know it’s not enough. Before long, I’ll be running on fumes. I know I’ll need to get my hands on him again… but how? He won’t come back to Mayhem; that much is clear. And he won’t even return my texts at this point.
