And it makes me hate that he ever started sharing with me in the first place.
Tenth Grade
Sin
“I had sex with Meri,” Gael says as we’re walking into my house after school.
“Ok.” I don’t know what else to say; I haven’t met this girl yet.
“She’s coming over after she drops her books off,” he informs me, walking straight into my kitchen for a snack.
“Ok.” I still don’t know what to say as I open the fridge and grab last night’s leftovers. “Chicken and rice.”
“Get the cheese, too.”
I grab a bag of shredded cheddar and put the food on the island counter. Gael already has two paper plates, so I load them up with the leftovers and put mine in the microwave as he puts cheese on his.
“I brought condoms from the clinic. I want you to see her O-face.”
Oh. “Does Meri know what you’re planning?” I’m pretty sure that normal girls wouldn’t want to have sex with the best friend.
“Yes, I already told her. I told her that I want you to see her when she comes, and she said that it was fine because you’re hot.”
“I’m a virgin. How am I supposed to make a girl come?”
“I’m going to teach you how,” he says as I pull my plate out and pop his in.
“Alright,” I agree. If Meri is ok with it and Gael wants it, I’ll do it because I live to see Gael smile.
Just like he’s doing now.
Present Day
Phineas
I pause on the front step as Gael walks me out while Sin is in the shower. I’m torn because having Sin inside me felt exactly as right as having Gael inside me, but Gael is my fated mate and I don’t understand how it’s even possible to enjoy Sin as much as the person destined for me. I’m so confused and a little scared.
Gael, a step up from where I stopped, grabs my shirt in his lovely fist and smiles at me like I’m exactly the present he was hoping would be under his Christmas tree. “You enjoyed yourself,” he says, pressing an affectionate kiss to the apple of my cheek. “I loved watching you lose yourself like that. You’re beautiful in the throes of pleasure. Delicious.”
“It was intense and new for me,” I admit. I have so many questions, but none are willing to coalesce into a cogent thought. I wish I could tell him that he’s my fated mate, my destiny, my sacred place, but those words will never breach the prison bars on my lips.
Gael’s smile softens as he cups my cheeks and looks at me like he loves me. “I hope you can get along with Sin. He’s my favorite.”
“I—” I don’t want to lie to him because I’m too confused to be able to say one way or another whether I like him, but I can promise, “I’ll try.”
Gael kisses me again, this time with fervor and passion, with a promise and to seal the one I made. “You’re going to love him as much as I do.”
Chapter 4
Sin
Present Day
Sin
It tastes like wasabi spiked pink lemonade, and it’s as weird as it sounds, but Gael shoved the candy in my mouth before disappearing into the back bedroom I use as a closet to get dressed for work. He usually works mornings at the cafe, but he’s splitting his shift today for some reason.
When he emerges from the bedroom, he hands me a new tie I bought about a week ago for one of the fundraiser dinners my department puts on every spring, and I stand to tie it for him.
