“It’s lucky he was buried where his mom lives and not where he lived. That’d be another four hours south,” Jesse says. “I still can’t believe we’re doing this. Like… I know I mentioned I thought about doing it, but it’sveryillegal… so why are you guys in on this?”
“Because saving the lives of others is more important than doing things by the book,” Gabriel replies, standing his ground and saying it in a way that makes it sound quite reasonable. He’s just so adorable that I wonder if he could get out of a murder with a few words and a smile.
I’d sure let him go free.
Jesse sighs. “I just… if anything happens, please, whatever you do, donotsay that you were involved. I will take the blame for all of this.”
“Yeah…” Gabriel responds unconvincingly.
Jesse leans forward and says with conviction, “This is on me.”
“It’s not fair that it is,” Gabriel says.
“I will, without hesitation, let them know that Gabriel and I had nothing to do with your illegal deeds,” I assure him.
Jesse’s face sours when I glance at it in the rearview mirror. “Thanks… I guess. I mean, you could at least pretend like you wouldn’t throw me under the bus with a smile on your face.”
“Nah. I’ll be smiling.”
After about an hour, Gabriel decides we should grab something for dinner, so I pull off and park so they can go in to use the bathroom. I tell Gabriel that I need to deal with something and send him in to order us some food. Then I skirt around the other side of the building and hurry over to the car that’s been following us since we left home. There’s this little devil on my shoulder telling me to simply slit a tire or two and wave as we drive away. Instead, I slam my hands against the driver’s side window.
I think the little devil on my shoulder had me do that as well.
Matthew screams and jumps, and oh, the joy I receive out of it will delight me for the next hourat least. Leaving him to calm his heart alone, I head toward the restaurant as Matthew quickly gets out and runs after me.
“How the fuck did you know I was following you? I was being discreet,” he complains, grabbing my wrist to pull me around to face him.
“I noticed before we even left our driveway,” I say as I shake him off.
He gapes at me. “Then why the fuck didn’t you tell mean hourago so I didn’t have to spend an hour of my life trying to tail you and stressing about how far or close I was!”
“You answered your very own question. I liked seeing you sweat. Matthew, what are you doing? You know what, I’m not sure I care what you’re doing. I just want to replay the look on your face when I scared you again and again.”
He sighs and then does the most grotesque thing I could ever fathom him doing: he sets his head on my shoulder. Why do these people think I want to be touched by them? “I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m losing my mind, Liam. I really think I am.”
“I would like to judge you.”
“You bought a house for Gabriel for your one-month anniversary! You’re already trying to ask him to marry you! Anyone can judge mebutyou. I just… I also don’t like not being included. It makes me feel really shitty. Did I do something wrong?”
“I don’t know, did you?”
Matthew sighs again and nods. “Probably. I’m sorry,” he says when he draws back, looking like a dejected puppy. “I’ll head home.”
“Okay,” I reply as I head for the door, pleased I resolved that issue.
But as my hand hovers over the door, my eyes lock onto Gabriel, who is waiting in line and talking to Jesse. Gabriel would frown deeply and run after Matthew where he’d comfort him and tell him he didn’t do anything wrong. He’d probably even give him a hug and tell him all of the reasons why he’s a decent human being. My Gabriel is much too sweet for this fucked-up world.
I scowl and turn back to look at the dejected man who’s throwing his body into the car like even his limbs have given up working.
With every fiber of my being fighting against me, I walk back to the car and stare down at him. He flashes me hopeful eyes, and I realize this is my cue to coddle him and tell him that he did nothing wrong.
“Matthew…”
“Yeah?” There’s too much hope in his voice.
It annoys me.
“Can you dig a hole?”
