CHAPTER 20
Wraith
We fellasleep and the night passed easily, so when I venture downstairs, I’m anxious. Pax hasn’t heard from Boone yet.
“Hey, man.” I sidle up next to Whisper at the island while he’s making tea. “Any chance you could still help us look for Boone?”
He grins at me, giving me a sidelong glance. “Never stopped. I was bored, so I kept searching along the highway.”
“Fuck yeah.”
“He’s not an idiot. It seems he left the car for a few hours then went back to it and headed east toward Crestvale.”
“Huh. I wonder where he’s going. His place is in Mistone but Paxon’s is here.”
“He’ll turn up. He could’ve left town by now but he hasn’t, so that means something.”
“Good point.”
Whisper takes a sip of his tea. “Tell me how you ended up with a star hockey player in your bed and how your target is related to him. That’s not your normal process.”
“Didn’t know. Literally was stalking the arena for the target and saw Bouche. Couldn’t keep my eyes off him and I got a vibe, so I followed him out to his car and took things from there.” Ilean my elbows on the island. “He’s not out, so it’s been hookups and nothing more.”
“But he’s in your bed upstairs.”
“I know. Once we figured out how we’re connected things shifted.” I scratch my beard. “That’s when it shifted for him, maybe. I fucked up and caught feelings.”
Whisper doesn’t even bother to look surprised. “Obviously,” he drawls, lifting his mug to his lips. “What now? He’s a famous, high-profile athlete.”
“It can’t continue. Once we get this situation with his brother handled, it’s gonna end.”
His brow crinkles. “Why? Because he’s not out?”
“I’m sure that’s part of it, but the bigger issue is me. What I do. We can’t expect a normie to go along with all of this.”
“Did he say he’s not okay with it or is it more about his brother right now?”
“What’s the difference?”
“A lot, I think. I’m sure he was shocked to know you planned to take his brother out, but maybe once that’s resolved, he could see it through different eyes.”
“Maybe, but could I ask him to? He’d have to keep a major part of his life a secret.”
“Colson does it. Bellamy did it.”
“They’re unique.”
“Are they? Or are they just in love?”
“Bellamy left.”
“Not because he didn’t approve or had some moral dilemma about it. I have a feeling he’ll be back. You saw the way he and Shadow were together. That was real.”
“It was.” Dragging a hand through my hair, I straighten to stand fully. “I want to keep him so bad, Whisper.”
“Why?”
“Bror.” I chuckle. “He’s so beautiful. And I’m not just talking about the outside. He’s like this buried treasure, you know? The world sees this popular, world-class athlete, and that’s what hewants them to see, but underneath that he’s sensitive, and cares about his brother so much. He wants to be cared for and loved, and I want to be the man who gives him that.”
