That sounded…well, awesome. Fucking great, to be honest. Sure, there’d probably be a few homophobic dicks around, but it wasn’t like they’d do anything. Not with Dominic’s reputation for punching first and asking questions later.
My grin faded into a scowl. I shouldn’t think about such things, because Maxwasthere. He was part of our lives, whether I liked it or not. And while I didn’t really give a shit about him, I did care about Dominic.
Max being unhappy made Dominic unhappy.
Dominic was already there, sat beside Max. They’d had class together immediately before this, which was why hehadn’t met me. From how his gaze immediately found mine, he’d been watching for me though. He straightened, waving enthusiastically as he grinned. My own smile returned as I lifted my hand in greeting.
Fuck, we weren’t very good at hiding it. I could practically feel myself glowing as I approached the small group, barely paying attention to anything other than the gorgeous six-foot-four brunet perched next to my brother.
My scowling brother.
“Hi,” I said breathlessly, trying to ignore the hole Max’s eyes were burning into my face. I held up my statistics mock paper. “Sorry I’m late. Had to stay behind to get my test results.”
Dominic searched my face. “And?”
I chewed on my lip, trying to play it cool. As always with him, I failed. “I got an A!”
“Fuck yes, Shadow.” Dominic whooped, sliding off the fence. He grabbed me in a hug, spinning me around. A giddy laugh bubbled from me. “I knew you could do it. Didn’t I say?”
“You have way too much faith in me,” I said as he returned me to the ground. “Fuck, dizzy.”
Dominic’s hands went to my hips to steady me. “Shit, sorry. Guess I got carried away there.”
“Guess you did.” Max’s frosty tone had us both freezing. “How come you’re not spinning the rest of us around when we get a good grade?”
Dominic cleared his throat as he reluctantly removed his hands. “Well if that ever happens, I’ll give you the same treatment.”
Max muttered something under his breath. I ignored him, trying to quell the resentment that was building up inside me.
It was hard not to hate Max sometimes. If it weren’t for him, Dominic and I wouldn’t have to hide. Neither of us had bothered discussing whether to tell him.
There was no point when we both knew how poorly it would go.
More questions I wanted to ignore circled in my mind.Where does that leave us in the future? Will we always be hiding what we are? What if Max never accepts us?
What if Dominic has to choose between me and Max?
My stomach was churning as I hauled myself onto the rail beside Dom. His shoulders were turned away slightly as he and Max fell into conversation. For once, his knee wasn’t pressed against mine. He was keeping a careful distance. Like me, he’d probably noticed Max’s suspicions.
I shouldn’t have hated the effort he was making to conceal us. It was what we both wanted.
Is it?
I swallowed hard, trying to find the quiet joy I’d felt earlier. The satisfaction of getting a good grade. But it was nowhere to be found. All that remained was that final question.
What if Dominic has to choose between me and Max?
That wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t.
Because I knew who Dominic would choose.
Dominic might be mine now, but he was Max’s first.
Was this how our relationship was always going to be? Hiding in the shadows, unable to stand in the light?
Suddenly, I was scared to find out.
21
