“You don’t know my family. There’s a reason I needed a place to live this year.”
“I spent a lot of time with them. I know enough.”
I look at him, and he offers me a small smile.
“You didn’t sign up for this, for my family and me,” he says. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I say, and then can’t help but reach out and brush some of the hair from his forehead. “You still hungry?”
“I’m good,” he says and then twists to face the wall, sulking.
“You’re lucky you have a family who loves you,” I murmur quietly.
“Yeah, I know, man. They’re just a little much. It’ll die down soon enough.”
I sit there for a moment more, wanting to reach out and stroke his back as a method of comfort, but I don’t. I just fist my hand against my thigh before standing up and leaving the room entirely.
Much to my surprise—or perhaps even resignation—Sem and Luke appear without warning an hour later. They amble into my apartment and shove some food into the fridge before asking where Caleb is.
“Sleeping.”
“Tired boy,” Luke says with a waggle of his brows and then flops onto the couch. “Yo, dude. Let’s play a game while we wait. Whatcha think? That cool, Whit?”
I don’t think I can say no even if I wanted to.
“Yes, of course.”
Sem takes a seat next to his brother, who hands him a remote.
“Weird to see you out from underneath Caleb,” Luke says with a grin. “It’s like you’re a separate person again.”
My cheeks flush, and I nod, grabbing my Kindle and sinking into my chair. It’s either that or go sit in my bed and watch Caleb sleep. Somehow, this seems safer.
I debate on what to say to Luke, but before I can, Sem and Luke are chatting, searching through the games to play before settling on something violent. Of course they do.
So I turn my gaze to my book and try to read. It’s been hellish the past few weeks with Caleb always around sans shirt and pants, and honestly, Sem and Luke—while not naked—are very distracting. My ears keep picking up their unhinged conversation.
“Dude, you know the potato gun I have? We could make a double-barreled one,” Luke says.
“Hell yeah. Or what if we did one barrel but instead of potatoes, we made it big enough for those melons…not watermelon, but the ones that are green inside.”
“Cantaloupe,” Luke says. “Fucking love me some melons.”
I clear my throat, and their eyes slide to mine.
“The green one is honeydew, actually.”
Sem lets out a small grunt, and Luke laughs loudly. “Right, well, fuck me. Hell…or…” He slaps his leg. “We could shoot out corn.”
I don’t know why they need to shoot anything—vegetables or otherwise—but I say nothing. Just try to read my book by Carl Sagan.
It’s difficult, though, and it’s made even worse by Caleb appearing some time later, wearing only boxers and a shirt.
“Ah, you’re up,” Sem says, standing up and slapping Caleb on the back.
“Your boyfriend here almost didn’t let us in. Said you’d be sleeping a while,” Luke adds, not taking his eyes off the screen. “But you know how persuasive we can be.”
“Plus, we had food to deliver,” Sem chimes in.
