“Fuck, man.” Austin shakes his head.
“You knew there was an accident, right?” Anaise asks him.
“Yeah, through the grapevine. We all kinda lost touch during college. I never imagined that… fuck.”
Anaise runs her hand over her forehead to lift her bangs. “It’s the crash where I got this.”
Austin turns, holds her by the back of the neck, and kisses her scar.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Me, too,” I say. “I just… couldn’t.”
“It’s fine, man. I get it.” Austin huffs loudly. “Fuck that driver.”
“Amen,” Carey responds, and takes another sip of his beer.
Anaise shimmies out from the middle of the couch to take up position on Austin’s lap. Sitting sideways, she leans against his chest and starts to play with the buttons on his shirt. “Do your parents know you’re together?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. If they do, they haven’t said anything.”
“Then they’re blind, or in denial.” Anaise redirects to Carey. “I assume your brother doesn’t know.”
“Not unless he’s talking to Shawn.”
We all laugh, which is nice.
It’s all nice.
People know about Carey and I, and the world hasn’t imploded. Maybe it won't be so bad when Eden finds out? Maybe doing it over the phone before the snow is completely thawed is actually a good idea after all? Cause I’m not giving up Carey. Nothing Eden does or says will change that. If he wants to sellhis part of the shop, then fuck him, he can sell it to me and I’ll hire Reeze back tomorrow. I’ll miss him, but what I have with Carey is a different kind of love.
Fuck.
I really do love the sly prick. With his golden skin, sunshine smile, and infuriating hair that keeps falling on his face.
“Oppa.” Carey’s voice cracks, and I follow his gaze to my phone. The screen is lit up, and right there in the middle is a text notification from—
“Shit! It’s Jintae.” I snatch up my phone and step to the other side of the living room. “What do I do?”
“Read it,” Carey answers like I’m a fucking idiot because it really was a dumb ass fucking question.
“Right.” I nod, my heart in my throat. “Why the fuck am I more nervous about this then telling you guys about…” My voice trails off and Carey is at my side in an instant. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and asks;
“Do you want me to open it, or do you wanna do this on your own?”
I press my phone against his chest, and as soon as he takes it I pace my way to the kitchen. “What does it say?” I blurt out.
“Gimme a second. I gotta unlock it first.”
I nod, again, silently to myself as I grip the kitchen bench.
“He says he’s safe.”
“And what else?”
“That’s it.”
“That’s it?!”
