Ody didn’t move. “Say it from there.”
Kash let out a slow breath, then stood up and took a few steps toward him, closing the space Ody was trying so hard to keep. “Shit went sideways the moment that bastard got involved.”
Ody’s heart kicked hard. “You mean Mano.”
“You needed help? With what? The stupid pranks? The shit we pulled outside class?”
“So you bully me, and now you’re in my house acting like this is normal?”
Kash took another step closer, his posture tense. “I didn’t mean for it to get that bad. I’m sorry.”
Ody stared at him. Kash, apologizing? “I don’t get it,” he said, his voice unsteady. “What do you want?”
Kash inhaled slowly, then locked eyes with him. “How did you never see it, Ody?” He hesitated, jaw tightening. “I’ve wanted you since day one.”
Ody jerked back, his breath catching. “What…?”
Kash dragged a hand over his face, exhaling. “I didn’t know how to approach you. You had a girlfriend, so… I figured you were straight. That’s why I started teasing you. I just… I wanted us to be friends.” His gaze flickered. “I didn’t think those two idiots would take it that far.”
“Pablo and Brandon?” Ody frowned, the words slow, uncertain.
Kash nodded, then looked down, his voice quieter now. “I never wanted you to hate me.” He rubbed the back of his neck, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “Do you know how exhausting it is acting like some asshole around you? PretendingI don’t care? I’m tired of it, Ody. I’m tired of playing the bully. I can’t do it anymore.”
Ody’s chest tightened. This couldn’t be real. He had to be messing with him. Any second now he’d smirk, pull out his phone, and start recording.
Kash stepped closer. A few loose strands of Ody’s brown hair fell across his forehead, his green eyes sharp. Kash’s gaze lingered on them. “I know it was messed up, throwing that coffee on you,” he said. “But if it wasn’t for that asshole who got in the way…” His eyes darkened.
He paused, jaw tightening. “I threw that coffee on you so I’d have an excuse to take you home. I was gonna apologize, talk to you… tell you how I feel. But then he showed up and fucked it all up.”
He held Ody’s gaze, a soft, obsessive focus in his eyes that made Ody’s skin crawl.
“But now I know, Ody…” His voice dipped even lower. “I know you won’t mind if I do this.” He closed the last bit of space and grabbed the back of Ody’s neck, pulling him into a rough kiss.
For a heartbeat, Ody’s shock drowned out everything else, including the part of him that didn’t pull away instantly.
Chapter 28
Kash’s lips pressed hard against Ody’s, his hand locked at the back of his neck. Ody didn’t move, frozen in disbelief, until his instincts snapped back. He shoved Kash off him, stumbling backward, breath uneven. “What are you doing?” he yelled.
Kash’s eyes locked on him with a strange, desperate intensity. “Ody… I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the way you are with Mano. You’re not just friends. There’s something there.”
Ody stared at him, eyes wide. “There’s nothing going on! What the hell are you talking about?”
Kash stepped closer. “You two sacrificed yourselves for each other. I saw it. I felt it. Don’t lie to me.”
“There’s nothing going on with Mano. Are you out of your mind? I have a girlfriend.” He took another step back, his pulse kicking hard.
“I’ve seen you. I’ve seen how far he’ll go for you. I’ve seen the way you look at him.”
Ody shook his head, backing off. “Even if that’s true, that doesn’t give you the right to kiss me!”
Kash’s lips twitched, like he’d been waiting for that. “So you admit something’s going on.”
“No! I told you, I like women!”
Kash held his gaze, unblinking. “Keep saying that. Maybe you’ll convince yourself.”
“Don’t make this about me. If you’re into guys, that’s your business.”
