Page 21

Unfortunately, Brett just wasn’t getting it. “Okaaay, well, like…” His beer-blurred eyes wandered back over to me, and his lip curled. “No offense, Elliot, but you’d probably just kinda make people uncomfortable if you stayed, you know?”

Ricky bristled, his shoulders stiffening. “What’s your damage, Brett? That’s a terrible thing to say. And it’s not even true.”

I tensed, glancing between them as I got ready to launch myself at Brett if he took so much as a single threatening step toward Ricky. Luckily, he seemed to be a sloppy but mostly good-natured drunk. Or, more accurately, a brainless one. I supposed that made sense. Wasn’t like alcohol could make someone grow a brain. But at least he didn’t appear to be the kind of drunk who was itching for a fight, a hairsbreadth away from starting shit at any moment. All he did was blink at Ricky in surprise a few times, like it was taking a while for the words to sink in.

Sink into that tiny beer-soaked brain.

Finally, he reacted. “Woah, woah.” Brett held up his hands and took a step back, almost stumbling and falling on his ass. “Take a chill pill, Rick. I was just messing.”

“Yeah, well, we’re not interested,” Ricky snapped, sounding more pissed than I’d ever heard him before. It was pretty hot, honestly. Especially because it was on my behalf. He was defending my honor. If I hadn’t already been half in love with him, this would’ve done it.

“Okay, okay.” Brett had the audacity to look completely befuddled, as if he couldn’t understand why Ricky might’ve been pissed. “No worries, man. You can just hit up the next one.”

I couldn’t stop the snort that left me. He was a total dipshit. So totally obnoxious, unable to grasp the idea that someone might not want to be his buddy, and either oblivious to or uncaring of the fact that it might’ve been because he was a complete prejudiced asshole.

The sound drew his bleary gaze to me, and this time he couldn’t stop his sneer. Couldn’t help himself, even in the midst of trying desperately to befriend Ricky and drag him away from me. “Later, Elliot.” He said my name like it was an insult all on its own.

I bared my teeth at him in a rabid non-smile. “Bite me, Brett.”

“Don’t talk to him that way.” Ricky glared at Brett and took a step toward him, so I quickly grabbed his shoulder to bring him to a halt. Shit, he was mad. Ricky was always so sweet, so soft and kind and easy-going. I should not have been getting so turned on by this. It was just another terrible thing to add to my already terrible list of terrible reasons to feel guilty.

Then again, I was still better than Brett. And I ate people, so that was really saying something.

“Let’s just go,” I murmured throatily to Ricky, hoping it didn’t sound as lusty to Brett as it did to my own ears. Squeezing Ricky’s shoulder, I gently steered him around so we could start walking back down the beach. I could feel Brett’s drunken, nonplussed gaze on us for a while as we left him behind, but when I glanced back after ten seconds or so, he was stumbling back to the bonfire and his friends.

Good riddance.

“I’m so sorry,” Ricky said after a while, sounding devastated. He sounded guilty, which made no fucking sense. “I should’ve said more… I should’ve defended you more—”

“Ricky, oh my god.” I wanted to stop so I could turn to face him, but we were still too close to Brett’s little crew for my liking, so I settled for reaching over to squeeze his arm instead, just once. “You didn’t have to say anything. That was so fucking sweet of you. Thank you.”

He shook his head, looking so upset that I was a second away from turning right back around, sprinting up the beach and punching Brett in the fucking mouth for putting that sad expression on Ricky’s perfect face. His brows were pulled low and he seemed distracted, stuck in his own head as we kept walking.

I wanted to make him feel better. I needed to make him feel better, as though that need was its own separate survival instinct that had manifested the moment I met him. As though the very state of my speculative soul depended on Ricky’s happiness.

We were far enough away now that it felt safe for me to reach over again and tuck my fingers into his palm. I rubbed the side of his hand with my thumb, and I made sure my tone was light when I spoke. “Seriously, don’t worry about it. I’m over it already. Do you really think I’d let a wastoid like Brett affect me that much? He’s not worth it.”

Ricky’s frown deepened, but after a moment or two he said, “That’s a good way to look at it, I guess. But he shouldn’t treat you like that. Just because you’re…”

“Different?” I stopped and turned to face him, giving him a tiny smile. “If it wasn’t for the… medical thing, he’d just find something else different about me to treat me like shit for. And he’d have plenty to choose from, right? That’s just what some people are like, Ricky. Mean. And always looking for ways to alienate others.”

“It shouldn’t be that way, though.” His voice was getting raspy, impassioned, his pretty hazel eyes sparking with defiance. “It just shouldn’t. And why should we just accept that some people are just… just terrible like that?”

“We shouldn’t,” I said calmly. “And I don’t. I don’t just let him speak to me that way, just like you didn’t. Which was totally gnarly of you, by the way. But I’m also not gonna waste my time and energy focusing too much on a complete dick like Brett, and whoever else like him is out there. You shouldn’t either, Ricky. Let them drag each other down, not us.”

Ricky exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging a little in defeat. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

I stepped as close as I dared, knowing Brett was somewhat nearby and possibly watching, and lowered my voice to a murmur. “You have no idea how bad I wanna kiss you right now, Ricky.”

His breath hitched, gaze softening as it drifted down to my mouth. “Me too.”

“If the coast is clear when we get back to our cars, can I give you a kiss goodnight?” I asked in the most innocent tone I could muster, batting my eyelashes at him.

It succeeded in cheering him up, drawing a cute little laugh out of him. I would’ve pumped my fist in the air in triumph if I could’ve achieved it without looking like a total dork. Instead, I settled for grinning at him, being very careful not to draw his attention down to his jacket. I was pretty sure he’d forgotten I was wearing it, which meant there was a good chance I’d get away with stealing it tonight.

“Heck yes, you can.” He playfully nudged my shoulder with his when we started walking again, at a much faster pace now that the prospect of one more kiss before we had to part ways was on the horizon.

Chapter Eleven