Page 24 of See My Words

“I stood there on the sidewalk and watched his taillights disappear. He left me, Rylan, a thousand miles from home. Just—left me by the side of the road like an unwanted puppy.”

Rylan put his hand on his back. “What did you do?”

Scott blew out a breath, looking stricken. “Ry, I can’t—I—”

“Shhh.” Rylan slid his hand up to rest it on the nape of Scott’s neck, his thumb moving in soothing circles. “You don’t have to talk about it.” He studied him for a moment. “But at least tell me why you didn’t call somebody. Why didn’t you call us for help?”

He could hear the anguish in his own voice, and Scott’s face crumpled for a moment before he firmed his lips. “’Cause I didn’t want everyone to know what an epic fuckup I was. The way I saw it, I got myself into that mess, I had to get myself out.”

“But—”

“Such a stupid kid. Such a weak-ass stupid kid.” His shoulders were bunched and tense. “You can’t tell me Heather wasn’t goin’ around sayin’ I’d come crawlin’ back after I failed at whatever it was I was tryin’ to do.”

Rylan’s silence said what he couldn’t.

“Don’t you see? Provin’ her right was worse than anythin’ else I thought I was facin’, Ry. To come crawlin’ back there after all the shit she said about me bein’—bein’ worthless—” He choked up, pushing Rylan away when he tried to wrap his arms around him, so Rylan slid off the couch to sit on the floor at Scott’s feet.

“Don’t shut me out, Scott.” He leaned his head against his knee, giving Scott the privacy he needed but unwilling to break physical contact. “I’m on your side, remember? Let me be your friend.”

For long moments, all Rylan could hear was Scott’s ragged breathing as he fought with his demons. Finally, a sigh, and Scott combed his fingers gently through Rylan’s hair. “You’re the best friend I ever had.”

Rylan stroked Scott’s bare foot with his thumb. “What do you need? Talk to me.”

Scott kissed the top of his head, urging him up from the floor. “Come back up here. Let me hold you for a while.” He pulled Rylan into his arms, almost clutching at him. Rylan put his head on Scott’s shoulder, resting his hand on Scott’s stomach.

Scott caressed Rylan’s hip, the light brush of his fingertips making Rylan shiver.

“Will you show me some more pictures?” Scott asked, his voice calm and even. “I really want to see you being all wild and sexy in Miami.” He reached down and gave Rylan’s ass a pinch.

Rylan chuckled, sitting up and again reaching for his laptop. “I don’t know about the sexy part, but the wild part? Nailed it.”

As the slideshow scrolled by, Rylan enjoyed Scott’s choked exclamations at what he was seeing.

“You did drag?”

Rylan smirked. “You know me, I always did enjoy looking fabulous.”

“You’re fucking gorgeous. Damn.”

Rylan had to admit, he did look pretty good with a face full of makeup. “It got me lots of attention, and that point, pretty much all I wanted to do was fuck my way through life.”

“Looks like you succeeded.”

Scott’s voice was dry, yet with a faint note of jealousy that sent a pleasurable tingle skittering down Rylan’s spine. “It got old after a while. Anonymous sex, waking up in strange beds, sometimes with more than one guy. Basically I grew out of it.”

He manipulated the touchpad until he found a picture he wanted, and he felt a sense of wistfulness stealing over him as it filled the screen.

“My first serious boyfriend.” Felipe was sprawled naked in bed, a sheet strategically pooled to preserve his modesty, but there was still plenty of skin on display. His brown eyes were sleepy and affectionate, a little smile quirking his lips as he gazed up at the camera.

Scott studied the photo, his face unreadable. “That’s the guy who broke up with you when you moved here?”

Rylan nodded, and Scott made a sound of disgust. “Fucking idiot.”

He set the laptop aside and pushed Rylan to his back on the couch, coming down over top of him. Rylan draped his arms around Scott’s neck, looking up at him questioningly.

“You, uh, you said once that you being here was only temporary.”

Rylan lifted one knee and rubbed it along Scott’s side, enjoying the way he bit his lip and rocked lightly against him. “I never intended to make Phoenix my home.” He spread his legs wider and let Scott settle more firmly between them. “I always thought I’d get my project done and move on.”