Page 152 of Godless Saints

We finished the meal in comfortable pieces of conversation. When it was time to go, Vivi hugged Sawyer hard, then pulled Moon in tight.

She turned to me last, rising up to kiss my cheek. “Take good care of Hyun this summer.”

Moon rolled his eyes beside me.

Sawyer stood. “I’m out. Places to be.”

Misha gave me a firm pat on the back.

I smirked. “Thank God. Thought you were going to hug me.”

Misha snorted.

“You heading back to Russia?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Exchange program.”

I kept my voice low. “Ah. Exchange program.”

Misha’s mouth twitched.

We left the cafeteria together. I grabbed my bag from Briar House and met Moon outside Aster Court. The black G-Wagon I’d arranged waited at the curb, driver standing by.

Moon was already there, on the phone, pacing tight circles by the car. “Alright, Mom. I'll see you soon. Cil is here, so I gotta go. Okay.” He turned away from me. “I know. I know. Bye.”

He hung up. I walked up behind him. “You call me Cil now?”

Moon turned, cheeks faintly pink. “No.”

I moved in close and pulled him against me. “You said you loved me last night.”

“No. Get away.”

“Oh but you did, prince.” I grinned. “You loooove me.”

“Stop that,” he hissed, but there was no real fight in it. The driver cleared his throat politely. Older guy, sharp suit.

“You boys ready?”

“Yeah. Sorry,” Moon muttered.

I let him go and we climbed into the backseat. The driver pulled away smoothly, heading toward the private airstrip near Evermourne.

After a few minutes of quiet road, the driver spoke, eyes on the rearview mirror. “Not many boys your age held hands like that when I was young.”

Moon went stiff beside me, suddenly very interested in the passing trees.

I squeezed his thigh. “He’s worth the trouble.”

The driver nodded slowly. “I loved a man once. Back in the sixties.” His hands tightened on the wheel. “People found out.”

Moon looked at me.

“He didn’t survive it.”

I took his hand, laced our fingers, and held on. “We’re careful,” I said. “Just not ashamed.”

The driver met my eyes in the mirror for a moment, then gave a small nod. The rest of the ride passed in thoughtful silence, the jet waiting on the tarmac ahead.