Page 48 of Survival Game

“Eric,” Kyle said warningly. “Come on, let it go. She’s not worth it.”

The woman’s eyes opened wider. “Not worth it? And what would you know about it, you freak?” She scrutinised Kyle, who stared back defiantly. “Fucking purple hair, piercings, and showing your body off. You’re a sight, you are. I bet your mum’s not proud of you, looking like that.”

Kyle looked at her pityingly. “My mum’s just fine with who I am, thanks. So am I.”

Eric’s fury welled at the bitch’s biting words. In his opinion, Kyle looked perfect, and his tight stomach showing beneath the crop-top shirt he wore was fabulous.

His frustration at his therapy session and the emotions still surging beneath the surface got the better of him. “Better than being a bitch, lady. And leave my boyfriend alone. You want someone to insult, you can insult me.”

Kyle pulled his arm, his face pale. “Eric, let’s go. The gentleman is fine and there’s no point causing a scene in public.”

“I agree,” the elderly man said. “Kirby and I need to get home to my wife. But thank you, both of you, for standing up for me. I appreciate it.” He cast a glare in the direction of the now red-faced woman. “And you, madam, need to learn some manners. Good day.”

With a farewell wave and Kirby leading the way, he set off. The woman harrumphed and turned to leave. But Eric couldn’t let it go. “Enjoy the rest of your night,” he called after her as she sashayed away. “Try not to knock any more elderly people down, why don’t you?”

“Eric,” Kyle hissed, face darkening. “That’s enough. You’re being a prick now.”

Eric turned to Kyle in angry surprise. “A prick? For defending an old blind man? Jesus Christ, Kyle.”

Kyle flinched. Eric moved toward him, arm out, intending on taking his hand to continue their walk home. His gut roiled at the sudden look of panic rising on Kyle’s face. Kyle gathered his jacket closer around him in a defensive gesture and motioned to the street. “Let’s go home. I’ve had enough of tonight.” He moved swiftly forward, through the crowd. Eric followed, stricken at how the ending to their night had turned out.

Perhaps he had overreacted, but God, Kyle hadn’t thought he was going to get violent with him, had he? Fuck it, surely, he knew him better than that?

Confused, awash with dread that he’d fucked up—again—and with the beginnings of a quiet flame of resentment that Kyle could even think that of him, Eric followed his lover home in silence.

Chapter Thirteen

Kyle opened the door to his flat and strode inside. He switched on the light and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. His hands were shaking slightly and he willed them still. Behind him, he heard Eric throw his jacket over the back of the couch and sit down in the armchair.

What the fuck had that all been about? He’d never seen Eric so aggressive, so in someone’s face. It was as if the man he knew, the one who helped people and who had held him at night in some of the darkest of his times, was another person.

“Would you like a drink?”

Eric grunted, “No thanks.”

Kyle turned back and poured another glass of water, downing it. He went over to the couch and sat down. Eric stared at him moodily.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “For causing such a scene. I overreacted.”

“Yes, you fucking did,” Kyle retorted. “Care to tell me what had you in such a mood tonight? Don’t think I couldn’t see you were trying so hard to appear normal. I knew something was off the minute I saw you.”

Eric shrugged. “It was a rough week. Not much to tell.”

Kyle took a deep breath, trying to ignore the prickling irritation at Eric’s reticence. I spilt my guts and that’s all I get? “That’s what boyfriends do, isn’t it? Listen to your tales of woe?”

He hadn’t missed the use of the word when Eric shouted it at the woman back on the street. At the time, it had given him a warm, fuzzy feeling that he’d been described that way.

Eric’s nostrils flared at the word boyfriend.

“Unless of course, that was said in the heat of the moment and you didn’t mean to use it.” Kyle cocked an eyebrow.

Eric scowled. “I meant to use it. Duh. I mean, we are, aren’t we?”

Even Kyle wasn’t a hundred percent on that one, although he hoped so. “If you tell me what’s bugging you. Otherwise, I’ll have to recant the honorific.” Kyle played his ace. “And you still owe me some payback, remember? A little something for me telling you my story. We agreed.”

At that, something happened. Eric jumped to his feet and paced around the room like a caged animal.

“You want to see the inside of me? Try to figure me out and see if you can fix me? She tried that this morning and all it did was make me feel more miserable.” He picked up a cushion and glared at it before flinging it back on the couch.