“Well, don’t leave me hanging. Lucas, he’s one large, scary mofo, and cranky seems to be his middle name. Did you see the way he just banged assface’s head into the table without a thought? I mean, yes, it’s bad what he has to deal with, with his dad, but he shouldn’t have messed with you. At least we know they’ll handle it and get Mitch out of shit.” He took a breath and went on. “Then, when Wreck looks at you, it’s like everything slows down, and all his attention goes on to you. It’s amazing, and I’m totally jealous.”
My heart raced in my chest from West’s intake of Wade and me. I hadn’t noticed, yet now he’d painted the picture, I could see it clearly. My emotions latched on, telling me I liked him so much more than the first day.
West chuckled. “You hadn’t seen it?”
“No,” I admitted. “I keep worrying this will all just be a phase for him, but then he says or does something to make me forget that worry and I want to believe. I really want to believe.”
He tapped his foot against mine. I looked up at him to find him smiling. “I think you can continue to believe because from what I’ve seen, and it’s only been a short time, is that he’s completely taken with you. How did you get so lucky?”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face because I did feel lucky. “Come on, you have something good going on with—”
“We broke up,” he announced.
“Wait, what?”
“Shush,” the librarian called out.
“When, how, why?”
When his lips thinned, but I caught the tremble beforehand, I knew it was bad. He glanced away and then back again with watery eyes.
“West,” I uttered. “What happened?”
He shook his head and sniffed. “Nothing. I don’t want to talk about it.” He laughed. “I was going to cancel coming tonight, but I’m glad I didn’t, or I would have missed out on all this excitement.”
“West,” I tried again.
“It helped keep my mind off things.”
What had the… the bastard done to my best friend?
“Do I need Wade to beat Sam up? I’ll ask, just for you, if it’ll make you feel better.”
West laughed. “No. Well… maybe, I’ll keep the offer in mind.”
“You know I’m here for you?”
West nodded. “I know.”
“Did he hurt you?”
He sniffed again and looked down at the table. “Only emotionally.” He took a deep breath. “I caught him sleeping with someone else.”
Anger burned inside me. From the couple of times I’d met Sam, I’d thought he was a good one. West had been so taken with him. My heart ached for my friend.
“Do you know what this calls for?” I asked.
He rubbed at his eyes. “What?”
“Swear words.” I sucked in a breath. “That motherfucking butthole, prick, donkey-nose bastard deserves his dick to rot and fall off.”
West’s eyes widened, and then he laughed. “Jesus, no wonder you don’t swear. Donkey-nose bastard.” He smiled. “Thank you, Lucas. You’re a good friend.”
I shrugged.
“Now, do you know what would distract me even more?”
“What?” Although, I had a feeling it was something to do with Wade and me.
“Telling me about kissing that fine man of yours.”
Called it.
In the end, I only gave West a few details. I wanted to make him feel better, after all. But I kept the main parts to myself. I was greedy and didn’t want to share what had happened between us. Even when it had been only once.
Eventually, he realized I would keep being evasive on the more important details, so we got our heads stuck into studying. It wasn’t until a hand slapped to the table right next to me that I woke from my zone.
“What?” I asked, blinking up and around me.
West stood beside me, Wade on the other side.
“It’s a sickness,” West said with a shake of his head and a laugh. “But that’s how I’ve learned to get his attention,” West explained to Wade.
“To scare him.”
“Yep, unless he comes out of it on his own, but he won’t do that until he’s finished.”
“It’s a worry,” Wade commented.
“Don’t stress. Usually when he’s out studying, someone’s with him.” His hands shot up. “I’m not talking about on a date or a guy who wants to bone him. Though there are a few.”
“Give me their fuckin’ names,” Wade clipped.
I quickly stood and grabbed his arm. “He’s only teasing. There aren’t any.” I glared over my shoulder at a smirking West. Glancing back to Wade, I boldly rested my hand against his neck. His eyes dropped to me. “Did you bring food?”
He picked up his hand and rattled the paper bag. “Got it here.”
“Great, should I eat here or home?”
He smiled. “Up to you.”
“Did West get any?”
“Got my bag here, and I’m going to head home to eat it.”
Facing him, I asked, “Do you want to come to my place? We can… have a drink or something?”
He smiled. “Sweet of you to ask, but I’ll be fine. Go and have fun with your guy while your brother’s out working.”
Of course, heat hit my cheeks. I’d told him about us not saying anything to Zion until we were steady in the relationship. I’d forgotten for a moment Zion wasn’t going to be home so the thought of going there with Wade alone had my lower stomach tingling.
“West, I’d like you to come,” I tried again, worried about him going to his apartment alone. I quickly placed my books in my backpack before looking to West again.
“Stop, I’m not going to go home and cry into my Wheaties. I’ll be fine. Now, I’m heading off. Thanks for the entertainment and have a good night.” He made his way to the door and headed out.
I kind of felt guilty because I didn’t press more.
“What happened?”
Sighing, I turned back to Wade. “He caught his boyfriend cheating. He really cared for him, so
