“For a year?” Spike’s chest tightened. The tuition was worth more, hands down. But that meant they’d be giving up the roof over their heads. And money was tight enough as it was. Panic slid through Spike’s veins. “That’s not fair. You only just got injured. And—and you’ll recover soon, right?”
“It’ll take six weeks at the minimum.” Kai scowled. “More before I can get back up to game speed.”
“How did it even happen?”
“Pre-training game with Alana and the rest. I landed on the wrong foot. Tore my ligaments.”
Spike winced. It hadn’t even been Kai’s fault. “So... we’re choosing the tuition, right? Forgoing the room and extras.”
It wasn’t the end of the world. But Spike and his mom had been kicked onto the streets, back when he was eight.
He remembered spending nights in Mom’s car, eating dinners on their laps, sneaking into store restrooms for a quick towel-down. Spike had felt like a criminal, constantly watching out for store employees, having others look askance at him when his clothes got too dirty.
So this... it triggered an old, instinctual fear in his chest.
“Too late to change anything now.” Kai rubbed his temples. “I looked at the housing options around here. Most places cost more than the dorm. Or they don’t have much privacy.”
“So... what’re we gonna do?” Spike asked, making a left back to the college. The car swerved a little; Kai looked sharply at him. “Do we take out a loan?”
Neither he nor Kai had any decent credit—any interest on their loans would be so high.
Kai gritted his teeth. “I’ll find more work.”
“You’re injured!”
“Yeah, that doesn’t mean I want to sit around waiting for it to heal.”
Fat raindrops began to patter on the windshield. Spike pulled into the dorm parking lot and cut the engine. Clicked off his seatbelt, twisting around to face Kai. “You need to let your ankle rest, Kai. You know that.”
Kai growled, his eyes flashing. “Yeah, I know. But I’m not gonna twiddle my thumbs, hoping money falls from the sky.”
Spike wanted to do something, anything, aside from sitting in the car, feeling helpless. I don’t want to be homeless again. I promised Micah I’d be accountable. I can’t break my promise like this.
He clenched his fists, looking around them. Wondered how much of their stuff they could fit into the car. Would they have to move back home? But they couldn’t—not with the relationship he had with Kai.
Spike’s heart pounded. Fear crawled beneath his skin. “Damn it, damn it.”
“Hey, you’re freaking out,” Kai said. He unbuckled his seatbelt. “Spike.”
“Mom and I have been homeless before,” Spike snapped. “I can’t help it, okay?”
“I remember.” Kai grimaced. Then he reached over and yanked Spike against himself, curling his fingers into Spike’s hair. Kai shoved Spike’s face against his shoulder. “Things will work out. I’ll make sure they do.”
“You can’t be sure of that.” Spike’s voice muffled against Kai’s shirt. He wanted to punch something, kick something, so he could vent the tightness in his ribs. “I need to—I need—”
He hauled his head back up, glaring at Kai. Didn’t need to be hugged right now. He wanted...
“What do you need?” Kai growled, his eyes dark in the shadows of the car, his bottom lip gleaming.
Spike didn’t think about it. He grabbed Kai’s face and mashed their lips together, biting down hard on Kai’s lower lip. Kai snarled, biting back, his teeth sharp points on Spike’s skin.
Someone’s skin broke. Spike tasted blood. He grabbed Kai’s hair and kissed him, shoving his tongue into Kai’s mouth.
This was something he could control. This was something he had power over. Kai shoved at Spike with his tongue, and Spike fought with him for dominance. He needed this. Just to feel like he had something, he wasn’t losing everything.
Kai twisted his fingers into Spike’s hair and pinned him back against the driver’s seat, shoving his tongue into Spike’s mouth. “I’m here,” Kai growled, dragging his teeth across Spike’s bottom lip, the pain grounding Spike. “You’re not doing this alone.”
Those words cracked open Spike’s chest, and the tension inside him seeped out.
Spike panted against Kai’s lips, just staring at his brother. “Yeah? You’ll stay with me?” Spike whispered.
“Yeah,” Kai answered, never once looking away.
“Prove it.”
Kai hesitated, as though he was confused, or something. Then he shoved Spike against the seat, bit on Spike’s lower lip, and the next kiss was just as furious.
I thought you wouldn’t kiss me unless it’s for sex.
But Kai’s mouth was hot on Spike’s, his teeth tugging roughly on Spike’s lips, and Spike’s breath hissed out of him. Kai’s kissing me. He kissed back, curling his fingers into Kai’s hair. Just savored Kai’s weight pressing him down.
Kai had never initiated a kiss because Spike was sad. Do you... want me?
As soon as he thought that, Kai broke the kiss. He was about to lean away, his eyes inscrutable, except Spike hauled him back.
He sagged against Kai, pressing their faces together. Just breathed in that elm scent, Kai’s warmth lingering on his skin.
Whatever had caused Kai to kiss him... Spike wouldn’t question it right now. Kai kissed me. A smile tugged on his lips. Kai had promised that Spike wouldn’t be alone.
Slowly, his heartbeat calmed. Kai released him.
Spike licked his lip. It was kiss-swollen, but it didn’t feel broken. So... that blood was Kai’s. He glanced over, where Kai was licking the tear in his lip. Spike had left a mark on him. That felt good, too.
He sucked in a lungful of air, held it, and then breathed out.
“Feel better?” Kai asked.
“A little, yeah. Thanks.”
Kai blew out a breath. “I thought of another option. York and his dad might have a spare room. You could stay there. Pretty sure Davis wouldn’t mind.”
Spike narrowed his eyes. “What about you? Wouldn’t you stay with me?”
Kai hesitated.
Spike felt like cuffing him. “You just said we’re in
