“Papa—”
“Forget it. I am already getting the evil eye from your mama for saying this. I understand. Some days, I even wish I was as smart as you and got out when I could. It is too late and anyway, I will give it over to Michail soon. Then it will be his problem. Then your mama and I will visit more. Six months has been too long.”
“It has. I look forward to seeing you both.”
“Talk soon.”
“Yes,” I replied and hung up.
At least there was one good thing about my parents’ early arrival; it would distract me enough until I found out more about West. It could also save me from approaching him and making a fool of myself.
Now that I thought about it, there was a possibility I’d misheard his words that night.
West may not feel anything for me, and I—
No. I heard those words, and I would find out what happened, why West stopped our time together. Eventually. It may take time, but I was confident our paths would cross, and when they did, I would not let West slip through my fingers again.
I would make sure I hadn’t imagined our connection.
And when I did, I would make him mine.
It also meant I had to listen to Dimitri and tell my parents exactly who I was.
Chapter Six
West
I clenched my jaw when I saw Kylo in the hospital bed. Kylo, who Lucas and I had become fast friends with, worked at Polished. He’d been attacked by his biological father. Not only that, he’d witnessed his father shoot his mother before they beat Kylo for money. I never wanted to hurt a person more than I did Kylo’s dad when I found out. Unfortunately, he was still on the run, and since Kylo was a member of the Diamond MC, the club would do everything in their power to find the… the fucker, and rain justice down on him like he deserved.
“Are you just gonna stare at me all day or come here and give me a hug?” Kylo asked.
“Don’t fuckin’ touch him for too long, though,” Saint commented. It was only a few days ago when it happened, so I could understand Saint’s protectiveness. But then again, it seemed all of the MC brothers I’d met through Lucas and Kylo were the same. Though, Saint and Kylo were new to a relationship. Which they’d kept a secret. But I’d found out when I’d met Kylo at a café the day of the incident and told him about my crush on a client and how I needed advice.
I’d left in disbelief, since he’d told me that straight Saint, who had a reputation for being a man whore with the ladies, and was Lucas’s brother, had come out as bi after Kylo gave him a head job. After I caught my breath from near choking, I told him I wouldn’t say anything about them. I was sure Kylo only told me because I’d fucked up. Still, I knew one thing after our chat. I had to end things with Adrik. I wanted what Kylo had found in Saint.
His one.
Smiling, which was a little shaky, I made my way over to the bed, bent, and gently hugged Kylo. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks.”
“All right, that’s enough,” Saint clipped.
Kylo snorted. “Saint, don’t you have to get goin’?”
He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Fuck, I do.” He leaned down and kissed Kylo. You would have thought it would have been chaste since there was another person in the room. But no. I had to turn away before I got a semi. My dick was tired of my hand.
“Later, West, and tell my brother when he gets here, he’s a dickhead.”
“Runs in the family,” Kylo called, causing Saint to laugh.
Moving around the bed, I pulled the seat close and sat down. I hated seeing Kylo like this. I hated what happened to him. But I knew, with the smile on his face, that with Saint’s help, he would be okay.
“Hey,” Kylo called, and I looked up. “How you doin’?”
Shaking my head, I laughed. “It’s me who should be asking you that.”
His jaw clenched. “I’ll be fine as soon as the cunt is found.”
“No news yet?”
“Nothin’, but the brothers will get him.”
I nodded. “I know they will.”
“You seen that guy?”
Biting down on my bottom lip, I shook my head. “No.”
“He’ll come around.”
I snorted. “I don’t think so.”
“You told Lucas yet?”
“Not yet, but I will.”
“Told me what?” I jumped at Lucas’s voice from the doorway.
“Um… well….” I didn’t want to bring it up now.
Lucas made his way over, hugged Kylo, and took a seat opposite me, just as Kylo said, “West has a couple of days before his lease is up, and he needs to move out.”
I glared at Kylo. The conniving shithead just threw me under the bus, even though he was right.
I waved it off with a laugh. “It’s fine. I’m just going to stay in a motel until I find a new place.”
Lucas shook his head. “No you won’t.”
Hell.
“Lucas, you and Wreck haven’t been in there long. I’m not—”
His hand shot up, and Kylo chuckled but then wheezed and held an arm across his ribs. Served him right. Only I regretted that thought as soon as I had it. Kylo didn’t deserve anything; he was only trying to look out for me.
Lucas ordered, “You’ll move in with us. No ifs, buts, or any other bullpoop.”
Suddenly, I wanted to cry. I clenched my jaw, sniffed, and stared down at the white hospital sheets.
“West?” Lucas said gently.
Sucking in a shuddering breath, I told them, “My life before college wasn’t easy.” I looked up and smiled sadly at Lucas. “I know I haven’t said much about my parents, and you might think they’re supportive, but they aren’t. If I didn’t have the scholarship, they would have me still living under their roof and rules.” I rubbed my sweaty hands down my jean-clad thighs. “They don’t know I’m gay. They believe it’s a sin. They’re very religious and controlling. They refuse to help me with rent or food because they think it’s foolish to move away from them. They said I could have gone to a college close to them, and they would have helped with everything because I would still be living with them. But I couldn’t. I had to get out. I had to live, and breathe, and be myself.”
“Of course you did,” Lucas said. He knew how lucky he was with his parents. They were amazing and loved Lucas and Saint so much, no matter what. Even Kylo lucked out with his parents—his foster ones—Boom and Wendy.
“I don’t hate my parents. But I do resent them shoving religion down my throat and having me thinking there was something wrong with me for being gay.”
“I’m fuckin’ glad you got out,” Kylo stated.
I nodded. “Me too, and I guess I’m telling you both this because I wanted to say thank you.” Smiling, I looked at them both. “Thank you for caring and wanting to help.”
Lucas sniffed and wiped at his eyes. “We always will.”
“Fuck yeah,” Kylo said.
And now I had that off my chest, I needed the subject moved on before I felt too awkward for sharing.