Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 160(@300wpm)
Bones was sitting in bed in front of his laptop when I swept through the door. I leaned over to kiss him before slipping out of my sneakers. “What are you working on?”
He seemed hesitant before stretching his hand out to me. “I want to show you something.”
“Okay.” His expression was tight and wary, so it must’ve been important. I told myself homework could wait as I slid in beside him, my pulse throbbing as I wondered what it could possibly be. Hopefully, nothing his parents had said or done to make him feel not good enough again. Since their big talk, things were definitely better. But healing was never a straight line. I knew that much.
“What’s up?” I asked as he clicked out of his tabs, then pulled up his email.
His sidelong glance was guarded before opening his flagged files. “These are all the emails I’ve sent my brother over the years.”
This was huge for him, and my heart ached as I glanced down the list and noticed all the dates, some from the last couple of months. I imagined him typing them while in the same room with me and was bummed that he’d felt he had no one to talk to about important stuff in his life. Until now. I placed my hand on his knee and squeezed.
He opened the most recent email, dated yesterday. “I want you to read this one.”
I held back a gasp. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” He met my eyes, but his hand was trembling. I interlaced our fingers to help bolster him and was heartened when I felt him relax.
I inhaled a sharp breath as he tilted the screen toward me, and I began reading.
Brody,
Remember the guy I was telling you about? He’s my boyfriend now, and being with him is as awesome as I imagined. It’s still as fun as it was when we were only roommates and friends, except I get to kiss him all the time now.
I’ve never felt this way about anyone else before, but I’ve known for a while now that I’m in deep. Probably from the first time he didn’t take any shit from me or my teammates.
I love Emil. So much. He’s the best.
Until we meet again.
B.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as tears stung my eyes. Had anyone ever done something so meaningful and made me feel so cared for?
I clasped his hand. “You love me?”
His voice was wobbly when he said, “I do, but it’s okay if you don’t feel—”
I cut him off. “Can I have your laptop?”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.” I positioned the computer on my lap. “I’ll tell you when to look.”
Bones lifted his phone and pretended to study it as I opened a new email window.
I took a long moment to gather my thoughts, then started typing.
Brody,
Bruce loves you so much and misses you greatly. But don’t worry, I’ll take good care of your brother and save him from himself. He’s got a big heart and has turned into someone you would be proud of. Not that you weren’t before, but I have a feeling you’d agree that he’s become a better version of himself.
Bruce is sweet, thoughtful, and makes me laugh.
Plus, he looks hella hot in his football uniform.
I look forward to seeing his smile every morning.
I love him too. So much.
Until you meet again.
E.
“Okay, I’m ready for you to read it.”
I held my breath as he tilted the screen to get a better view. When he finished, he placed his face in his hands. “Fuck, why are you making me cry?”
I threw him a watery smile. “We’re both sentimental dorks.”
He pulled me to him, and our mouths met in a long, emotional kiss.
I dragged the laptop toward me again. “Now we need to send it, right?”
His gaze sprang to mine. “Are you serious?”
“That’s what you told me you do. How else will Brody get it?”
He stared at me for a long moment. “Fuck, I love you.”
“I love you too.” Then I hit Send, and we sat there silently, staring at the screen. For a brief moment, I felt that glimmer of hope deep in my gut that he must’ve experienced all those years.
Only to have it extinguished when the email bounced back.
“There you go,” I said. “He got it.”
His smile was filled with melancholy. “Guess he did.”
He wrapped me in his arms, and we just breathed the same air, comfortable in our affection.
Until we were startled apart by a sharp rap on the door.
“Hey, lovebirds, you in there?” Flash called.
“Christ, you could’ve texted,” Bones shouted back.
Henry’s voice rang out. “Paybacks are a bitch.”
We grinned at each other. Supposed they were.
EPILOGUE
Bones
I’d been woken up by a warm kiss and a stiff cock against my back. No way I wouldn’t give in to those begging eyes, so I gave Emil what he wanted, which was a hard fuck from behind. I certainly wasn’t complaining because, Christ, that was hot. Especially since we’d both grown fond of my experimenting with my mouth and tongue along with my fingers to loosen him up.