Total pages in book: 209
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 981(@200wpm)___ 785(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Kyle and Raya peer at one another across the bed.
No more words are shared for some time.
Until Kyle finally takes his brother’s hand into his own, and upon his lips comes a smile that speaks volumes. “My brother …” He glances at Raya once more before turning to Kaleb. “I think it’s time you catch me up. On everything. I’m gonna sit here, right here by your side, and you’re gonna tell me about your beautiful life, every last bit, because from now on …” His smile brightens. “I’m not gonna miss another damned moment of it.”
∙∙∙
Elias sits on the front step of the clinic, one leg tucked under the other, which is stretched out, foot wagging side to side. It has been a long day. His feet are sore. His hands feel too weathered to even bear the grip of a steering wheel. And though the night air brushes past his face, it feels as stifling as if it were perfectly still.
The glass door of the clinic creaks when Kyle steps outside. “I think he’s asleep for the night.”
Elias peers back at him, chuckles. “You make it sound like you just put the baby in his crib.”
“Why not? He can be a baby. My baby brother.”
Kyle hops down onto the step, sits, smiles into the night. Elias peers at his boyfriend, amazed at his level of energy, the change in his face, cheer in his eyes, all of it. Elias puts an arm around Kyle. The two sit like that for a while, peacefully enjoying the night.
“I can’t see many stars.”
Elias nods. “The shroud.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“Apparently.”
“Magic is weird.”
“Super weird.” Elias puts a kiss on the top of Kyle’s head, lets out a sigh that tosses some bangs upward. “I’ve missed you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Past few days since we’ve been back, everything’s been so … so … crowded.”
“Crowded? What do you mean by crowded? The survivors?”
“No, no. I’m happy they’re here and safe … even if this is … well … kind of like another prison.”
“Temporarily. Until Cade and Layna figure out how to poke a hole in the magic wall.”
“The shroud,” mutters Elias.
“I still prefer magic wall.”
“By ‘crowded’, I just meant all the stuff going on. With Drake and his restlessness. Cade and her daughter. Jer, who found relief from his perky pecker, but still can’t speak. Everyone in town in a state of confusion, unable to leave, all of them forced to confront the very real presence of supernatural bullshit around them, even the ones who’ve been in denial since the day you came out at the bar. Oh, and the bar,” Elias goes on, laughs at himself, shakes his head. “Leland and Becks, what a blessing they’ve been, but damn, if they wouldn’t just finally fuck and get it over with, all the sexual tension you can slice with a hot knife.”
“I’ve been saying for months now,” mumbles Kyle.
“And finally the situation with Nico … who still hasn’t woken up. Is that normal? To sleep so much right after you’ve been—?”
“I slept for a week.” Kyle shrugs. “Apparently.”
“A week …” Elias rests his chin atop Kyle’s head with a sigh. “Do you think Drake did it right?”
“I don’t know. Nico’s still breathing.”
“Does Nico … even know? Like, what he is now? Is he aware what happened?”
“Probably not.”
“You seem awfully calm about this.”
“I have to be.” Kyle twists his head to get a look at Elias. “If I think about anything too much lately, I scream. So to avoid letting out any freakish screams, I just think less. It’s a good motto. You should try it. Just think less.”
“Think less.” Elias peers up at the hazy night sky.
“You’ve softened up about Drake.”
“Huh?”
“I can hear it. In here.” Kyle pats Elias’s chest, chuckles. “You aren’t so opposed to the guy being around anymore. What did the trick? Our little moment in the church basement together?”
Elias tenses up. “Kyle …”
“Oh, that hit the horny nail on the head. I felt it right away. It did do the trick.”
“Do me a favor and keep that Reach outta my pants, will you?”
“Why? I thought you like when I reach into your pants.” Kyle brings a finger to Elias’s chest, starts to draw shapes on his shirt. “You know … if you wanted to do it again …”
“Kyle.”
“… I’m not opposed to it. I know it excites you. It also makes you feel empowered, the way you relinquish yourself to me … and to him. One you trust completely. The other, a mystery. Y’know, you said to me not that long ago how you’re not the jealous type. Well, maybe I’m not the jealous type, either.”
“All this stress is making you delirious,” Elias decides. “You’re just … just talking out of your dick, and—”
“I’m giving you permission. I’m letting out my thoughts. It’s only fair,” Kyle points out, “since I have my Reach, and all of your emotions are pretty much out in the open when I’m around. Now I’m reciprocating in the best way I can. I’ve let you know some of my feelings. I’ll be your Reach whenever you want me to be.”