Page 29 of Throw Down

Briar knew that Derek had worked like a dog his whole life to keep the rest of his family out of poverty.He’d never been to high school.Never left Sweetwater. Never had a relationship except for one ill-suited attempt as a teenager that ended with a miscarriage and what sounded like a boatload of drama. Softer emotions probably scared the hell out of him.

“You took her in,” he repeated lamely.“You made her love you. You can’t just abandon her because she got hurt.”

“It’s got nothing to do with that.”

“Then you can’t ditch her just because it got complicated!”

Derek stepped closer, and it took all of Briar’s self-discipline not to back away.

“Complicated?” Derek scoffed, chest heaving.Sweat dripped down his forehead and into his eyes, but he didn’t even blink.Somehow, that made him seem even more superhuman.“Kid, you’ve got no idea what complicated even looks like.Complicated is stealing from the collection plate at church. Complicated is this.”

He dug his phone out of his back pocket and tossed it.Briar grabbed it out of the air one-handed.Princess slipped from his arms and took off, scrabbling at Derek’s legs and begging for attention.

Derek looked down at her, and then deliberately looked away.

Confused, Briar glanced at the unlocked phone.Alerts filled the screen, one after another, a litany of missed calls and texts.

Susan: The van broke down again.Can you fix it?

James: Nadine’s recital is on Tuesday.I know you hate those things, but you gotta be there, bro.

Bethie: Is the check in the mail?School doesn’t pay for itself.I wish! Hahaha. XoXo.

Mom: Can you pick up the roast for Sunday dinner?Your father isn’t feeling well enough to drive me.

West: Stop ignoring me. We’ve got to talk about this.

The last message caught Briar’s attention.

“What’s wrong with West?” he asked worriedly.“He’s not in trouble because of the fight, is he?Nate said nobody was pressing charges.”

“You don’t need to worry about him,” Derek said icily.He took the phone and pocketed it without glancing at the screen.“That’s my job. Get it? I don’t have time for strays.”

Briar glanced down at Princess as she pawed at a discarded piece of metal, but he had the sinking feeling Derek’s barb was meant for him.

He flushed with indignation. “I’m not a stray.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“Oh, my God!” Briar plunked his hands on his hips, exasperated.“Can you not be an unbelievable asshole for just a minute?You’re acting like this because of the kiss, right?I get it. It was just a kiss, okay?You’re still as straight as you want to be.You don’t need to come at me like this.”

Derek’s nostrils flared, and his voice dropped to a whisper that was cold as steel.“You think you’ve got me all figured out, huh?”

Gravel crunched under his boots as he stepped closer, and Briar’s throat went dry.They were standing too close now.He could feel Derek’s heat. Smell his sweat.Practically taste the electricity buzzing between them.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet those intense green eyes.

“I don’t,” he confessed, unable to subdue the tremor in his voice.He searched Derek’s face, close enough now to see the fine lines of exhaustion around his eyes and mouth.It looked as if he’d been working himself to the bone since Briar had last seen him.“I don’t have you figured out at all, but I want to.No man’s an island, right? You’ve got to let someone in eventually.”

“Not you,” Derek said stonily.

“Why not me?” Feeling daring, Briar pushed his limits by stepping just that little bit further until their chests were practically touching.It felt as if the world belonged to only them.The rusted-out relics closed in on them, shielding them from the outside.Shielding them from consequences.Princess whined, anxious in the charged atmosphere.

The battle inside Derek was palpable.His breathing was heavy.

“You kissed me,” Briar said boldly.“You want me.”

“You don’t get to decide what I want.” Derek’s tone was frigid.

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