Page 35 of Left on Read

The door closed behind him. I let myself slide down the wall and sat on the floor. That was the safest place for me right now.

What the hell had just happened?

Still in a daze, I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes, reliving the best kiss I’d ever had while my cock throbbed painfully in my jeans.

Jesus. I hadn’t been this turned on in forever.

But he hadn’t wanted to go further. He kissed me, and we were both hard, but he hadn’t tried for more.

My heart sank like a brick in the ocean.

That had been a pity kiss. A hell of a good one, but still a pity kiss.

I didn’t doubt he was questioning his sexuality, but that didn’t mean anything. I just happened to be the guy who sparked his interest in men. He kissed me to see if he could enjoy kissing another guy.

That was it.

He’d probably go home and realize he had a whole new dating pool out there, and I’d never hear from him again.

My stomach soured, but I pushed my disappointment aside and got up off the floor.

Time to get over myself and forget about River and the best kiss of my life.

7

RIVER

“What’s wrong?” Zane asked from where he was strumming his guitar on the couch.

I’d spent the past twenty minutes driving around our neighborhood, trying to get my thoughts in order before I saw my brother. I needed to talk to him about what had just happened. He’d know how to help me sort out the mess of thoughts in my head.

“Nothing’s wrong, exactly.” I raked a hand through my hair to push it back. “Is Noah around?”

“Do you need brother time?” Noah asked from the doorway to Zane’s room before he could answer.

“No. I actually want to talk to you too.”

Noah sat on the couch with Zane. I sank onto the floor opposite them.

“Did something happen at Hayden’s?” Zane asked carefully.

“You could say that.” I huffed out a laugh and leaned back on my hands. “He kissed me.”

Zane and Noah exchanged a look.

“Neither of you seem all that surprised.”

“I’m not.” Zane put his guitar on the coffee table, which was devoid of the usual mess of my drawing supplies.

“I wasn’t sure he’d do anything about it, but yeah. Not shocked he did,” Noah said.

“So, it was obvious to everyone but me that I was going on dates with him.” I sighed. “God, I’m stupid.”

Zane made a sound that was a cross between a cough and clearing his throat.

“I mean, god, I’m oblivious,” I corrected.

Ever since we were kids, Zane made me reframe things when I insulted myself. He never let me call myself names, even if they were true.

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