Page 51 of Someone Like You

Jamie was fast. It was surprising, considering how most of the time, he moved with a lazy ease, like time just didn’t exist in his world.

But now? Now he moved so quickly that not even Gavin had time to dodge the right hook that smashed into his face with the force of a sledgehammer. Gavin stumbled back and crashed into the fridge, and then he screamed like an animal, howling out his fury as he charged toward Jamie.

I had been ready to take him on, only moments ago, and now, as I watched Jamie and Gavin tangle together, fists flying as they knocked into the counter, now I could only move out of the way. They were both big guys, but Gavin was bigger. More muscular. He looked like he was a juicer, though, and watching him slowly get the upper hand over Jamie was absolutely frightening.

There was a rush of footsteps on the stairs, and almost simultaneously, Joe and Ash, the other two guys who lived here, rushed into the room. They were both shouting as items on the countertop were knocked to the floor, one of them grabbing Gavin and the other one getting Jamie. Neither wanted to give up the fight, and I could see a nasty bruise forming on Gavin’sface already. Jamie’s shirt was torn at the shoulder and his nose was bleeding.

“You fucking piece of shit!” Gavin screamed, straining against Ash’s hold. His eyes were wild, crazed, and his teeth were bared in a fierce snarl. “I always knew you were a fucking fag?—”

“YOU SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!” Jamie screamed.

Brody ran into the room with a stunned expression on his face. My wide eyes locked onto his immediately, and his presence sent an instant rush of relief through me. He took in the scene, his mouth parted in shock, and said, “What the fuck is going on? What happened?”

“Gavin is a fuckingbigot, that’s what happened!” Jamie yelled, though he’d stopped struggling against Joe’s hold. Joe, who was bisexual, was staring at Gavin with his jaw set in a hard line and a disgusted sneer on his lips.

“And apparently this house is full of fa—” He didn’t even get the word out before Ash sent him careening into the wall.

“You’re fucking out, Gavin. Pack your shit and go.” Ash’s voice was steady, but his hands were tight fists and his chest was heaving. “Anyone think he should stay?”

No one said a word.

Gavin, who had smacked into the wall hard enough to shut him up for a moment, turned to look at everyone. “Fuck you. Fuck all of you. It’s a fucking blizzard out there?—”

“And your dad owns a fucking snowplow. It’s not even that bad out right now, just figure it out, Forster. Christ, I always knew you were an asshole but this is too far.” Joe had let go of Jamie, who was pulling an ice pack out of the freezer.

“The school?—”

“Would love to know the captain of the wrestling team takes fucking steroids?” said Joe.

Gavin still had his teeth bared, was looking from one person to the next, and when his eyes landed on Brody, I bristled. But he didn’t do or say anything else, just left the room.

Brody finally came over to where I stood at the far side, huddled in a corner, and pulled me into his arms. “Did he hurt you?”

“No,” I said into his chest. Guilt began to seep in and eat away at me, like acid. I stepped out of Brody’s arms and turned toward Jamie. “Jamie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”

Jamie held up his hand. “That wasn’t your fault, Isaac. We’ve all just been putting up with him since he moved in, but we never would have let him keep living here if we’d known he was such a piece of shit.” Jamie’s lips tipped up in a small smile. “You got some kick to you, huh? Hope I never piss you off. No wonder you’re Jordan’s favorite.”

Joe and Ash were picking things up and putting them back where they belonged. Joe said, “Maybe we should just let him stay through the storm.”

“And run the risk of him killing us in our sleep? I don’t think so,” said Ash. “Besides, his dad will get him. I’ve never met someone so codependent with a parent before. He was living at home until he moved in with us. His dad will take him back in a heartbeat, and be totally happy doing it.”

“What do we tell the school?” Joe asked.

“That he started a fight. That he’s violent and toxic. That he was a bad, bad fit here. Fuck, I can’t believe people like him still exist,” said Jamie. “Ignorance is one hundred percent a fucking choice.”

Brody gently wrapped his fingers around my wrist, tugging lightly to get my attention. “What happened, Isaac?”

I swallowed, still feeling like it was my fault Jamie got hurt. “He was talking shit about you,” I said. “So I talked shit right back, and then Jamie walked into the room?—”

“He was literally grabbing your shirt and lifting you off the ground, Isaac. He did more than talk shit. He was about to hurt you,” Jamie said, his tone hard. But it was aimed at Gavin, not me. “Fuck that guy. Good on you for standing up for Brody, because that was brave as shit, but dangerous, dude. He could have hurt you.”

“But hedidhurtyou!” I cried. “And it was my fault!”

Jamie shook his head. “Nope. That was all Gavin, and he knows it. He was roiding out. He’s been popping off at all of us for no reason, so this was just the icing on the cake. You didn’t do anything wrong, Isaac.”

“He put his hands on you?” Brody’s voice was so soft and so icy, a chill scampered down my spine. When I met his eyes, there was so much fury in those gray depths that my stomach felt like it was being squeezed.

“He didn’t hurt me,” I reiterated. I needed him to understand that, because he looked like he was about to go upstairs and murder Gavin. And why, oh why, did my dick start to get hard at the notion of Brody protecting my honor?

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