Page 102 of Unexpected Boyfriends

And now we know. We figured it out. We've been manipulated and lied to. I wish he'd had more faith in me and stayed to fight for me. But maybe I too should have done more. Maybe I should have come here sooner.

But the lies, oh my god, the lengths my family would go to, to try and pretend I’m straight. It would be laughable if it hadn’t cost us so fucking much.

We’ve both been dealing with our own hurts and insecurities. Sometimes it’s hard to fight for what you want when you think it’s hopeless.

We both want to try again. I just have to get past the knowledge that he slept with Jordy.

I think of that small thread of co-incidence which pulled me back to him. What are the chances that someone would recognize a rare neck chain and its symbolism? And at the time when it was most needed? Maybe there’s something in that myth after all. At any rate, it helped me peek over the wall I had built around my heart.

With what I see here, I can forgive him, and we can try again.

******

When dawn arrives, it finds us clinging to each other on the rocks. We’re both exhausted and emotional, and we desperately need sleep. Axel takes me back to his house, riding more slowly and carefully now.

When we enter the house, he gives me an apologetic look and makes me wait on the couch while he hurries to his room. He emerges with an armful of bedding that he dumps in the laundry and hurries back with clean sheets.

When he eventually leads me to his room, the bed has been remade with fresh bedding and the room is neat and tidy. The window is open and a light breeze fans the curtains.

He looks at me anxiously. I pretend not to notice the ripped top of a condom wrapper on the floor, and I move closer, slippingmy arms around his neck. I stretch up to press my lips to his. He kisses me back fiercely and runs his hands through my hair.

Slowly, reverently, we undress each other until we’re both completely naked. He takes my hand, and together we crawl into bed and under the covers, holding each other tight. I rest my head in its familiar place on his shoulder, and he holds me to him protectively.

For a long time we lie like that.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

Safe in each other’s arms at last, we sleep.

Chapter 44

Together

JUSTIN

I wake to sunshine, the caroling of magpies, and a warm body beside me. For a minute I lie still, remembering where I am.

A strong arm slips around my shoulders and pulls me close. I breathe in Axel’s familiar scent. It’s soothing. We’ve found our way back to each other. We’ve hurt each other, and our hearts carry a few more scars than before, but we’re here now.

I press a kiss to the nearest bit of skin, which is Axel’s chest, and he runs his hand through my hair. With my head cushioned against his chest, he can probably feel my smile. And with the way our lower bodies are pressed up against each other, he can probably feel the morning wood I’m sporting. When I shift my thigh across his hips, I notice he’s in a similar state.

Surprised he hasn’t made a move to do anything about it, I look up. And frown. Axel looks unsure of himself.

“What’s wrong?”

He takes a deep breath, opens his mouth as if to speak, but then reconsiders.

“Axel?”

He sighs. “I, ah, wasn’t sure you’d want to do anything after,” he shrugs, looking away, “last night.”

Oh, right. Jordy.

Now it’s my turn to sigh. “I won’t lie. I hate that it happened. But… well, I guess I understand.”

“I’m so sorry.”

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