Page 36 of Sweetest Hate

Just as I had hoped, the emergency generators kicked on as we made it down the stairs.

"Oh my god, thank fuck for rich people who buy generators," someone whispered from behind us.

Everyone found a place to sit and we listened to the muffled sound of the storm raging outside. We could hear limbs cracking and the sound of the wind whipping around even from below the house.

People sat huddled close together in groups and spoke quietly to one another. Kellan looked around the basement. "This place is nice. Why is it off-limits? It's like a college kid's dream."

He wasn't wrong. One-half of the spacious area held plush leather couches parked in front of a large drop screen with every type of gaming system. Behind the furniture, a pool table was centered beneath a hanging billiard lamp made of stained glass. The other side of the room housed a small kitchen and dinette. Trophy cases lined a wall, starting beside a wet bar and ending where it branched off down a short hall.

"Those are why it's locked up." I pointed at the shiny cups and medals of gold, encased in glass.

"What are those for?" Kellan wandered in the direction of the cases, and I followed.

"Competitive Fishing," I answered as I scanned the impressive collection. Dad was an avid fisherman who had entered and won so many contests, his spoils took up an entire wall. "My dad's pride and joy."

"I thought children were supposed to be a parent's pride and joy," he mused as he strolled along the wall, reading the plaques.

I snorted. Not my dad's. He wasn't all bad, but he definitely wasn't in the running for father of the year either. Kellan didn't need to know details. "I'm going to run to the bathroom and rinse off real quick."

He nodded absently. "Okay, I'm next."

I was sure a lot of people would benext.

"Come on." Grabbing his hand again, I dragged him down the hall and pushed open the bathroom door.

"What are you doing?" Kellan hissed, glancing over his shoulder as I pulled him inside.

Shielded by a wall, no one would have seen us enter together. So, unless someone came knocking, they'd remain oblivious. My lips hooked up into a crooked grin. "Saving water?"

He gave me an uncertain look, and I was honestly surprised he didn't refuse when I reached around him and pushed the door closed. His eyes widened. "People are going to think we are fucking around, Arsen."

"So?" I didn't care what other people would be thinking because it wasn't their business. But Kellan was still very much in the closet when it came to his hometown crowd. It wasn't like I was forcing him, and he could leave at any time—but he didn't. He simply stared at me, indecision wavering in his eyes as I cranked the water on high heat.

"Also, I don't think you are supposed to be in the water when it's lightning." His words and actions didn't mesh when he leaned against the door instead of opening it.

"So be quick. I smell like lake water, and I'm not sitting around in wet clothes." I whipped my shirt over my head.

Kellan swallowed audibly before dropping his gaze to the tiled floor. "I obviously don't have clothes to change into."

"Yes, we do. You can wear some of mine." I popped open a closet door and reached inside, rifling through the extra clothes I kept for when I was too lazy to go upstairs. Honestly, I was surprised my dad hadn't gotten rid of them. Grabbing one of the smaller shirts I owned, I handed it to Kellan, but the shorts I offered were going to hang off his slim frame.

He took them, frowning. "These are huge."

"They have a drawstring, and it's all I have. Take it or leave it." I reached for the band of my boardshorts, dropping them to the floor.

Kellan spun around, looking away. "A little warning would have been nice."

I chuckled. "You've already seen my dick, and I've seen yours."

"Just hurry up so I can rinse off too." His voice was strained, and I knew he was far from unaffected when I was naked only feet from him.

"Or you could get naked and come in too." Because I absolutely wouldn't mind seeing his lickable body again, even if he was a pain in my ass most of the time.

Kellan folded his arms over his chest, still giving me his back. Stepping under the spray, I watched him through the glass door. He turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder. He wanted to look, and fuck, I wanted his eyes on me too. "You can look. I'm not going to complain."

He stiffened and swung his head back around, facing the door. "No thanks."

I chuckled. He was stubborn but a terrible liar. Grabbing the soap, I quickly washed and rinsed off before stepping out. "Your turn."

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