Page 66 of Fallen Stars

“We need to talk about portions.”

“Yes, sir.”

“No one likes their cock sucked by skeletons.”

“Yes, sir.”

Water and food are set on the floor within inches of the eyebolt. The guard backs out, closes the door, and leaves me in solitude. Footsteps echo and quiet outside my cell.

I take a deep breath, grab the plate and bottle, and devour the food. After a few small sips of water, I lie down on the floor and close my eyes.

Salty air.

Starry night.

Holding hands.

Warm kisses.

Happiness.

Love.

SEVENTEEN

OLIVER

Bass vibratesmy seat as electronic music spills from the speakers in Levi’s car. The summer sun warms my skin as the salty wind whips through my hair. Tall evergreens line one side of the road as businesses teem with residents and tourists on the other.

Beautiful as the day is, I struggle to enjoy it. Toying with a loose thread on my shorts as we weave through town toward his house, I recall Levi’s words from earlier.

After breakfast with my parents, Levi said he didn’t want to wait to tell his family about himselfand us. On the next breath, he asked me to come with him.

Proud as I am of him for taking this step—officially coming out—I am nervous as hell. His father doesn’thateme, but he isn’t fond of me either.

Deep down, I know it isn’t my fault Mr. West feels the way he does. I’ve not done anything untoward or egregious to Levi or anyone else in their family. I think he dislikes me because Levi and I have always been close. Add in the fact that I am gay and his son is spending most of his free time with me; Mr. West is far from happy.

Long before Levi and I were friends, his father set impossible expectations. Mr. West wants both of his sons in politics with stunning women at their sides. He wants some antiquated version of a picture-perfect family that everyone in Stone Bay looks up to and idolizes. He wants his children to live fictitious lives and perpetuate these false ideologies for future generations.

Levi refuses to be molded into a replica of his father. His aspirations lie outside of politics and people-pleasing. He has no desire to sit on a proverbial throne and let townsfolk worship him. And he doesn’t want a woman on his arm.

All Levi wants is to live his life according to his own rules, to be loved and to love someone in return.

Some might say that’s not asking for much. But for Levi, asking this of his father is monumental.

The car slows as we pass the fire department. Less than a mile later, he flips the blinker on and turns onto Founders Way. My knee bounces when the sign for West Terrace comes into view.

Levi downshifts then rests his hand on my thigh as the roof of the main house peeks through the trees.

“Let me do the talking, okay?”

I flip my hand over and lace my fingers with his. “No problem.”

He chuckles. “We’ll go inside and I’ll ask my parents and grandparents to join us in the sitting room. If Parker’s home, I’ll invite him too.”

His thumb lazily strokes the length of mine.

“Once everyone is present, I’ll let them know things with Abi didn’t work out because we both have feelings for other people.”

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