Page 59 of Dirty Secrets

I tossed my cigarette butt in the tin close by and stood, helping him to his feet.

“I think you need to organize contraception if you’re sexually active,” he said quietly, halting me from opening the front door. “Just to be safe.”

“I know.”

“I mean it. Don’t listen to him if he tries to convince you to let him fuck you without a condom. It’s not worth the risk. If even a tiny drop of cum is left in you, it can make a baby,” he warned, and I swatted his chest with annoyance.

“I know, I’m not an idiot. I know how babies are made.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel stupid, but you’ll learn your experience from him. I don’t know him, so I don’t trust him to be careful. I just want you to know what’s bullshit in case he tries to trick you. Guys like to fuck without condoms, I know because I’m a guy and have risked it in the past when I was younger. If you guys get serious and start dating, he might try to convince you not to use one. Before he even tries to convince you otherwise, the pull out and pray method doesn’t work. A lot of guys don’t pull out fast enough.” My eyes widened a second before I realized my reaction, and Zavier clenched his fists, stepping closer. “Is he trying to convince you to do that?”

“No,” I chuckled, trying to calm my expression. “I just hear a lot of people use that method.”

He relaxed, shaking his head. “Don’t rely on it, no matter what people say. Besides, condoms keep you safe from STDs too. If he’s experienced, it’s likely he’s had a lot of practice. The Heights is infested with shit like that, so be careful. If you haveconcerns about anything weird, you tell me. No judgment, just help. I promise.”

The door opened and Logan poked his head out, suspicion in his eyes. “What are you two doing?”

“Just girl talk,” Zavier answered as he pushed past him and headed inside, Logan giving me a look that said I’d better explain. I stepped inside, seeing Zavier and Reid weren’t close by.

“I told him I’m seeing someone,” I whispered, his eyebrows shooting up to his hairline.

“Excuse me?”

I flinched, stumbling over my words. “I didn’t tell him it was you, but he was wanting me to sit on his lap and I kind of told him why I couldn’t. Don’t worry, I won’t blurt it out to other people.”

“I just wasn’t expecting you to tell him anything, that’s all,” he answered, glancing over his shoulder to make sure we were alone, before stepping closer to drop his hands to my waist. “You sure he won’t say anything to Reid? If he does, Reid will lose his fucking mind. If that happens, I’m not hiding that it’s me, okay? I won’t have him yelling at you and making you feel guilty for it. He can yell at me instead.”

“He’s happy for me and said he’d keep it a secret. He told me the pull out method doesn’t work,” I said dryly, and he winced.

“It’s safer than coming inside you, but yeah. We’ll be more careful. No more risks.”

“Deal,” I smiled, my fingers tangling in the front of his shirt. “So, what did you make me for breakfast?”

“Come sit, I made you a fresh coffee too,” he said softly, steering me into the kitchen and towards the table to see the mess I’d left on the floor was gone. I sat down and he joined me, my mouth watering at the eggs and bacon piled up on my plate.

“Where’d you get the eggs?” I asked as I shoveled some into my mouth, making him grin.

“Some old lady in Ashburn was struggling to carry her groceries yesterday, so we helped her. She gave us some eggs as a thank you. She has chickens.”

“That was nice of her,” I replied, tearing some bacon and popping it into my mouth. “Where’s Reid?”

“Showering. I think it was an excuse to be alone for a few minutes.”

“Should someone check on him?”

“Nah, not yet. If he doesn’t come out for a while, then I’ll check on him. For now, you eat,” he answered, checking his phone while I ate the rest of my food.

Reid

I’d barely made it to the bathroom before tears started leaking. Raven didn’t need to see that shit, she had her own broken heart to heal. She didn’t need to feel obligated to fix mine too.

Every year it was the same. We’d both fall apart while holding each other together, and with every year that passed, I swore it only got harder.

Josh should’ve been here with us. Raven never should’ve had to grow up without her brother, and I never should’ve had to watch my best friend die.

I wished Raven hadn’t had to see it because I felt like she would’ve healed more by now without that kind of trauma planted in her memories.

I switched the shower on once I’d stripped off, and then I stepped under the spray as it heated, frustration rolling through me as my leg ached from the chill. I’d overdone it with that chick the other night, just like Zavier had warned me.

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