Page 67 of Unfix Me

To imagine that was how Sen felt… It made tears prick my eyes again. I wanted to drag him to Maine just so that he could experience a hug from my mom. And my dad, if he was lucid enough for it.

I wondered if it was weird to invite him there for Christmas. He said he’d probably go home, but he didn’t appear thrilled about it. I was sure his parents would be upset if he didn’t go back for the holiday. I wasn’t inclined to feel bad for them in any way considering what I’d seen from Sen.

“Mom, I love you,” I said with all the sincerity in the world. Sick dad or not, what I had far outmatched what so many others had. I’d never stop being grateful to them.

Not for one second.

Chapter 23

Kai

“This is Halloween, everybody make a scene,” West sang as he pranced down the hallway.

“Are we sure he’s not the gay one?” Brooks asked, eyeing him with a raised brow.

“Hm,” I mused. “Sexuality is a spectrum. You never know.”

West mock laughed at me. “I’d only go gay for you, baby.”

“You don’tgogay.”

“Watch me.”

He grabbed my throat and slammed me against the wall, getting close to my face.

“Want another kiss, Kai?”

My eyes flashed to Sen, whose lips were pursed. I punched West in the stomach, making his grip loosen enough for me to pry his hand free.

“Touchy,” he muttered, rubbing his abdomen. “I’m just messing with you.”

“Don’t touch me like that,” I told him, trying to be firm without coming off as rude.

Regardless, he looked a little offended. I needed to find some balance here and since I couldn’t tell him why I was setting boundaries, I didn’t know what to do.

“What are everyone’s plans for tonight?” Sen asked, breaking the tense silence. I wanted to take his hand, but pushed mine into my pockets instead.

“Party,” Brooks replied with a shrug.

We all looked at West. “Same, probably. Kai, are you going to this thing at Porter’s frat?”

I shook my head. “I’m not partying tonight.”

“What are you doing?”

“Might go to the carnival downtown. We’ll see where the night takes us.”

“Us?”

Briefly, I met Sen’s eyes. “It’s just a turn of phrase.”

“Well, I firmly believe that you should come by. If he keeps pissing me off, he might get a fist to the face.”

“West,” I sighed. “Just don’t go if that’s gonna happen. You’re gonna screw up your scholarship.”

“Guess you’re gonna have to make sure I’m good tonight.”

“I told you I’m busy.”

---