Page 32 of Caught Stealing

Sounds like a crock of shit to me. Like simply being friends with someone in the queer community automatically exempts you from ever being homophobic. It doesn’t fucking work that way.

“I just don’t want to see you water yourself down to make other people comfortable. You shouldn’t have to do that—not for a single person on this planet.” My stare is pointed and firm, leaving no room for debate.

“I won’t be.”

I arch a disbelieving brow. “So you’re planning to be all cute and lovey-dovey with Holden right in front of Noah, knowing he’s already been acting weird around you? And your other teammates too?”

I’ve known Kason long enough to know the answer to both those questions is no. He just doesn’t want to admit it. To me, or himself.

“Things aren’t like that with Holden,” he says quietly. “We’re not anything serious yet, and while we aren’t keeping it on the DL, the guys won’t care if they saw a little PDA.”

“You say that now, but what happens when they do, and you’re left feeling like garbage due to some shitty comment they make to be funny?”

A disgruntled sound leaves him and he runs his fingers through his hair. He must be getting just as frustrated with me as I am with him. Or realizing how right I am, as much as he might wish I wasn’t.

“It’s your family’s place, Phoe. They don’t have to come if you don’t want them there. Just say the fucking word. Even Holden will understand if I tell him he can’t come either. I’m sure you need to run it by your parents as it is.”

Mom and Dad already told me I’m more than welcome to invite any friends down—something they’ve made clear to me since starting college. That’s not the issue here. I just wanted to get Kasonawayfrom all of this shit to talk some sense into him about Holden. Or maybe gaining some distance from him might allow him to remove whatever rose-colored glasses he has on when he looks at the guy.

Having himandthe rest of those Neanderthals won’t help my efforts.

Plus, after what happened with Holden in his bedroom, the last thing I need is to be trapped in a single house with him for a week and a half. Or a vehicle on the way down there, for that matter.

Too bad saying no and disinviting Holden only makesmelook like an ass.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a long sigh, already regretting my decision before it’s even been made. “Fine. They can come. But don’t be surprised if I end up inviting Theo and Wyatt and any other people I actually want to hang out with too.”

Hurt crosses Kason’s features immediately, but I’m too pissed to care. He’s the one who didn’t care about how bringing the fucker with us on vacation would makemefeel. This thing with him and Holden is changing us and our friendship into something…I don’t even recognize anymore.

“Phoe—”

“I’ve got work to do,” I mutter, lifting my laptop back open. My focus stays fixed on the screen as the bed shifts from Kason rising off the mattress. He must be taking the agonizing silence between us as a sign that this conversation is over.

His footfalls retreat toward the door, but when I chance a glimpse, I find him standing in the doorway, staring back at me.

“Can you at least try to forgive me before we leave next week?” he asks softly.

I swallow back the desire to right this moment, and whisper, “Shut the door on your way out.”

Eleven

Holden

I’m not exactly sure why I agreed to be the one driving seventeen hours down to Florida for this trip over winter break. The only time I’ve ever taken a road trip of this magnitude was to move from California to Chicago, and it was a drive I hated every minute of.

My desperation to get laid—and under Phoenix’s skin—must be at an all-time high. It’s the only explanation for why I’m suffering through the daggers being glared at me through the headrest. Or the hateful stare I’ll randomly catch in the rearview mirror whenever I change lanes or talk to Noah, who’s beside him in the back seat.

At this rate, I think Phoenix might be getting undermyskin more than the other way around. It doesn’t help that every time our gazes collide, my attention snags on his lips, and I can’t help the way my blood heats when I remember the stunt he pulled in my room.

It only takes a second for me to realize he’s probably plotting yet another way to ensure my demise while our eyes are locked through the reflection. Then I snap right out of it.

Those moments alone have already made for a less-than-desirable trip, and we still have fourteen more hours to go. But I also know it could also be much, much worse.

Still, the tension is enough for me to crave the pit stops for gas and food every few hours, if only for a slight reprieve from the toxic cloud filling my Jeep.

I glance to where Theo pulled into the pump behind me and is refilling his Bronco. Meanwhile, Phoenix, Kason, and the others head inside to order lunch and hit the restrooms, leaving the two of us here alone.

“How’s your drive going?” I call over to Theo as I screw the cap back on my gas tank.

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