Page 14 of Caught Stealing

Nevertheless, it doesn’t change the place I’m coming from here. Which is a place of concern and friendship more than anything else.

Blowing out a sigh, I lean back against the wall and look up at him. “I hope you realize I’m only telling you this because I care about you. I don’t want to see you get hurt by yet another person.”

His green eyes soften around the edges before he runs his fingers through his hair. “I know. But at some point, you have to loosen the reins and just let me do my thing.”

“Kinda hard to do when it goes directly against the way we looked out for each other as kids.”

For as long as I can remember, it’s always been us against the world. He became a brother to me the moment we met, and our bond only grew with time. After all, we understood each other on a level no one else did.

Both athletes. Both gay. Both closeted.

Both far too afraid to ever change that—though his reasonings were far more dire than mine.

I’d do fucking anything for him. Look out for him and keep him safe, the way family does for one another—the way his real family never has. After all, there were times he needed to be protectedfromthem.

As if peering straight into my thoughts and reading them like a road-map, Kason gives me an understanding smile. “I know you mean well. But we aren’t fourteen anymore, Phoe.”

I sigh in resignation.

No, we really aren’t fourteen anymore—and thank God for that. Because idiotic, virgin, eighth-grade Phoenix had just figured out he was gay and became whacked upside the head with attraction for Kason. Or, at least, that’s the way my pubescent, hormone-filled brain translated the emotions I was feeling.

My mind rewinds back to Holden earlier today and his ridiculous accusation.

You don’t want me with Kason because you want him for yourself.

I know he’s wrong—feelings for Kason haven’t entered the equation in years. Truthfully, I don’t think it was anything other than my wires getting crossed to begin with.

The love I have for Kason—love coming from a place of friendship—turned into this misguided idea of wanting more with him, and heading off to college fixed that too. It shifted those strange, warring emotions back to the typical kind of love best friends feel toward each other, and nothing more.

Kason’s knuckles rap on my skull. “Phoenix?”

I blink up at him. “Yeah?”

“Just making sure you’re still in there.” His head cocks to the side. “Did you not hear anything I said?”

A sheepish grin takes over my face. “No, sorry.”

He rolls his eyes, even though I can tell from the tilt of his lips he’s not all that upset.

“I asked if you could just…” He pauses for a second, choosing his words carefully. “You don’t have to like him, and you don’t have to be his friend. But if you could trust me to know what I’m getting into, I’d be grateful.”

Sighing, I relent as much as I dare. “I just wish you’d pick anyone else except him.”

He shakes his head again and lets out an exasperated laugh. “Is there something specific you have against Holden? Or is this just one of thoseno one will ever be good enough for my best friendthings?”

It’s definitely Holden. Ten thousand percent, it’s Holden.

He’s the guy no one should ever want their daughter dating—or son, for that matter. And here he is, fixating on the most important person in the world to me.

“A little of both,” I hedge, not wanting to sound like a straight-up asshole. Only, from the arch of Kason’s brow, he can tell I’m holding something back, so I quickly add, “But leaning more toward just Holden.”

“Then what is it? I believe you when you say it has nothing to do with Nico…but there must be something else. You’re not the type to just hate on someone like this without reason.”

Part of me wants to tell him.

Tell himeverything,and let the chips fall where they may.

Fuck, Ishouldtell him. After all, he’s supposed to be my best friend. If anything, letting him know about the colossal mistake I made could prevent him from repeating it. But I can’t bring myself to open my mouth and admit to my drunken one-night stand with his teammate.

---