Page 17 of Just a Bit Guarded

Gadiel’s brows furrowed. “Attractiveness isn’t objective, though. What’s attractive for one person isn’t attractive for another.”

Normally Will would agree. Some women he’d been with could be described as average-looking, but all of them had a nice smile, which was the first thing he usually noticed in women. Gadiel couldn’t be described as average-looking by any stretch of the imagination, but he also had the prettiest smile when it was genuine. Will couldn’t help but stare every time the kid smiled.

“There’s the term ‘conventionally attractive,’” Will said. “You’re that. And stop fishing for compliments. You know how attractive you are. You own a mirror.” Willlaid a hand on Gadiel’sshoulder blades and gently but firmly steered him out of the apartment.

Gadiel let him.

Chapter 10

Thankfully, they made it in time.

Scott was waiting for them inside the theater. Oh, Gadiel had almost forgotten how handsome he was in person. As handsome as Will.Morehandsome, though Will’s shoulders were wider and he was maybe an inch taller. Will’s features were a little firmer too. Not that Scott’s weren’t firm—they were plenty firm, just more refined. Scott’s features were objectively more handsome. Will’s were a little rough.

“Hello, beautiful,” Scott said with a flirty smirk.

Gadiel glanced sideways at Will and wasn’t surprised to see that he looked unimpressed.

“Lower your damn voice and stop being so obvious in public,” Will ground out.

Scott rolled his eyes but lifted his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m sorry, Mr. Bodyguard,” he said with his usual sass. “I’ll behave, I promise.”He smiled at Gadiel. “Shall we? The movie will start in five minutes.”

Their seats were at the back, and to Gadiel’s relief, there weren’t any people around them.

He sat down, and Scott took the seat to his left. After a moment, Will sat down next to Scott.

Gadiel frowned a little. He kind of... he’d expected that Will would sit by his side. But this was probably better. Thoughtful of him to give him and Scott some privacy. It was very dark here, the atmosphere suitably ominous for a horror movie. They could maybe get away with some cuddling.

“Fuck, I hope it isn’t too scary,” Scott said with a chuckle as the movie started. “I hate creepy horror movies. I could barely watch the originalAlienwithout pissing myself.” He took Gadiel’s hand and squeezed it. “You’ll protect me, right, babe?”

Gadiel’s forehead wrinkled. Personally, he loved horror movies, loved how freaked out they made him feel, the adrenaline and the nerve-racking tension, but he didn’t really see himself as the one who’d comfort his boyfriend and make him feel safe. He’d always wanted a boyfriend who would makehimfeel safe. It had always been something he’d craved: the feeling of security, home. Belonging.

Oh, well. Maybe it was a good sign that he and Scott were looking for the same thing. They could make it work.

“Sure,” Gadiel said with a crooked smile, patting Scott’s hand briefly. He considered holding it, but somehow it didn’t feel right. He glanced at Will over Scott’s shoulder, but from what he could see, his gaze was on the screen already. Gadiel turned to it, too.

The moviewasscary. It was so scary that within half an hour Gadiel felt like jumping out of his skin at every little noise, his heart pounding and his instincts screaming at him—and the characters—to run. When the creepy alien thingy jumped onto the guy’s face and crawled into his mouth, Gadiel flinched, disgusted and freaked out.

He glanced sideways and froze.

Scott was clutching Will’s arm. It was dark, but Gadiel was certain of it. Scott was clutching Will’s arm. And Will was letting him.

Gadiel glowered at them, feeling peeved. If Scott felt like clutching someone, why was he clutching Will? And why was Willlettinghim? Will washisbodyguard, not Scott’s! If anyone had the right to clutch Will, it should have been Gadiel. Will was paid to make him feel safe. This was—unfair!

“Will!” Gadiel hissed, trying not to sound like an angry cat in front of his date. “Come over here.” He patted the seat to his right.

“Now?” Will said.

“Yes. I need to tell you something. It’s important.”

Muttering something under his breath, Will freed his arm from Scott’s death grip and moved to the seat on Gadiel’s other side. “What?” he murmured, leaning to Gadiel’s ear.

He smelled good. Such a nice aftershave.

Gadiel reminded himself that he was annoyed with him. “I didn’t bring you here so you could hog Scott’s attention,” Gadiel hissed, his lips brushing against Will’s stubbled jaw. “Why were you letting him hold you?”

“He seemed scared. And it would have been rude to yank my arm away.”

“What’s rude is that you’remybodyguard but were bodyguarding someone else! You should have been protecting me. I’m supposed to be your priority.” Gadiel was embarrassed by the whine that entered his voice. But then the ear-splittingscream from the screen made him jump, and he grabbed Will’s arm, his embarrassment forgotten.

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