Page 24 of Between the Stacks

“Today isn’t a good day either because I still feel bad,” she muttered. “Though I understand why it had to be now.”

“Doesn’t make the situation any better.” I took her hand in mine. “I honestly thought you would ask us about our sexuality or something.”

“Was I supposed to care?” She glanced at me with a confused look on her face.

“Scott’s mom did. My dad didn’t like it either. They called us sinners.” I swallowed around the knot of emotion in my throat. For as much as I might act like I got over the way they treated us, I couldn’t shake the voice at the back of my mind cackling at me, telling me my dad and stepmom were right.

“I get it,” she said. “People are ignorant assholes. Bigots to their core. I witnessed it first-hand growing up in a small town where everybody knew everybody’s business. I mean, they’dgone so far as to make a social media group to gossip about who was having an affair with the hot single father who owned the farm three miles from us.”

“Was he hot?” I teased.

“If smelling like cow shit and crop residue is what gets you hot and bothered,” she shrugged, “sure. I guess.”

I chuckled. “I bet you smelled good covered in slop.”

“Yeah, how ‘bout no.” She made an ick face before returning her gaze to the backyard. “I never gave a shit about what society thought. If you haven’t noticed, I kind of march to the beat of my own drum around here.”

“Are you saying you’re part of the alphabet mafia too?” I cocked a brow.

Lyra groaned. “Please don’t ever use that term again.”

I nudged her playfully. “I really do like you. Scott too.”

“What are you buttering me up for?” The second she turned her head, I kissed her. The sadness in her eyes, the anxiety of losing everything she had except for what she carried in her backpack wasn’t making the situation any easier on her. I wanted to comfort her in the best way I knew how.

Affection.

I swallowed her soft moan as she leaned into me wrapping her arms around my neck. The tentative swipes of her tongue across mine sent me reeling. She was soft in all the right spots, and she made my blood run hot with arousal. The kiss only solidified the notion we were good together. We just needed a little more time convincing her.

“This isn’t homework,” Jonesy said, interrupting us. “But it does look like you’re having more fun.” He went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “Don’t mind me, I was thirsty.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’ll get used to Jonesy. He’s like an annoying big brother who always knows the wrong times to enter a room or a conversation.”

He gasped, placing his hand over his chest. “You wound me, Cole.”

Lyra hid her laughter as Jonesy crossed to us. When he stopped directly behind her, the air surrounding us crackled with tension. “King... Interesting choice.”

“English Lit...” Lyra shrugged. “He says some good stuff in there too.”

Jonesy hummed. “So, tell me, Lyra, have you ever seen two men kiss?”

She pulled back, making a startled face. “That came out of left field.”

“Well, I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation and I thought maybe you needed to get a taste of what’s in store.” Jonesy cut his gaze toward me, locking those impenetrable hazel eyes on me. “Since Cole is here, I thought I’d—we'd give you a small sample of the debauchery to be had.”

“What about Scott?” she hedged.

“Scotty doesn’t have to know,” Jonesy said with a little shrug. “Unless you want to make him jealous.”

I cleared my throat. “Shouldn’t you be asking me, big guy?”

He smirked. “Well, do you want to give her a taste?”

“I’ll leave the decision to our guest,” I said, then waited for her answer.

She inhaled a shaky breath. “O-Okay.”

“Perfect.”

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