Page 61 of Silas's Sweetheart

So not going there! Silas waved that off. “Doesn’t matter. Let’s just say he never told me about Frey.”

“He wasn’t fucking Frey,” Booker muttered. “He was offering to help him get through his heat ‘cause Frey had past trauma. They weren’t gonna to fuck, and Frey got these ugly ass pants that hide everything and have a hole in the back for… you get my drift.”

Coming to a standstill, he stared at Booker, his guts knotting painfully. “Past trauma? What are you talking ‘bout?”

He set aside the other stuff because instead of being direct with Ziggy, he’d hidden behind anger. Behind his own lack of trust.

“Let’s just say Frey’s flirty behavior was all a front, and he needed help. Ziggy just offered to help a friend through a difficult time. As much as it irks me that Ziggy could have touched Frey when he’s mine, Ziggy is the kind of friend you want. He’s a real decent bloke. I’m sorry I fucked things up for you. If I’d just kept it to myself then maybe you and Ziggy would be fine.”

Silas went to the small couch and sank down, suddenly feeling exhausted. “No… I think I’d have fucked it up eventually ‘cause I wasn’t being honest with myself, never mind Ziggy. I was the one to put in the boundaries that kept distance between us.”

He rubbed at his face and said what he’d not accepted when he’d spoken with Dad then Popi. “I did that because the first time I saw him, I knew he was different. My first instinct was to run. It felt like I was sucker punched. Same way I felt about… Jason.”

And the misery he felt deep in his bones didn’t make him regret that he hadn’t acted on those instincts and ran away because Ziggy was worth more than that to Silas. And that told him all he needed to know about where his head and heart were at.

Booker’s chuckle held no humor as he came and crouched in front of him. “Having feelings for someone sure as hell sucks big hairy balls!”

Silas met his brother's worried stare. “You ain’t wrong. Ziggy wants nothing to do with me now.”

“Man the fuck up. You are one of the best fucking men I know. Stop fucking hiding behind society’s fake fucking beliefs aboutdivergents. I saved your fucking ass that day in the alley because you are my best friend. One of honor, of courage. Do fucking you. Show him who you really are, the man I love. He won’t run from you if he’s everything you think he is.”

Silas choked back a ball of emotion and swallowed hard, the love he felt for his brother making it hard to answer. “What would you do?”

A deep red spread over Booker’s cheekbones. “I’m not sure I’m the one to ask, ‘cause stalking could get you into more bother.”

A deep belly laugh filled the silence that Booker’s confession created. “Tell me you didn’t stalk Frey?”

“Don’t look at me like that, I was desperate, okay!”

So was Silas—but stalking? Had he reached that level of desperation?

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ziggy

Ziggy had met Bowie in the parking lot when he’d pulled in to park next to his car. Bowie had been on his phone and hadn’t initially noticed him until Ziggy had knocked on his car window. They’d been strolling quietly together to head to where they planned to meet Frey, until Bowie spotted Frey with the stroller, and ran ahead, calling his name.

The other man looked to be lost in thought when he didn’t so much as look in Bowie’s direction.

“Are you deaf?” Bowie asked breathlessly, waving a hand in front of Frey’s face. “I’ve been shouting your name for the last five minutes. I had to run to catch you.”

Ziggy didn’t contradict Bowie when it had barely been a minute, possibly two, before he’d caught up with Frey, who wore a sheepish smile.

“Sorry. I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have a friend like you.”

Ziggy slung an arm over Frey’s shoulder. “What about me?”

Frey glanced sideways, grinning at Ziggy. “You, too… but you will have to learn to bake to gain full friendship status.”

Ziggy groaned and rolled his eyes. “I’m telling you that if you tastedmy cakes, you’d never want to be my friend because you’d possibly not survive the poisoning.” He stressed the cake part because were brownies actually cake? And technically, he had poisoned no one when he’d made them.

Frey barked out a laugh as they strolled on towards the concession stand they had planned to meet at.

Ziggy’s attention caught on a giant of a man who looked familiar.

“I hope we got here early enough to nab some brownies.”

Drawing his gaze back to Frey, who had sped up, he increased his pace, groaning, “You and your sweet tooth.”

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