Page 94 of Bend Him, Break Him
“I think I was born for that,” Isaac said with a smirk. “But I have no interest in returning to Straight Arrow. That town can suck it.”
“But can it suck it as well as you?”
As much as Isaac wanted to be angry, to show his pure, undiluted resentment for his hometown, that comment kept his smirk from faltering.
Isaac swore to himself to never set foot in his former home again. He vowed to never look back. But he also promised himself to avoid Colton, to ignore the blooming feelings between them. That hadn’t exactly turned out how he hoped.
“Okay.” Colton made these sad puppy-dog eyes, which annoyed Isaac more than coaxed him.
Isaac huffed, turning away to avoid Colton’s expression. When the pitiful jock scooted closer, rubbing his foot against Isaac’s under the covers, it nearly squashed Isaac’s resolve. They lay in silence, Colton’s sad, rhythmic breathing the only noise.
“Fine, whatever.” Isaac caved almost immediately because Colton had that awful effect on him, and he didn’t want to spend the night with knots in his stomach.
Colton hugged Isaac as he lay against his chest, his head resting over Isaac’s heart. A heart that pattered all the faster when Colton snickered with glee. Geez, his boyfriend hadn’t even pulled out the big guns, and Isaac cracked. He made a mental note to work on ignoring Colton’s future pleas. In the meantime, he wanted to set some ground rules for the summer trip.
“But I’m not going anywhere in town.”
“Okay, whatever you say.” Colton squeezed him tighter.
“And I’m not doing any stupid parties.”
“Of course, only smart parties for you.” Colton giggled.
“I’m serious.”
“And serious parties.” Colton nuzzled into the crook of Isaac’s neck.
As much as Isaac wanted to hiss, to protest, to take back his surrender, he simply sank into the comfort of Colton’s cuddles and lay in bed as his boyfriend put on some ridiculously absurd show.
“I hate you.”
“I love you, too.”
Isaac hugged Colton back, savoring these horribly wonderful tiny moments that he couldn’t get enough of. No part of him felt worthy of Colton’s love, of this life he now led, of the possibility of a real future together, but Isaac intended on working harder each day to earn this life. He wanted more with Colton. He wanted everything.
Epilogue
Six months later
Asthe fall semester came to a close, Colton buzzed with anticipation as he packed up for winter break. For the first time since summer break—the minuscule vacation he squeezed in thanks to all his extra courses—he actually enjoyed going home. Things were changing in his family. His mother was becoming a mom and taking a real interest in Colton. In his identity. In his dreams. In his career goals. She’d even made a point of saying how she planned to attend his games this spring.
Now, the real test would be if she actually showed up or not. But he suspected she would, given it’d offer her a chance to sit in the bleachers with Isaac, whose snippy, snarky, sour attitude meshed well with his mom.
They were like catty gossips together. As much as Colton rolled his eyes at their mean girl antics, he rather enjoyed how Isaac went out and about without making any fuss. Fall break was the same. And Colton was hoping for a nice winter break with his boyfriend. He’d found the perfect Christmas present and was already imagining Isaac unwrapping his gift.
Once he’d finished packing and tucked away his present—in case Isaac snooped through his belongings—he grabbed his things and headed over to Isaac’s apartment. Given how long it’d take to get to his folks’ place, it saved time sleeping at the same place. Plus, with the stress of the semester wrapping up, they hadn’t spent many nights together that didn’t involve grueling studying.
Colton knocked on the door when he arrived, and Isaac flung his door open, wearing frost-colored clothes. All white with hues of blue. Given his slender frame and matching dyed hair, he was giving off Jack Frost vibes, and Colton found himself enamored. His long-sleeve crop top had frayed edges and a deep V-cut rip that appeared to be added after the fact, given how the collar hung a little loose and wonky at Isaac’s neck.
A neck Colton couldn’t stop looking at since Isaac had gotten his new tattoo. CAL was inked in forest green above the flames of Isaac’s phoenix tattoo on the left side of his neck. The color choice was picked because Colton considered it his favorite. Not that he spent a lot of time thinking about a favorite color, but since Isaac insisted, he went with his gut and chose the darker, lush green. As for the letters…they stood for Colton Ashton Lennox.
Instinctively, Colton rubbed his neck on the opposite side, his right side, and thought about his matching tattoo that Isaac had convinced him to get. IMP was scrawled across Colton’s neck ina deep pink with extra black shading to outline the initials of Isaac’s name: Isaac Mathias Parker.
The tattoo was ridiculous and silly and such a jinx on their relationship. Seriously, couples should never get matching tattoos, a sentiment Colton continued believing despite how giddy his made him.
“Well?” Isaac huffed, an edge of annoyance on his face as his eyes flitted up.
Colton followed them and noticed the random bow sitting on top of Isaac’s head, nestled in his bleached hair with frosted blue highlights.
