Page 20 of Forever Flames: Padraig & Stevie
“Fuck,” he croaks.
I sigh with relief. “You scared the shit out of us.”
“I feel like I got tackled by a truck.” Liam winces when he tries to sit up. “Help me up.”
Seamus protests again. “Not yet! You’re not supposed to—”
“I’m fine,” Liam snaps, but softer than usual.
I look at Seamus. His lower lip quivers. Not convinced.
“Careful.” I slip one arm behind Liam’s back for support. “Tell me if it hurts too much.”
He groans again as Cillian and I lift him together. Slow. Cautious. Shaky. His weight sags against me, one arm looped over my shoulder.
I’m holding it together. If he hadn’t woken up…
“Let’s get downstairs, lads.”
We move as fast as we can. Brennan grabs Seamus and tugs him down to the basement ahead of us. One step at a time, I help my twin into the only space we trust. Our practice room.
Cillian and I ease Liam onto the busted couch. He lets out a hiss. Doesn’t open his eyes. Brennan bounds upstairs and comes back with an ice pack and a wet towel. Hands them over without a word.
I press the towel to Liam’s temple.
“Fuck.” He flinches. “Hurts.”
Seamus curls against the wall, arms locked tight around his knees. Brennan buries himself in his laptop like it’s a shield. Cillian slumps in the corner and stares into space.
I look deep into Liam’s eyes.I’m sorry.
He scrunches his nose.For what?
Not getting there sooner.
You tried.
My twin. Same face as mine. Same build. Same mouth. I can’t stand to see him hurt. Physically. Emotionally. None of it.
“He looked at me like I was filth,” he grits out. “I knew he’d fucking hate me for being fluid…”
I shake my head. “You’re not filth.”
“He thinks I am.” Liam’s face crumples. “Part of me understands. I want to be with women. I want to be with men. How am I supposed to choose? How will I ever have what you and Stevie…”
My chest splinters. He’s never admitted this out loud. Maybe not even to himself.
“He’s doesn’t get to have an opinion about you.” I grip his shoulder. “Never again. You’re allowed to be yourself without worrying about him.”
Liam closes his eyes. The ice slips a little. I hold it steady.
The five of us stay put for a while. A long while. Each contemplating what occurred in the cool, quiet of the basement. Brennan and Cillian doze off. Seamus keeps a close watch on the two of us. I want to text Stevie, but I don’t dare retrieve my phone. She’ll understand once I’m able to tell her what happened.
After a while, Liam shifts and sits up, wincing. Crosses his arms over his chest. “Fuck this woebegone bullshit. I wanna play.”
“No. You’re concussed.” Seamus is at his side in an instant.
“Ah, I’m grand, wee one.” Liam musses up Seamus’ hair and rises to his feet. “I’ll take it easy.”
