Page 68 of Bump and Run
Ollie was staring at me with huge green eyes. “Married? Since when?”
“That’s what you got out of that?” Kit’s scowl darkened.
I twisted the ring on my finger. “He asked, and I said yes. I wanted you to be there when we do it. It’s not going to be fancy. Just something at the town hall, but you’re my best friend, and I thought it would be perfect if you could stand up for me.”
Ollie sighed. “You can’t marry him. I knew he was going to be trouble the first time you met him. The moment he was all you could talk about and see, that was the problem. He broke your heart; now he’s back, and he’s going to do it all over again, Jones.”
“Someone needs to back up and tell me the entire story.” Kit dropped his hand on Ollie’s thigh, palm up, and I tried not to stare when Ollie laced their fingers together. “Stop gawking, asshole.” He growled, but when he tried to pull away, my best friend only gripped his hand tighter. I thought I saw Kit’s glare soften just a little, but I wasn’t sure.
I worried my lip between my teeth before I started to talk. I told Kit all about Charlie and how we met. I left out some of it, like how he took my virginity, then ghosted me and disappeared out of my life for the past couple of years. But I made sure he knew exactly who Charlie’s father was, what a piece of poop he was, and everything he had done to make sure that Charlie and I weren’t together.
I stared at my best friend and his boyfriend as they watched me. They were still holding hands, but Kit’s nostrils flared angrily with every breath. “Someone, say something.”
“Fuck that guy!” Kit barked. “He’s a piece of shit. You should dump Charlie and find someone better. Besides, marriage is for fools.”
Ollie shook his head. “It’s not that easy, Kitten, you know that. When you love someone, you’ll do anything to keep them. Even marry them.”
“You...” Kit glared at him, then surprised me and climbed up into Ollie’s lap. He kissed him like his life depended on it, and I turned away to give them some privacy. I heard the soft whispers as they spoke to one another before a cough brought my attention back to them. Kit’s lips were swollen and wet, his eyes hooded. “Don’t say a fucking word.”
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread over my face. “I would never.” Then my eyes landed on Ollie’s busted lip and blackened eye. “You have to stop hurting him, Kit. It’s not right.”
“Jones, don’t,” Ollie hissed, but it was already too late.
Kit climbed to his feet, walked over, and bent down so that he was in my face. “Or what, Matthews?You going to stop me?” He poked me in the chest with his finger. When I just continued to stare at him, he smirked. “That’s what I thought.”
“Kit!” Ollie exclaimed. “Leave him alone.”
Kit’s eyes flashed with anger and jealousy before he spun around. “I’m out.”
“What? Why?” Ollie gasped.
Kit didn’t answer, just stomped from the room. Then I heard the front door slam. Ollie’s chin trembled as he stared after him. “He does love me, Jones. He just doesn’t know how to say the words. He’ll be back. He always comes back.”
“He’s a jerk, Ollie. He treats you terribly. Love shouldn’t include hurting someone.”
“You’re one to talk. Charlie broke you into a million pieces. And now you’re going to marry him. Pot. Kettle. Black.”
Ouch. “Charlie didn’t hit me.”
I wanted to chase after Kit, grab him the by shoulders, and shake him. Scream in his face that he was being ridiculous. Ollie was an amazing person, and he chose to love Kit. How could he not realize that?
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I just... It’s not right, Ollie.”
“I should go after him.” Ollie winced as he chewed on his lip. “He’s not really breaking up with me. He does this all the time. Things get to be too much, and he doesn’t know how to handle it. Feelings are not his thing. He lashes out.” That part was more than obvious with the bruises and cuts on Ollie’s face. He murmured something quietly that I couldn’t quiet hear. But it sounded like“It’s not Kitthat’s hitting me.”
“Go after him,” I suggested. “You know where he lives, right?”
Ollie nodded. “Yeah, but he just needs to cool down.”
We both looked up at the sound of footsteps. “Ols?” Kit’s voice was soft as he called out to my best friend and then he appeared in the doorway.
“I thought you left.” Ollie stared at him like he thought Kit was a mirage or might disappear again.
Kit shrugged. “I thought about it, but then I changed my mind.” His blue eyes darted over to me. “You’re right. I should stop... I just...” He moved fast and climbed back into Ollie’s lap, burying his face against his neck.
“It’s okay, I’m right here, Kitten.” Ollie wrapped both arms around Kit, his eyes pleading with me to not say anything else.
Kit’s shoulders trembled. “I’m sorry, Ols. I don’t know why I do the stupid shit that I do. I don’t know how to stop it. And I appreciate everything you do for me.”
