Page 3 of Fractured Souls
“Yeah, well, that’s because I knew you when you were a scrawny loser who ate dirt and dared me to steal the good crayons from Ms. Mallory’s closet in second grade, then immediately told on me and cried in front of the whole class embarrassing us both. It’s my job to humble you.”
“I did not eat dirt!” He glares, but mine is more lethal than his and he folds. “I just wanted to know if it tasted like those pudding cups with the cookie dirt on top. It was third grade!” I laugh, pulling him against me, and he joins me. The feeling sinks straight into my bones. He’s an extension of me. Part of my molecular makeup at this point. What he feels, I feel, and right now, I hurt for him.
There is no Bowen Zhao without Camden Almeida.
We are a pair.
Which is why I need to remember this and stop the useless pining. Cam doesn’t want me; he’s not attracted to men. I need to get a grip. He fucking loves me, and it doesn’t matter if it looks different than the way I love him. What we have is better than romantic love. It’s eternal. “I’m sorry I came so late. I had nowhere else to go.”
“It’s okay. You know I love it when you’re here.” With me. Safe. “Stay as long as you want. I’ll make up the couch and you can have my bed.”
“I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“You’re six-two, and this is a loveseat. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“I have to get my things tomorrow. Fuck! My laptop. What if she ruins it?”
“We’ll go as soon as we wake up. I doubt she’ll destroy your laptop.” I have a feeling she’ll be begging him to stay, and destroying his things is not the way to go about getting him to. Not that I’ll let him go back to her.
“Thanks.”
“You need to promise me you will not take her back. Promise.” I mean this selfishly and for his own good. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d caved and taken someone back.
“They fucked in our house. I won’t take her back.”
“You have before. I’m just saying.”
“Name one!”
“I can name like ten without breaking a sweat, but you don’t want me to be that mean right now.”
He sinks into himself. “Fine. I promise. That’s why I need you with me, though. You make my brain work right.”
“That’s because I’m immune to girls with nice boobs and pretty smiles.
“Ugh,” Cam groans. “But I love boobs and pretty smiles.”
Yep. Straight bestie. Let it sink in. Fucking bathe in it, Bowen. “Well, use the brain in your skull not your scrotum.”
“Ew! Don’t ever say that again.”
“Scrotum. Scrotum.” Cam covers his ears as I say it three more times for fun.
“Are you done!?” he says a little too loudly with his hands covering his ears. “Let me sleep in bed with you.”
“No. No way, Cam.”
“Come on! It’ll be like old times. What’s the big deal? We used to do it all the time. I’m overdue for a Bo cuddle. A buddle? Boddle?”
“Stop.”
“Come on!” he whines. “What’s the problem?”
Well, we aren’t twelve anymore, and I am painfully in love with you, you tall, oblivious, gorgeous asshat! The thought of Cam sleeping next to me makes me want things I cannot have. “Cam, no.”
“Please, I don’t want to be alone tonight.” The bastard hits me with the biggest eyes he can manage.Shit. Cam breaks out into a wide grin, knowing I’ll cave. I love his eyes. He knows it too.
“I can’t stand you. I hope you know that.”
