He Loves Him Read online

  He looked at me confused again. “Why not? What possible reason do you have to not want to hate them?”

  “They were your parents. I wouldn’t have you without them.”

  He frowned and said, “I think if they had their way you wouldn’t have me, either.”

  “They didn’t get their way though. And if you ask me that means you’re the winner of the family.”

  “What a winner I am. All I won was abandonment and now an orphan-ship.”

  “First off I’m not sure that’s a word. Second, you won the most important prize. You won love, you won me.”

  He barked out a laugh. “And what a wonderful prize you are,” he said and ruffled my hair before kissing my temple.

  I smiled and said, “I’ll excuse your sarcasm this time.”

  His hand rested on my cheek briefly before dropping and taking hold of one of mine. “I wouldn’t trade you for anything, Riker. Not even to have them back and have them love me.”

  I smirked, “I love you too, Kit.”

  Chapter 62 – Kit

  April 30th, 2017

  I had barely stepped out of my car before my Aunt was walking up to me. “I wasn’t sure you would actually come,” she said.

  I just shrugged and looked around trying to see who else was present. There, standing in a small group by the site, was where I caught sight of the one person I was hoping wouldn’t be there. One of my arms curled protectively around my chest before I even realized I was doing it.

  “It’s a funeral, Kit, no one would dare do anything to you here.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “It’s a pretty safe bet.”

  “There’s no such thing,” I said bitterly.

  “You coming to the reception after?”

  “No. What’s the point I don’t want to talk to any of these people and they don’t want to talk to me.”

  “Fair enough. Look just wait a few minutes before you leave after this. I’ve got some stuff in my car for you. I had to sort through the house and figure out what to do with everything and I came across a few things I thought you might want back.”

  “I don’t want any of their stuff.”

  “Just look at it at least. If you don’t want it, I’ll get rid of it.”

  “Fine.”

  A couple minutes later, the service started. I stood in the back by myself, perfectly content to not be front and center like my aunt was even though I had the right. I had declined to speak when she had asked me before if I wanted to, there was nothing for me to say, but I clenched my jaw and bore it as one of my parents’ friends spoke about how they were loving parents whose son ‘had been led astray and down a dark path despite their best efforts’. I ignored everyone who glanced in my direction, most were scowling, but I did send a glare to the man who beat me senseless all those years ago when he dared to look at me.

  When it was over and everyone was saying their last words, I drifted away to wait under a tree near where my aunt was parked. My heart started beating wildly when I saw the same man heading directly toward me. I forced myself to take a few deep breaths and mentally prepared myself.

  He reached out, placed his palm firmly on my chest, and pressed me back into the tree trunk. “Clearly, I didn’t beat you hard enough the last time you showed your face,” he spat at me.

  I shoved his hand away and said in the most threatening voice I could manage, “Do. Not. Touch. Me.”

  “You’re disgusting, and a disgrace to your parents. And if I have to beat you again to get that through your head then I will.” His fist came toward my face, but I ducked and dodged away so that I was behind him and shoved him into the tree.

  “I said, don’t touch me,” I growled. When he tried again, I shot my own hands out, grabbing onto his forearm and twisting until there was a sickening crack and he stumbled backwards into the tree again. His clutched his arm to his chest and stared menacingly at me, but he didn’t seem about to try again.

  “Yeah, I’ve learned a few things since the last time we met, and no none of them are your particular lesson. Which, if I might add, is wrong. So, here’s what’s going to happen. You can try and lay a hand on me again and see what happens, or you let me walk away now and I swear I will never show my face in this town ever again.”

  “Then, leave now.”

  “As soon as I say goodbye to my aunt,” I snapped at him, but I turned away and walked to my aunt’s car. She had been watching everything.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” I assured her even though I was shaking, “but I need to get out of here pretty soon.”

  “This’ll be fast.” She opened the back door and motioned for me to look in the box that was there. My breath hitched as I stepped forward and saw what was in it. I reached my hand out to touch the contents like they were the Holy Grail. There was a few of my old yearbooks, a picture of me as a little kid with my grandparents, and my old collection of Pokémon cards. Those made me smile, but they weren’t the real prize here. The real prizes were my favorite books. Six first editions, I had thought that I would never see again.

  “I thought they would’ve thrown everything out.”

  “No. Looks like they sold or donated all your old clothes and shoes and the furniture. Everything else was just boxed up. Most of it was just junk, but not this box. If there is anything else you want, let me know. I’ll look for it and send it to you.”

  “No, no this is it. Thank you, for everything you’ve done for me.”

  “I wish I could’ve done more. Will I see you again after today?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe someday. I’ll keep in touch though.”

  “You better.” She smiled at me and held her arms out. “Come here.”

  I walked into her arms and hugged her for a long moment. When we pulled apart it was with a small smile. I turned and picked the boxes up.

  “Thank you again.”

  “Go back to that boyfriend of yours, live your life, and leave this place in the past. Be happy.”

  “I’ll try my best. Goodbye, Aunt Kelly.”

  “Goodbye, Kit.”

  Chapter 63 – Riker

  April 30th, 2017

  Alright, so maybe I was a little worried. Maybe more than a little. I had been sitting outside on the front steps ever since Kit had texted saying he was on his way back. Well it wasn’t like I had anything better to do anyway. And Kit going to his parents’ funeral was something worthy of me being worried about for him. At least I wasn’t actively watching the road though. I was staring down at the phone in my hand and playing battleship. I didn’t look up until I heard a car pulling into the driveway.

  As soon as I saw it was him, I jumped to my feet. Then I immediately tried to play it a little more like I wasn’t desperately waiting to make sure he was okay as I walked over to him. When he got out of the car, I noticed his eyes were red from crying and I couldn’t help myself. I held my arms out in invitation. He chuckled but walked into the embrace anyway.

  “I promise I’m okay, Ri,” he muttered into my neck.

  “You look like you were crying.”

  “I was, but it was because I was relieved everything was over, not because I was sad or upset or anything like that.” I finally let him pull away and looked at him for any hint that he was hiding something from me. I didn’t think he was.

  “So, everything was good then?” I asked.

  “I mean, I wouldn’t say that. Definitely, wouldn’t say that.”

  “Am I allowed to ask for details or no?” I didn’t want to push him, but I also didn’t like knowing that something happened that I didn’t know about.

  “You’re always allowed to ask,” he said with a look that meant I was an idiot for thinking otherwise. He took my hand and led me back over to the steps to sit down before he spoke again. He told me everything that happened, from the little things all the way to breaking a man’s arm.

  When he was done, I pulled him back in against my chest. �
��I know you’re okay, but I really feel the need to hold you right now.”

  His arms raised up around me. “I’m not complaining.”

  I smiled and held him tighter.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  We stayed like that for another minute before I said, “We need to get on the road soon. Got finals to take tomorrow morning.”

  “Since when do you care about finals?”

  “I don’t, but you do.”

  “Yeah, yeah you’re right.” He pulled away then looked to the car and then back to me, “You drive? I’m tired.”

  “Sure. Come on, let’s get our bags packed and say goodbye to my mom.”

  A half hour later, we had loaded the car and got on the road. Four hours after that, I was parking outside the apartment. I looked over at Kit asleep in the passenger seat and smiled. He had passed out with an hour left in the drive, seat slightly reclined and head lolled against the window.

  “Alright Kit, just wait there for a minute,” I said quietly. I made two trips from the car to the apartment carrying our bags in first then his box. When I made it back to the car the last time, I opened Kit’s door and let his head loll onto my shoulder instead. I reached over and unbuckled his seatbelt before placing a hand on his chest and rubbing lightly.

  “Kit,” I said softly.

  His brow furrowed for a quick second then his head turned just enough on my shoulder to blink his eyes open and look blearily up at me.

  “We’re home?”

  “Yeah. I’ve already carried everything inside. I just can’t carry you,” I said and stroked my knuckles over his temple.

  He hummed a little in approval then slowly got out of the car. I led him only half awake into the apartment then into his bedroom. He collapsed onto his bed the first chance he got and tugged me down with him. Once I was on the bed he rolled and slotted himself against my side. I slid my arm under his head as he threw his over my chest.

  “Good night, Kit.” I kissed him one more time.

  “’night,” he mumbled with a smile. A few seconds later and he was asleep again.

  I took a deep breath and let it out again. I was glad to be back. I was glad the whole weekend was over, and that Kit could finally put the past behind him. I was glad that he was safe and happy by my side. There was so much that could’ve happened differently. He could’ve ended up in the hospital again, or at the very least bruised horrendously, but he wasn’t. Looking at him asleep peacefully was the first time since he got the phone call that I finally stopped worrying and relaxed. He was right, everything was okay.

  Chapter 64 - Riker

  May 4th, 2017

  Finals had come and gone without trouble. Well, okay, so Kit freaked out nearly every other day, convinced he was forgetting half of what he needed to know for whatever exam he was taking that day. But it was never too dramatic. He never had a full-on panic attack, and it only took me a quick minute each time to calm him down. In the end he passed everything with flying colors, like it was ever in question that it could go any other way. Kit, boy genius, doesn’t do low grades.

  Anyway, everything had gone pretty smoothly. Then I woke up the morning of Kit’s graduation to him aggressively rifling through his closet. I groaned and pulled his vacated pillow toward me. “What are you doing?”

  “My gown’s not here.”

  “You hung it up in the bathroom,” I mumbled, then glanced at the clock. It was too early for this, too early for him to already be getting ready. “It’s five am Kit, you don’t need to be awake for another two hours.”

  “But what if I’m late? What if I sleep through my alarm, or—”

  I cut him off before he could work himself into a panic attack, “—Or nothing. You’ll be fine. Stop worrying and come back to bed.”

  “But,” he started only for me to cut him off again.

  “But nothing. Don’t make me get up and drag you back over here.”

  He hesitated for a few seconds before walking over and lying back down. I inched over and, strategically, planted myself right on top of him. Chances were he wouldn’t fall back asleep, he’d stay awake and worry for the next two hours, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to get back up and wreak havoc in the apartment. Not while I was asleep on top of him anyway.

  “Your alarm is set. My alarm is set. Relax. You won’t miss your big day,” I said. I yawned then nuzzled into his chest. I was asleep within seconds.

  When I woke up the second time, it was to the blaring siren that was his alarm clock. I reached my hand out blindly to shut it off, because clearly Kit wasn’t doing it fast enough, but Kit caught my hand with a chuckle and kissed my knuckles, then the alarm stopped.

  “You’re cute when you wake up you know,” he said as he rubbed up and down my back.

  “Always cute,” I mumbled before looking up at him. He was wide awake. “Did you go back to sleep?”

  “No. Watched you sleep though.”

  “Good view?” I asked teasingly.

  “Always a good view,” he said. He brushed a hand through my hair then gently nudged me off of him and to the side. “I do have to get up now though.”

  I pouted but didn’t protest. “Do you need me to do anything?” I offered instead.

  “Yeah, it’s called get ready to go. You gotta drive and I’m not gonna be late because you couldn’t find your shoes again.”

  “Jokes on you, they’re on my bed. Put them there last night specifically so I could find them today.”

  “Oh, so you do learn,” he said and tossed one of his hoodies over his shoulder at me, “It’s gonna be cold today.”

  I beamed at him. It took me another couple of minutes to finally get up and moving. First, I had to summon the energy to move. Then I had to stretch. Then, finally, I had to convince myself to leave the comfortable nest that was Kit’s bed. What finally got me out was the fact that Kit had eventually moved into his bathroom and was no longer there for me to just watch instead of getting ready myself.

  So I rolled out of bed, taking his hoodie with me, and made my way back to my own room. I got ready in a hurried half an hour and then flopped down across the couch waiting for Kit. I had almost dozed off again, my eyes having shut at some point, when something started lightly tickling my face. I tried to swat at it only for my hand to brush through what felt like string.

  I smiled and said, “Get your tassel out of my face.”

  A second later Kit’s lips brushed against mine only to pull away before I had the chance to respond. “Come on, breakfast real quick and then we gotta go.” He grabbed my hands and pulled me up and onto my feet. Finally opening my eyes again I noticed he had his cap and gown draped over the other couch, his tassel was still hanging from his hand, and he had foregone the nicer clothes he had been debating wearing in favor of his usual casual clothing minus a hoodie.

  He tugged me over to the kitchen where he quickly scrambled some eggs with cheese, and I sipped on some orange juice and twirled the tassel around the countertop while I watched. Kit looked antsy, no longer freaking out like he was when he woke up and started tossing his room, but still on edge. I knew it was just because of the day. Graduating meant so much to him, and he had been working for it for so long, but he wouldn’t relax until it was over. Until it couldn’t be snatched away from him. He shouldn’t be so on edge—it wasn’t fair. He should be excited and carefree today.

  I walked around the counter and hugged him from behind, hooking my chin over his shoulder.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “Hugging you,” I said.

  “Why?”

  “‘Cause,” I said. The real answer would be, because I wanted to hug his tension away. But I didn’t think mentioning it would make him feel better.

  For a minute he kept cooking. He moved the eggs around the pan a bit more then plated them. Once the food was plated, he stilled for a moment. Then his body relaxed slightly against me and he turned and kissed
my cheek. “Thank you,” he said.

  “Any time.”

  We ate quickly and skipped the dishes. We got halfway out of the apartment and to the car before I had to run back up to grab his tassel. Once we got to campus, I helped him put his cap on straight and arranged to meet back at the car after it was all over. We kissed one last time then separated to take our respective seats.

  It was a cold hour wait before anything even started, because Kit had insisted we get there extra early. I shoved my hands into the hoodie pocket and tried to huddle further into it. Kit’s smell filtered through my nose making me feel all warm and happy inside.

  Everyone that passed by me or sat near me were in groups. Families and friends together, and that made me sad for a moment. Not for myself, but for Kit. He should’ve had family here. He should’ve had more than just me. He deserved more people cheering him on. Of course, he had his friends, but either they were walking with him or they were in other ceremonies, and they were there for themselves, and they had their own families. Kit only had me. Maybe he had accepted that, and maybe he was okay with that, but it didn’t make it any less sad.

  I pulled my phone out and started texting quickly before the ceremony finally started. Once it did, I shoved my phone away, and focused on the event of the day. That sadness drifted away and was replaced by the joy and happiness that was meant to accompany the day.

  It was a long and slow ceremony. Kit was in one of the last few groups to go, so I had to sit through about an hour and a half of other graduates before his section was finally ushered towards the stage. Finally, it was Kit’s turn to walk across the stage and I had to force myself not to cheer at the top of my lungs. Two days before, he had very forcefully told me that if I did he wouldn’t be cooking food for me for two weeks and I’d be banned from his bedroom for a week, which was just cruel and unusual punishment as far as I was concerned, but I wasn’t going to take that chance, so I had to settle for clapping and smiling.

  I watched him even after he stepped back off the stage. He waited for Elyse who walked after him then, instead of going back to their seats, they headed away toward the parking lot. I snuck away from my own seat and headed to meet them. When I caught up, they were leaning against Kit’s car waiting and talking quietly, but neither noticed I was coming yet.