Part 33 (1/2)

”You say that like he's your boyfriend, not a friend.”

”I didn't mean to.” He's more than a friend, and I don't think boyfriend sounds right either, but we aren't lovers cos we haven't done more than kiss.

”Is there something you wanna tell me?” Mrs Connor asked, her expression knowing. ”Cos I won't judge you if you do.”

I don't want to admit it to you, no matter how much you understand. Christ, you're his mother, how can I tell you I got hard over your son? That's just wrong in so many ways. And the way your husband looked at me when he thought I was bonking Corey, it scares me s.h.i.+tless that others will do the same.

”Sledge?”

He grabbed his hair, pulling on it to give him focus. ”I don't know how to word things. I wuz cruel to him, but I didn't mean to, he just kept pus.h.i.+ng and pus.h.i.+ng until I snapped.” Sledge wished he could tell her straight, but that was the problem, nothing was straight now, and he wasn't referring to possibly being gay, because his emotions were zigzagging all over the place, making him confused and not sure of what he wanted. He didn't know if he could actually cross the boundaries with Corey s.e.xually, or whether he was even capable of giving his mate, lover, whatever Corey was to him, what the guy wanted. But if he didn't, he'd lose Corey to Tyler, and he couldn't cope with that.

Mrs Connor squeezed his knee. ”But you do love him, that's why you're here.”

Sledge nodded. ”I didn't mean what I said, I spoke without thinking. Tyler said horrible things 'bout my brother, and when Corey sided with him I lost my temper and stormed out. I thought he chose Tyler over me.”

”This is the boy whose father beat Corey?”

Sledge nodded. ”Corey's s'posed to be my mate, not his, but he chose him cos Tyler's gay,” and I don't know what I am.

”Do you want Tyler to have Corey?”

Sledge looked up. ”No!”

”That was a loud no.”

”Well, I don't.”

”Then don't let Corey push you away or around. He's too upset to see sense now, but come back tomorrow, maybe he'll have calmed down by then. And have a think 'bout what you wanna say to him, how you want things to proceed. Fight for your friends.h.i.+p, make him see what he's pus.h.i.+ng away.”

”I'm not good with words.”

”You'll think of something, cos I can see how much you care. As his mother, that makes me feel good that he has someone who loves him as much as you do. Whether it's platonic or not, it's still love. Make Corey see that.”

Sledge wiped his face and nodded, then looked to his left as Naf hurried towards them, the clomp of his boots loud.

”Is Corey alright?” Naf asked as he came to a stop in front of them.

”Yes, he's awake,” Sledge answered.

Naf blew out a breath, his face relieved for a few seconds before going dark. ”Aroha's awake and you're not gonna believe what she said.”

Sledge got to his feet. ”What?”

”She wouldn't stop crying and babbling on about your stepdad trying to kill Juliet and wanting to rape Ash.”

Sledge's hand shook as he pulled out his phone and rang Juliet. He'd had no idea how much danger she'd been in, just a.s.sumed it had been all about Ash.

His sister picked up on the third ring. ”Sledge?”

”Did Chaz hurt you?” he asked.

”No, I got away.”

”Have the pigs mentioned anything 'bout Ash?”

”No, but they have Chaz's licence plate.”

”Ring me as soon as you hear anymore.”

”Will do.”

”And Juliet...”

”Yeah.”

”I'm sorry for what happened between Corey and you.”

”Really?” she said, the sob in her voice making him feel like a complete and utter b.a.s.t.a.r.d for treating her so badly.

”Yeah, and I'll make it up to you. I love you, sis.”

”I love you too, Tyson.”

He smiled sadly, not having heard her use his birth name in years. He said bye, then hung up, his gaze moving to Naf's concerned face.

”What's happening, Sledge?” Naf asked.

”What Aroha said is true.”

”Eh?”

”My stepfather raped Ash when my bro wuz fifteen.”

”You're s.h.i.+tting me?”

”I wish I were.”

29.

Ash Ash's eyelids refused to open, and he didn't want them to either. His body felt like it was in a coc.o.o.n: warm and safe, a place he wished he could stay forever. No, someone was holding him in a tight embrace, protecting him. He thought of Tiana as lips pressed into his hair, then his forehead. He snuggled in closer, wanting the comfort, the love he felt from her. Soft kisses landed on his eyelids, along with murmurs that he was beautiful, the voice not belonging to Tiana. Panic rose through him, then was instantly snuffed out as a wave of dizziness swept through his mind, robbing him of his fears as well as consciousness.

Something clanged, jolting him awake. He opened his eyes, finding himself lying on a bed alone, with only darkness embracing him. His shoulders ached as well as his arms, which were stuck underneath him, pressing into his back. He rolled onto his side to free them, but found them tied together, the rope itching his wrists. Confused, he looked down his body, his eyes adjusting enough to see he was clad in a T-s.h.i.+rt and underwear. He pulled his legs up, dumbfounded when he realised they were tied too, and... What the f.u.c.k? He wriggled about, wondering whether he was imagining things, because there was a f.u.c.king chain around his waist.

More clanging noises filled the house, sounding like pots and pans being jostled about. Ash's gaze moved to a thin strip of light coming from the doorway, drawing a line across the floor like one of Beth's ribbons left lying about. He stared at it for a while, trying to work out how he'd gotten here. He couldn't remember past Aroha answering Tiana's door. Though, he didn't understand why she'd been there, because his ex... No, he meant his woman... didn't a.s.sociate with that creepy bird.

When everything went quiet again, he rolled his legs over the side of the bed then pushed to his feet. A wave of dizziness swept through him, making him fall back onto the mattress. He lay still for a moment, feeling like he had no bones in his body, only aching muscles.