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There was a small smile on Justice’s face. “Hey, little brother.”

“Hi,” Lake replied. “What are you doing here?”

Justice sighed. “You disappeared, Lake. No one can get a hold of you. Mom and Dad are worried.”

Lake snorted.

“Okay, Dad is pissed and Mom is crying.”

That sounded more accurate. “I needed a break. I can’t…” Lake took a deep breath. “I can’t deal with them.”

“What happened, Lake? Where did you go? What’s going on?” Justice demanded.

Jesse’s arm went around his waist. Dom reached forward to grasp his hand. Lake smiled. This was his strength. “This is my boyfriend, Jesse.”

Justice’s jaw clenched before he nodded. “I know who he is.”

Of course. Who in town didn’t know who Jesse was? “And this is Dom. One of my best friends. I moved into the house with him and his boyfriend.”

Justice nodded. “Okay. You moved in with friends. That has to be better than living with Jack and Brex.”

Lake nodded. “It’s where I want to be.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Justice asked.

Lake tried to answer but Justice held up his hand.

“That was a stupid question,” Justice said. “You had to do it this way. It was the only way to escape.”

“Mom and Dad are different with me. I don’t live up to their standards. Jack and Brex are assholes. I don’t want to be around them,” Lake admitted. “It’s my choice.”

“But you’re not alone?” Justice stepped forward. “You have people that will be there for you.”

“I have the best people,” Lake said. “I have the family that I chose.”

Instead of getting closer, Justice turned and paced away.

Lake stepped away from Jesse while releasing Dom’s hand.

Justice sat heavily into the chair.

Lake hurried over to sit beside him. “Jus?”

Lowering his hands between his legs, Justice dropped his head. “I’m sorry, Lake.”

“Sorry?” Lake didn’t understand. “For what?

Justice looked up and glanced around. “I guess we’re doing this in public.”

It wasn’t very public. Just the two security guards Tatum and Bob, him, Jesse, and Dom.

“We can take a walk around the floor. Make sure no one is causing any problems,” Tatum said as he rose.

“I’ll wait outside,” Dom said.

Jesse crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not leaving.”

Lake hadn’t expected him to. Not after promising to stay with him.