Page 71 of A Thousand Cuts

Unknown:Also don’t bother with the TV

Fix had to read it twice, pulse jumping when he realized who this might be. Who else texted them out of the blue? Who else knew more than they should? He’d had his suspicions when Liam had told him about the messages, but this solidly confirmed it.

Fix:Who are you?

There was no response.

Fix knew instinctively that he wouldn’t get one. This person had gone out of their way to be untraceable. Why would they stop now just because he asked?

Reaching another dead-end, Fix decided to call it a day. He was itching to see Liam again and make sure he was safe, but he couldn’t beg the day off. He also needed to drop this picture off with Cyrus.

He fired off a quick text and walked out of the store in the direction of his truck, head full of mysteries and blond hair.

Chapter 13

Liam

“What the hell was I thinking?” Liam asked King, holding his large paw in his hand and filing his nails.

They were sitting on the floor of his tiny living room while the old TV playedStar Stealerfor the thousandth time—Sora searching for his Nova after being split apart by the star stealers.

Their walk had been cut short by Liam’s frayed nerves. He’d been flying on the wings of Fix spending the night and the safety he felt around him, thinking he could just frolic outside and feel great. He’d severely overestimated his own bravery, because the moment Fix’s car had swerved out of sight Liam thought the world was coming to get him. He let King do his thing and then hurried back, almost sprinting for the door and slamming it behind him.

He’d frolic another time.

A comfort day was planned instead. He needed something to relax him before his stream that night. He couldn’t cancel it, no matter how shaky he was feeling. He needed to make rent.

With coconut oil in his hair, a face mask plastered on his skin, and his silky bathrobe half undone he found some stability. And with stability came clearness of mind. And with clearness of mind came questioning everything he had done because what the hell had he been thinking inviting Fix over?

King had a fluffy pale blue headband over his ears that matched the anime’s logo and he was patiently allowing Liam to tidy up his nails.

He was also a great listener.

“I have a stream,” he said in a mocking voice. “You should totally come. Why didn’t you stop me, King?”

King huffed in response.

“You’re right. As if you could have stopped my big mouth from blabbing. I just…I want him here all the time. Is that ridiculous?”

King twitched his ear and leaned down to lick Liam’s knuckles. Liam translated that to ‘yes but I love you anyway.’ He leaned his forehead against King’s headband and sighed.

“I want him, King,” he said. “I trust him, and I’ve never trusted anyone before. I’m pretty sure he’s everything I’ve ever wanted and I just…I don’t know how to deal with that. How do I tell him all the messed-up things about me without sending him running for the hills? How do I keep him while still being me?”

King had no response to that, but he also didn’t move, rumbling softly against Liam as if trying to sympathize with him.

Liam didn’t know what to think. It seemed like, lately, the only time he functioned as a person was with Fix around. It felt like he could breathe when he was there, despite his heart thundering inside his chest. It felt like Fix was the only thing holding him together and Liam wondered what would happen if Fix took that away.

Would he finally fall apart?

His phone pinged with a new message and Liam jumped up, reaching for it.

Fix:Just checking in, honey

Liam’s fingers shook as he read the words, a smile pulling at his lips. He couldn’t deny the warmth and happiness such a simple thing gave him.

Liam:I’m good, thank you. Nothing to note.

Liam:Everything going okay with your case?