Page 40 of Devil's Kiss

“Yeah. Fuck that. Your family’s here.”

“I know. See, you get it.”

Derek turned back to look out the windshield of the car and had a sudden dislike for Finn’s professor. Why the hell would he tell Finn to leave? Or even suggest it. His life was here.

Crumpling the pamphlet in his hand, Derek glared out the window and wondered if Devaney knew what Hayes was up to. He’d have to ask him when he got home.

Finn pulled the car into the local burger shop and parked, and once they were inside with their meals, they sat down in a booth at the back of the restaurant.

“So what about you?” Finn asked. “It feels like forever since we hung out.”

Derek squeezed a liberal amount of ketchup on his tray and dunked a couple of fries in it before shoveling them in his mouth. As he chewed around them, he considered what he should tell Finn.

He knew Devaney would have an absolute shit fit if anyone found out he was staying at his place, even Brantley Hayes. And really, he didn’t want to go into details. So he just nodded and reached for his soda. “Good, good. Nothing unusual happening over here.”

Finn picked up his burger and took a bite, then around his mouthful he said, “A wealth of information.”

“Always,” Derek agreed, and popped another fry in his mouth.

Finn put his burger down and sat back, then he asked, “Do you think I’m stupid?”

Derek’s stomach dropped at the question, but he schooled his features to appear unaffected. “Nope. I’d never call you stupid. At least not to your face. Why do you ask?”

After reaching for one of his own fries, Finn chomped down into it and then shocked the shit out of Derek by leaning across the table and asking, “Who are you fucking?”

Derek almost choked on the bite he’d taken of his burger, and reached for his drink to wash it down. “What?”

“You’re seeing someone.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “I’m not seeing anyone, Danny boy. Sorry to disappoint you, but you’re the only one sitting at this table that’s sucked on anything other than a straw in a long time.”

Finn eyed him with suspicion. “You sure?”

“That I ain’t fucking anyone? Yeah.” Derek laughed. “I’m pretty sure.”

“Hmm. It’s just that I haven’t heard shit from you in months, and the last time I saw you we barely spoke. I know my excuse is Brantley, so who is yours?”

Jordan Devaney. But not the way you think,he wanted to say. But how did you tell your friend that you’d been lying to him for so long? Instead he shrugged. “No one, man. Just work and school. This year’s been kicking my ass.”

“Shit, me too,” Finn said, letting go of the inquisition,thank God.

“Yeah. Gotta say, I can’t wait to be done with school.”

“I’ve still got three years to go after this. Consider yourself lucky.”

“Yeah. You poor bastard.”

Derek laughed and finished off his burger. When he was done and scrunching up the paper, Finn asked, “What are your plans after graduation?”

“You know, I really just want togetto graduation first. But when I do, I’ve been thinking about opening up my own gym.”

“Really? That’s a fantastic idea.”

“Yeah? You think?”

Finn nodded and then piled his trash onto the tray. “Of course. It’s the perfect job for you. Where are you thinking about opening it?”

Derek grinned at Finn’s enthusiasm. “Slow down over there, would you. I’ve gotta finish school first and work out how the hell a bank would ever give me a loan.”