Page 147 of Fragments

“Adorable,” Gage sighs, not backing down.

“I’m serious, two pump,” Ren hums, eyes falling down Gage’s front for a moment. “Say you’re sorry for acting like a little dick prick.”

“Ren…” I mumble, placing a hand on his back. I need to stop this before something bad happens. “Please, just leave it—”

“You’re right.” Gage’s eyes flick to me. “I’m sorry, Luthor.” Then he sneers at Ren once more. “Sorry I stretched your boyfriend out so bad, you’ll barely even feel it when you f—”

The words are cut off when Ren’s fist hammers into Gage’s face.

Oh shit…

Gage bends at the waist from the hit, and Ren proceeds to elbow him, grabbing him by the shoulders and tossing him onto the floor.

It’s pandemonium in a flash. Ren’s on top of Gage on the floor, swinging over and over at his face while inmates are scrambling, crowding around and screamingfight!

And I’m just sitting here, rubbing my eyes because I already know how this is going to go.

“Fucking animals!” Velle roars, storming over to pull Ren off of Gage and cuff him quick. “You kidding me, 48??”

“No regrets,” Ren breathes, hair all tousled in his face as he winks at me.

“Really?” I shake my head admonishingly.

“Get these morons down to the hole,” Velle growls at Joy and Peters. “Both of them.”

“Fuck you, Ren.” Gage spits blood on the floor. “You’ll pay for this.”

“You take Discover?” Ren smirks.

I can’t help but chuckle, frowning over it because I really shouldn’t be encouraging him. Joy grabs Ren by the arm while Peters drags a snarling Gage toward the door.

“Ren, what the fuck…” I sigh, shuffling out of my seat to follow after Joy dragging him away from me.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he whispers, pouting. “Raincheck on our date night?”

My chin wobbles, worry eating away at my insides. He’s going to solitary… It’s fucking awful down there. And who knows how long he’ll be gone.

I’m still following him, until Velle grabs me by the waist.

“Stay put,” he grumbles behind me. “This isn’t a fucking rom-com.”

“Hey, Lex…” Ren shouts my name as he’s being hauled off. Then he mouths the words,I love you.

I’m smacked upside the head with radiant emotion, my lips sweeping into a delighted, purely terrified grin.

Okay, so… He said it.

He really does love me.

I’m so stunned and baffled and happy, all I can do is wave as he’s pulled out of the room by Joy, who’s shaking her head like we’re total idiots.

“I don’t know what I just witnessed, but it seems beyond dysfunctional,” Velle mutters, shoving me back to the table.

He’s probably right, but I’m too blinded to care.

All I can see are bright blue eyes, and a killer smile mouthing,I love you.

Ren is in solitary for five torturous days.