Page 4 of I’ll Walk With You

Bryson

“ Y -yeah, I’m good, babe.” Javi’s breathy voice works its way inside me, tickling down my nerve endings and landing right in my dick. Babe. Why is that so hot?

The douche canoe growls in his throat and storms off. Javi laughs and thumps his forehead onto my chest, right underneath my chin. He fits fucking perfectly. Like he was made to fit right there.

Fuck, I’m so damn attracted to him. I don’t know for sure if he likes guys, but I’m fairly confident he does. Maybe if I play my cards right, I’ll have a chance with him.

“I’m sorry, that was presumptuous of me. I didn’t mean to assume your sexuality like that. God knows everyone assumes I’m straight, since I’m athletic, which is bullshit, but it was the first thing I could think of to get him the fuck off you. How do you know that clown?”

He snorts from his place on my chest because, yep, he’s still just resting there. I’m in no hurry for him to move, though.

He sighs. “It’s okay. I am gay. I really appreciate the save, Bryce.” Stepping back, he runs his fingers through his shiny black curls. I immediately miss his warmth. “I didn’t want to bother you, but I didn’t know what else to do when I saw him.”

My chest puffs up, and a smile curls across my lips. “You could never bother me.”

His cheeks flush and he bites his full bottom lip. My stomach chooses that moment to rudely interrupt my attempt at flirting and rumbles loudly. Eyes widening, his hand comes up to cover his laugh. His eyes drop down to my stomach, then he pokes me with his finger.

“Sounds like the feral beast in your belly needs feeding.”

A surprised laugh leaves me at that.

“Yeah, I’m always starving after hockey practice.

If you think this is bad, you should hear it after a game.

Full on Jurassic Park.” His hand falls away, and I’m hit with the full force of his smile.

All traces of fear are gone. He’s fucking beautiful when he smiles, and I’m smitten.

“Eat with me?” I ask, not ready to leave him.

He nods. “Sure. I was just about to grab some lunch.”

Javi grabs his bookbag, and I lean down to lift my gym bag off the floor, hitching it across my body. I’d hastily dropped it earlier when I saw that asshole with his hands on Javi.

We walk quietly for a bit, before I allow my curiosity to get the best of me. “So how do you know Miller?”

He looks around, making sure no one is close enough to overhear.

“Officially? He’s a student I used to tutor.

” Glancing around again, he leans closer.

“Unofficially, he’s kind of my ex. If you can call him that.

He basically used me for months while I was tutoring him.

For sex and good grades.” Sarcasm laces his words.

“Can you believe I had the audacity to approach him when I ran into him to ask why he wasn’t returning my calls?

How dare I, right? After that, he made a huge scene and told everyone that I’m a stalker.

Be so for real.” He scoffs, a look of disbelief on his face.

He’s so feisty. He may fear Keith and what he can do, but he’s not afraid to fight either.

It really does something to me, makes him even more attractive.

Just as I’m getting lost in his features, Javi looks up at me.

“He actually threatened to report me to the dean if I don’t ‘leave him alone,’ and yet he’s approached me three times now. Can you believe the audacity?”

Anger roils through my veins. It blows my mind how some people can treat others like such shit. It’s obvious Miller isn’t out. I’m sure he has his reasons, but that’s not a legitimate reason to treat another human like garbage. “I should’ve punched him right in his face. What a dick.”

Javi rests his hand on my arm, shaking his head. “I’m glad you didn’t. It won’t help.”

I know he’s right, but I need to do something .

An idea springs to mind. It’s quite brilliant, honestly.

Past me knew exactly what he was doing. Somehow, I manage to contain the smirk that wants to curl across my lips.

“Listen, maybe he’ll leave you alone now that you have a boyfriend.

He doesn’t need to know it’s not real,” I say quickly, not giving him a chance to refute me.

When Javi sees how good I am at this fake boyfriend thing, maybe he’ll take a chance on me as a real boyfriend.

Well, let me not get ahead of myself, at least agree to go on a date.

“I can’t ask you to do that, Bryce.” His forehead scrunches, that full lip clenched in his teeth again. I wonder what it tastes like.

“You’re not asking, I’m offering. We can compare schedules, and any free time we have, we’ll make a point of being seen together. Between our classes, hockey practice, and games, your tutoring sessions, we’ll make something work. You can’t be a stalker if you’re happily dating someone else.”

I’m trying too hard, but I really want to do this for him.

He raises an eyebrow at me, reminding me of Demetrius. Damn, my friend is going to have a lot to say about this.

“Happily, huh?” he says playfully.

I smirk and nod.

With a laugh, he shakes his head. “But why?”

“Why not? Let me help you, Angel,” I coax.

A devilish smile curls his lips. “I’m no angel.”

He’s flirting with me. My cock twitches, eager to see just how naughty he can be. “I believe that. So, are you in?” Please say yes.

“Yeah, I’m in.”