Page 75 of Saving Sparrow (Slow Burns & Tragic Beginnings #2)

Then

“As much as I love having you here,” I said to Quentin, “don’t you think this is a little ridiculous?”

Miguel snorted. “Only a little? This is insane, even for him.”

Quentin didn’t seem bothered by our commentary. He sat between us at the top of the lecture hall, his palms cupping our napes possessively, his gaze plastered to the door awaiting Kayden’s arrival.

I’d told him all about Kayden and Rachel, and the invite to drag night.

His response was to drop his economics class—without telling us—and enroll in our Intro to English class under an elective.

Imagine our surprise when, instead of him kissing us goodbye in front of Wembly Hall this morning, he announced we’d be classmates.

“How were you even able to make this happen after the deadline?” Miguel asked him. We’d gotten here early, so only a few other students trickled in. Professor Ingram hadn’t even arrived yet.

“I hate to say it,” Quentin started in a cocky tone that meant the opposite was true, “because all humans should be treated equally, but there are certain privileges that come with being the star quarterback.”

“The star?” I asked.

“You haven’t even played a game yet,” Miguel chimed in.

“The first game is this week, and they know a star when they see one.” He didn’t take his eyes off the door.

“Would you stop watching the door?” I batted his hand away. “You don’t even know what he looks like.” I refused to give him a description after he’d gotten all territorial and jealous. Miguel wouldn’t either.

Quentin gave me a sharp look. “Is he already here?” He turned his attention to the few people down in front. “Is it the mouth-breather in the leather biker jacket? It’s eighty degrees outside, for fuck’s sake.”

“Will you please not make a scene?” I said under my breath as someone took a seat a couple of spots down in our row. “Nothing is going on. He just invited us to a drag show.”

Quentin leaned into my space. “Another man’s got you wanting to shop for heels and makeup, pretty girl. I’d say a whole lot is going on.”

“It’s for the party, not him, you… you… you idiota !” I didn’t mean to raise my voice, but I’d never been so annoyed. “Sorry,” I whispered, looking around.

“See,”—He looked to Miguel for support—“this guy’s coming between us already.”

“Knock it off, Quentin,” Miguel said softly. “It’s one thing to protect us from assholes, but this is a stretch, even for you.”

“Why are you pretending not to be pissed about this? We’ve always hung out with each other. We don’t party with other people.”

I waited for Miguel to defend me, to call Quentin out again, but he just faced forward with a guilty expression. Was he upset?

Quentin was right, though. Until then, it’d been all about us.

I wasn’t trying to change that, but there was a part of me crying out for something they couldn’t provide.

The same part that snuck into my mother’s dress, the same part my parents couldn’t pray away.

My sexuality was only a fraction of what I needed to express and explore.

“I’m never leaving you,” I whispered to him, turning his face toward me. “I’m never leaving either of you.”

“That’s what they all say.” Quentin shook his head, going back to watching the door. This time, I didn’t push him away when he squeezed the back of my neck. This was more than him being an asshole. He was scared.

I peeked over at Miguel. His eyes landed on me for a quick second before he looked away. I slouched in my seat, second-guessing myself. Maybe I was being selfish. Maybe what I needed wasn’t worth screwing things up with Quentin and Miguel.

Students poured in, raising the cacophony of sound in the lecture hall. Kayden and two other guys slipped through the doors, and I pushed up in my seat. Quentin noticed.

“Which one?” he asked in a low, menacing tone. He looked over the three options, dismissing Kayden immediately. “Is it buzz cut? Or the dude with the hunch?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“It’s the one in the frilly top and pink wig,” Miguel blurted out. “Sorry,” he said when I gaped at him, “but you know he wasn’t going to stop until he knew.”

“What? Can’t be. ” Quentin watched Kayden cross to the other side of the hall. “He’s a him?”

“ I’m a him,” I reminded him.

“I wasn’t trying to be offensive. I genuinely didn’t know. Don’t pretend there isn’t a difference between you two.”

I wasn’t flamboyant, but my looks and bone structure could definitely get me mistaken for a girl, especially when I dressed like one.

“Doesn’t matter, he’s non-threatening, and he doesn’t want to fuck me.”

“Did he say he didn’t want to fuck you?”

“Well, no, but—”

“And he doesn’t need to look violent. He could be the twink Tim Bundy for all we know.”

“Ted,” Miguel cut in.

“Huh?” Quentin frowned.

“Ted Bundy.”

“Whatever.” Quentin refocused on me. “Point is, he could be luring you in, setting things up for a more sinister plan. Next thing you know, you’re hogtied, and he’s topping you in heels.” He narrowed his eyes at the back of Kayden’s head. “Not on my watch.”

I didn’t know who Ted Bundy was, but it didn’t take a genius to guess he was someone dangerous. “It’s a drag show, with men who will look like me, well, sort of. And you’re invited. A whole lot of people are invited. I wasn’t the only one he handed a flyer to.”

“And let me guess, he invited you to his place to get your makeup done, didn’t he?”

“Well, no. Rachel said she’d do my makeup in her dorm, and it wasn’t necessarily for the drag show.”

“Ah, Rachel,” he mused, “how could I forget about the co-conspirator?”

Rachel slipped in then, Professor Ingram right behind her. Kayden moved his bag off the chair next to him so she could have the seat. Neither of them noticed me up here.

“Miguel and I can prance around the apartment in one of your dresses, and I’ll buy out the whole makeup section in the drugstore. Will that make you happy?” he hissed, green eyes darkening. The class was pretty full now, but luckily, there were still some empty seats around us.

“And how will I know how to apply the makeup?” I snapped back, our noses almost touching.

“That’s what YouTube is for.”

I was so angry I could have screamed, but I didn’t because Professor Ingram started calling attendance.

I dug my MacBook out of my bag, setting it down on the table harder than I’d intended.

Heads turned, Kayden’s and Rachel’s included.

They smiled, waving at me. I waved back, forgetting about the caveman next to me.

Quentin’s grip on my neck tightened as he leaned over to whisper in my ear. “If you’re trying to make me jealous, pretty girl, it’s working.”

“Please behave,” I said to Quentin when class ended. Kayden and Rachel stood chatting down below as everyone else filed out, clearly waiting for me.

“I make no promises.”

I looked at Miguel, in need of help. He avoided my gaze, but at least he jumped in.

“Football,” he reminded Quentin. “Don’t get yourself suspended for doing something stupid.”

Quentin grunted but nodded.

“Thank you,” I said to Miguel, but he shouldered his backpack and headed down the lecture hall steps without acknowledging my gratitude. He and Quentin reached the bottom first, but I hurried ahead of them to make introductions.

“Hey, Elliott,” Rachel said cheerfully. “Good to see you again.”

“Yeah, we were talking about you last night,” Kayden said. “Did you decide if you’re coming to drag night?”

“Well—”

“He can’t make it,” Quentin interrupted me. “We’ve got plans.”

“Oh!” Kayden’s brows raised with obvious interest. “Are these the boyfriends? I wholeheartedly approve.”

He strutted closer to Quentin, playfully asking, “You got room in your harem for one more, big guy? Just kidding, I’m already taken. Oh, but look what big muscles you have.” He pinched Quentin’s biceps, and unable to resist—even while in a bad mood—Quentin flexed his arm.

I wasn’t threatened by Kayden, and Miguel didn’t seem to be either as he rolled his eyes at Quentin. Kayden was a flirtatious, playful guy. That much was easy to pick up on. I didn’t take his antics seriously.

“You must play for the Hawks,” Kayden said. “I’m good at reading people, and you give off badass star athlete vibes.”

“I’m the new QB.” Quentin curled his forearm, his biceps doubling in size. “The star QB.”

“Oh my, and is this your throwing arm?”

“Yeah, it’s packed with power. The team calls me The Arm—but I can also rush a touchdown like nobody’s business.”

“Ooooh, a running quarterback. I hear those are rare.”

“Eh, not really. But I guess you can say I’m rare. I make miracles happen on the field.”

Kayden kept squeezing as Quentin ran down the high school stats that landed him at Wembly. Rachel waited patiently for the conversation to end, while Miguel and I crossed our arms, glaring at Quentin. He cleared his throat when he noticed.

“Unhand me, Teddy.” He yanked his arm away.

Kayden recoiled. “Teddy?”

“His name is Kayden ,” I said, not putting it past Quentin to go into the whole Ted Bundy thing. “And this is Rachel. Kayden and Rachel, these are my boyfriends Quentin and Miguel.”

Kayden and Rachel offered friendly hellos, while Miguel and Quentin mumbled their greetings. I’d expected that from Quentin, but Miguel’s rudeness surprised me.

“Um, we’ve gotta go.” I wanted to put an end to the awkward silence. “Miguel and I have ten minutes to make it across campus.” We were the only ones lingering in the room now, and I waved goodbye as I ushered Quentin and Miguel out.

“I’ll save a booth for you guys at Queer Life in case you change your mind!” Kayden called out.

I pretended not to hear him, walking ahead of Quentin and Miguel once we’d made it outside. I went through the rest of the day feeling anxious and low, Miguel and I not speaking much at all. I tried to remember the last time I’d felt that bad, and only one word came to mind.

Alaska.