Page 5 of Under the Texas Sky

TRENT

I finally make it back to my car, the hour walk having helped clear some of the lingering effects of the alcohol from last night. I still feel like dog shit reheated, but at least now I can get back on track. I owe it to Kian.

Last night was the last slip up for me. I’m done. Done with alcohol, done with drowning my sorrows. I’m going to be the man he’s proud to show off, to have on his arm and in his bed at the end of each day. Because he owns me, heart and soul.

Driving through town, I make quick work of getting to Mitch’s. Sitting on the porch side by side are Kian and Mitch. The two most important men in my life. And for some reason–call it divine intervention, call it fate, call it my brain finally getting with the fucking program–I realize that I never want to do anything to risk my relationship with Kian ever again. I never want to be the reason he has tears streaming down his face.

I can do this for him, I can be better for him.

I park my car beside Kian’s and get out, walking up to the two of them. Kian’s messy ringlets are pulled back from his face into his signature ponytail, showing off his delicate ears with the small silver hoops. I’m hit in the chest with a moment of awe. This man is all mine.

And I’d be a fucking idiot to lose him.

His smile is bright, but with a hint of trepidation. He hates how he acted last night. I can see it on his face. Confrontation has never been his strong suit–that’s what he has me for. It makes me love him even more, though, knowing that he’s willing to stand up to me, and for himself, when he’s hurting. Kian has grown so much since high school.

Seeing him sitting on Mitch’s porch after he begged me last night, I know that I’ll change. We can go back to how we were before.

I’m sweaty and disgusting, but that’s never bothered him and it doesn’t now. He rises, crossing the porch to stand in front of me and using the deck for a height advantage. He smiles down at me, and everything feels right.

“Hey,” he murmurs, so softly that if I hadn’t been staring right at his mouth, I wouldn’t have been able to hear.

“Hi, Freckles.”

I wait for him. For him to hug me, kiss me, maul me right here in front of Mitch. That’s not Kian's MO though. He’s not an exhibitionist, and I’m too selfish to share any part of him.

“Where were you?” he asks. But he knows, and I know he knows. I was out getting wasted, then sleeping off the hangover. And I don’t want to talk about it. I want to move on, because today starts a new day.