Page 74 of Sweet T

“I knew it,” she said. “I felt it ever since that text about the backpack last week.”

“I like him, Shel. He makes me feel–I don’t know–brand new again.”

Shelly’s face fell into her hands. “Lordy, lordy, lordy.”

“I thought you’d be happy for me. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

“It is.” She looked up. “But–”

“And he’s gay, Shel–for real. Not like Emmett. It’s different.”

“I know it is. I can see it. And I am happy for you, T. Just worried.”

“Because of what happened to Evan? That won’t happen again. I’ll crush anyone that comes near him.”

“God, you sound like your father.”

“I mean it. When I think of what someone did to him, I just see red.”

“I think that’s the least of your worries, T. Evan’s not from here. He’s set on Atlanta.”

“Maybe I can convince him to stay.”

“Like you convinced Emmett?”

Tucker winced, eyes squinting. “That’s a low blow, Shelly.”

“I’m just trying to make a point. I want you to find a nice guy, one that cares for you. It just seems the ones you choose have other agendas.”

“I can’t help the way I feel about someone, Shel. You act like I have a choice.”

Shelly looked at him. Behind the brawn, she saw the sweet, vulnerable child’s face she’d known all her life, pleading with her to understand. She reached out and took his hands into her own. “You’re right. I know it’s not your fault he landed here. I just don’t want to see you get hurt again. I’ve kinda been living with the aftermath of your first crush for years now, you know? I need to know you’re happy–”

“When you’re gone?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Especially when I’m gone.”

They fell into an awkward lull. The only noise was coming from the kitchen, where Ben was prepping things for the night.

“So, how is he in the sack?” Shelly asked, seeking to change the subject from her inevitable departure.

Tucker blushed with an adorable grin. “I don’t know. We haven’t done anything yet.”

Shelly gave him a slow, yet staunch, eye roll. “You mean to tell me you’re this worked up over the guy and you haven’t even fucked yet?”

“Shh,” Tucker said, hands up, eyes cutting toward the kitchen. “No. We haven’t even kissed. We snuggled a little last night, though.”

“STOP. I’m gonna throw up.”

There was a knock at the back door. Shelly stood, heading that way. “There’s your boyfriend now. Thank God. Next thing I know, you’ll be telling me about braiding each other’s hair.”

“Stop pretending you don’t like it,” Tucker hollered.

Shelly unlocked and opened the back door. Sebastian was there, only instead of entering with his usual flare, he looked surprised, disoriented.

“What?” asked Shelly. “No Julius Caesar? No Macbeth?”

“It’s here!” Evan shouted, pushing in past him. “I can’t believe it! It’s too good to be true.”

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