Page 94 of Running With Lions

Mason turns his head, glaring. He might punch Sebastian, but not before he says, “I messed up. Mom would murder me if she knew I acted that way toward a sweet girl.” He lowers his eyes. “Guess I’m just like my dad.”

“You’re not,” Sebastian says. Mason’s shoulder relaxes against his. “We’ve all screwed up, but you’re not him.”

“Sage words from Sebastian the Great.”

Cool nicknames aside, Sebastian doesn’t hesitate to punch Mason’s shoulder. He’s a dick, but he’s improving. Maybe Grey will do him some good?

Willie, on the other hand, is a traitor to his kind. Sebastian senses the next topic coming like the killer in a horror movie. Willie opens his big mouth. “So, what’s up with you and Shah?”

Sebastian squints so hard, he can shoot lasers.

“Yeah,” Mason says, devious grin on his face, “are you two hooking up? Don’t lie to me, man.”

Sebastian angles his head to face the sky. He can’t lie to them. Willie’s witnessed a half naked Emir in his bed. Mason’s been around so long that he’s become more perceptive about Sebastian’s bullshit than his own. They’re his brothers, and this weight he’s been carrying around just exhausts him. The clouds start to dissolve, leaving the sky an open book, and Sebastian thinks,Why not?

“Yeah. No.” Sebastian shakes his head; his thoughts are like a derailed train. “Wewere. I fucked it up, badly. I just—” He sucks in a noisy breath. “I dunno, but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to end the way I wanted.”

Mason says, “Do you want me to rough him up?”

Sebastian chokes on his own spit before laughing. Tears bite at his eyes. He’s not sure if they’re because of Mason’s offer or from relief. Telling his friends about Emir is like coming out. How did it becomethatheavy?Why do people let things so precious to them turn into dark, unbearable secrets?

Willie’s fingers are simultaneously cold and perfect when they squeeze Sebastian’s elbow. “Do you want us to help? We can talk to Emir, or Hunter can.”

“Nope.” It’s an accident when the tears drip off Sebastian’s eyelashes. When did he become such a drama queen? “I can handle it.”

“Check you out.” Mason whistles. “You came to camp a loser and you’re leaving a man. Take notes, Will.”

Willie stretches all the way across Sebastian to punch Mason’s shoulder. They squabble like toddlers fighting over a toy, and Sebastian sighs. Part of him is submerged in guilt. Both of his best friends are willing to kidnap and torture Emir for him. What has he done for them? He hasn’t been much of a friend while they’ve been dealing with their own romantic lives.

But then Willie says, “If you say so. But we’ve got your back, Bastian,” and reality sinks its teeth into Sebastian’s brain.Sometimes it’s okay not to be the perfect best friend. Sometimes it’s okay for your friends to take care of you.

Whatever vicious spring has been tightening in his chest finally uncoils. Then his eyes get a little bleary, but he doesn’t wipe away the tears. These are happy ones, so it’s okay. He doesn’t care if crying’s not considered manly. Who writes these stupid definitions of manly, feminine, beautiful, or handsome, anyway?

“Bastian, dude,” Mason says, as if he’s been hit with an epiphany. “You like Emir.”

“Shut up, Mace.”

“Skinny, quiet, uncoordinated Emir Shah.”

“Okay. Point made.”

“Holy shit! I didn’t see that one coming.”

Mason is doomed to be friendless before he graduates.

The bonfire is in a couple of hours, and then they’ll pack for the ride home tomorrow. Sebastian doesn’t want to move, and his friends make no effort to move either.

“We’re missing dinner, fellas,” says Mason in a slow, lazy drawl.

“Yeah,” Willie whispers. He points upward. The sky stretches toward infinity, a tapestry of every shade of purple and blue, dotted by dim stars. “But we’re not missing this.”

Sebastian’s cheeks press right into his eyes.

Fondly, Mason says, “Damn you, Will, and your poetic mouth.”

26

August unofficially dies after afew days of lazing around the house. Sebastian creates a comfortable dent in the living room sofa and mindlessly flips through TV shows while his parents come and go. Lily makes Sebastian help in the garden or bake cookies, anything to spend extra time with him. Oliver pats Sebastian’s shoulder, talks about the trades going on in the Premier League, and catches him up on the things he missed while at camp.

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