Page 32 of Devon

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DEVON FELT RYAN TENSE.He held his breath, praying that Ryan wouldn’t have to fight whoever was making a racket outside his window.He couldn’t think of any reason for someone to be out there, but clearly, there was one.

Ryan moved faster toward the window, quickly opening it and reaching out.He grabbed the person outside the window and dragged them in, dumping them on the floor with a loud thump that Devon prayed hadn’t woken Melissa or Haley.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”Ryan asked, staring down at the man.“How did you know where Devon lives?”

Devon had no idea what was happening.Ryan seemed to have the situation in hand, though, so he moved toward his nightstand to turn the light on.He had to blink a few times when he did so because it burned his eyes, but when it stopped, he recognized the man slowly getting up.

“Nic?”he asked.He took a step toward Nic, but he stopped before reaching him.

Nic rubbed the back of his neck.“Hey, Devon.I hadn’t realized that you and your boyfriend were already sleeping together.”

Devon stared.What was he supposed to say to that?

Nic looked the same as he always did.He was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt, and there were no signs on him that might explain where he’d been.Devon was glad that Nic wasn’t hurt, but seeing that he was okay made him angry.

“Do you know how worried I was?”he asked.

Nic’s eyes widened.“About me?”

“Yes, about you.You’re my only friend.What was I supposed to think when you disappeared?Your phone was off, and I had no idea where you were or if something had happened to you.”

“I needed time.”

“Time for what?”

Nic eyed Ryan, and Devon couldn’t believe it.Had Nic really stopped coming to work and ghosted Devon because he’d been afraid of what Ryan would do?Nic didn’t know Ryan, but still.It was ridiculous.It couldn’t be real.

“So this is awkward,” Nic said.

Devon came to stand in front of him.He wanted to strangle Nic, but he didn’t.He reminded himself that Nic was his friend—or at least, he’d thought so.“You have no right to say anything about me and Ryan.So what if he’s spending the night here?What do you care?”

Nic raised his hands.“It’s fine.I was just surprised.”

“Not as surprised as I was when I realized you’d ghosted me.”

“I had to.”Nic’s tone was serious now.He wasn’t teasing.He truly believed that he’d had to disappear.

“Why?Did you think that kissing me would change anything between us?I’m not angry at you, Nic.I’m just confused and hurt.”

“I shouldn’t have kissed you.”Nic was carefully avoiding looking at Ryan.“I was just trying to convince you to leave.”

“Why?Why does it matter so much to you that I leave?”

Nic opened his mouth, then snapped it shut.Devonreallywas going to strangle him if he didn’t start talking.

“Because I don’t want you to get hurt, and the Kudlaks are about to attack the village,” Nic blurted out.

Devon stared.His brain was trying to make sense of the words Nic had just said, but it couldn’t.Thankfully, he wasn’t the only one here, and Ryan didn’t hesitate.

“What do you mean the Kudlaks are about to attack?”he asked.

“Exactly what I said.What’s complicated about those words?”Nic snapped at him.

“How do you know that they’re about to attack?What do they have to do with Devon?”

“I always knew they were planning to attack.It’s why I wanted Devon to leave.”

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