Page 90 of Psync
Honestly, Eli thought he was clearly getting the better end of the deal.
Haruka was still a bit of a pushy jerk, but he was also kind and considerate and gave Eli everything he had in his power to give.
And when he shoved his way into Eli’s personal space and touched him, Eli didn’t care how pushy he was. Haruka shut Eli’s mind down and made his body sing.
Sometimes he thought Haruka could eat him alive, and Eli would die smiling.
“What’s that smile about?” Alice came up to him on one side and Nate came up on the other.
“You know exactly what he’s smiling over, Al. Please don’t make me listen to the dirty details.”
“Like I’d tell you.” Eli snorted. “Come on, let’s go.”
He waved to Haruka, so he’d know Eli’s friends had come to walk him to class. Haruka lowered his bow and waved back.
Instead of walking Eli all the way to his class, Alice and Nate parted ways as soon as they were out of sight of the archery field, leaving Eli free for the next two hours.
He swung his arms happily as he walked down the sidewalk. He hadn’t realized how physically constricted he’d felt by constant companionship. It wasn’t like he didn’t love being around his people but being forced to do so was getting to him. It was time to talk to Haruka about how overprotective he was being.
Tonight. After class, he’d find some way to get the man to relax and let him go back to being a free-range Eli. One who didn’t have to contact someone before he poked a toe out of his room.
It was funny. At the beginning of the year, Eli could barely get himself to leave his room unless it was absolutely necessary. Juniper would be so proud of him.
He felt easier in his skin now. The shadows that haunted him constantly had faded to mere whispers he could shrug off. Hell, he could probably even sleep alone now.
Maybe he could let that last one go untested. He had the best body pillow in existence. It would be insane not to use it.
“Hey, pretty,” a familiar, slimy voice called to him. Where did he know this voice?
Eli had been so lost in his thoughts he’d abandoned the vigilance he used to wear like armor. Having a constant escort must have lulled him into complacency because standing two feet away was Chad number one.
How had he forgotten that guy? Just hearing his voice made Eli’s stomach churn. And now he had to deal with him alone.
“Fuck off, Chad.” Eli tried to keep walking and was unsurprised when he was blocked.
“Don’t be like that. And the name’s Hank, not Chad.”
“Figures,” Eli muttered. Hank was still a very Chad-like name in his opinion. “I’m going to be late for class, get out of my way.” Start strong, finish strong. If he didn’t act like he was about to throw up from fear, he might get out of this unscathed.
“I’ll walk you there.” Hank moved to the side and fell in step with Eli, who started walking the second his path was clear.
“I don’t need someone to walk to class with me.” And if he did, he had far better options than this guy. Maybe he should have stuck with Alice and Nate after all.
No. He didn’t need a bodyguard. He’d been dealing with the Chads of the world long before the Eli Protection Squad had formed. He could take care of this on his own. All he had to do was walk fast and ignore Hank until he got to class.
“Maybe not, but my services are free.” Hank’s voice went low and suggestive. “I never get complaints.”
Hard pass.
“I’m sure somehow I’ll survive.” Eli let his tone drip with venom. He wasn’t doing great on the ignoring part of the plan. He gotten too comfortable speaking his mind—when he got his freedom back, he’d have to watch that.
Unfazed, Hank tried to put an arm around Eli, and he dodged to the side. Score one for Eli!
It would have been an excellent boost of self-esteem if he hadn’t tripped. Hank caught him by both arms and force-marched Eli backward.
Wrongwrongwrongrang out inside Eli’s head as he was pushed into a space between two buildings.
“What is your problem?” Eli tried to jerk his arms free, but Hank held him fast against a wall.
