Page 132 of Psync
“To the airport. I’m going home.” Eli hopped off the table and made for the bedroom.
“No.”
“Excuse me?” Eli pulled his suitcase out from under the bed only to have Haruka shove it back again. Eli left it because he knew it would be pointless. He’d known it was pointless the moment his key card refused to give him access to the parking lot—he just hadn’t been willing to admit it yet.
“What are we even doing here, Haruka? Why did you bring me here? Was what happened back home so awful—”
It was like being kicked by a small horse. Eli nearly choked as the flash of memory hit him, and he swayed on his feet while his brain coughed up the details of Juniper’s visit to their dorm. Haruka stepped forward to steady him, and Eli stopped him with a glare. “I don’t want you to touch me right now.”
Haruka looked like Eli slapped him in the face.
“So Li—,” His throat closed off again. He couldn’t say that name right now. “H-he jumped parole and is looking for me.” Eli clawed at his own hands so he could keep going, and Haruka looked positively wretched as he looked on helplessly. For a second, Eli thought he was going to touch him anyway, so he continued hastily. “I blacked out, you panicked, and brought me halfway around the world.”
Things had been going too well for Eli’s little slice of happiness to continue for much longer. Something like this was bound to crop up sooner or later.
Eli sighed and sat heavily on the bed. “That does sound like you.”
Haruka paced in front of him looking like a cross between a kicked puppy and a riled-up jungle cat.
“I get it, okay? I’m not mad about you bringing me here. I don’t love that you didn’t tell me why, but I’m guessing you were afraid I’d black out again if you did.”
Haruka nodded and stepped forward, only to be stopped when Eli held out a hand. The kicked puppy expression was gaining ground.
“But there’s no reason to keep me locked up here. He’s not going to come to Japan. He’s got to be on the no-fly list, and he couldn’t afford to get here even if he wasn’t. He was dirt-poor when he . . . did what he did.”
“I don’t care,” Haruka said softly. “If there’s even a chance—”
“I’m old enough to be on my own for five minutes. Jesus, all I wanted was a cup of coffee.”
“There’s coffee here.” At Eli’s glare, Haruka amended, “Or someone could go and get you any kind you want.”
“It’s not the same thing, and you know it. What’s going on with you?” Eli took a closer look at Haruka. He didn’t look like he’d slept much better than Eli had last night. “Are you okay? Maybe you should cut down on the meetings with Chiba-san. Or at least let me go with you.”
“Stay away from her. The less you know the better.”
“What does that even mean? What are you keeping from me?”
Haruka examined his fingernails far more closely than necessary. “I’m working out a deal with my family to keep you safe.”
“Shouldn’t I be a part of it then?”
Haruka shook his head. “My family aren’t good people, Eli. There are worse people out there—but trust me. Just hold on for a few more days, and they’ll be out of your life. You won’t have to see my aunt or meet anyone else.”
“So, I can just sit here like a princess in a castle every day waiting for you to come home to spring me for a tiny adventure before you stuff me back in my tower?”
Haruka’s eyes were shuttered, and he refused to look at Eli.
“Haruka, I have to go home. My family is there. I have school!” Eli couldn’t help but wonder if this was all an elaborate joke, but the darkness in Haruka’s eyes said otherwise.
“You can go to school here. My aunt already offered to get us private tutors if we want them. And your family can visit. I’ll fly them here—Juniper would love it.”
“She won’t love you keeping me here.”
“You’ll be safe here.”
“I’ll be trapped here!” Eli had always wanted to live in Japan, but not like this.
“Is it so bad, Eli, being with me?” The hurt on Haruka’s face cut straight into Eli’s soul.
