Page 32 of Quiet
Damnit, Isa, get your stuff together. This is temporary. Like all the other crushes.
A little tummy ache was nothing compared to the potential of watching Briar get torn apart by Isa’s family. Just because Isa was stuck with them didn’t mean anyone else needed to get sucked into the family dumpster fire.
He just needed to get over Briar and move on.
Isa typed out a quick affirmative and hit send.
“You look terrible, pumpkin.” Will sat down on the bench Isa had draped himself over, giving him a nudge so he’d scoot over. When Isa sat up, Will put an arm around him and stroked his hair. “Want to talk?”
“It’s just family stuff,” Isa said evasively, leaning into the touch with a soft sigh. He didn’t need a partner. He had all the love he needed from his clingy, touch-happy theater family.
His stomach tightened again, calling him out on the huge lie he’d just told himself. Isa was touch-starved, and no matter how much he tried to pretend otherwise, every touch from Briar fed a part of him he’d been trying to ignore for half his life.
“In my experience, family stuff is neverjustanything.” Will gave Isa’s shoulders a squeeze. “I won’t make you talk, but if you ever want to, I’d be happy to swap awful family stories any time.”
Isa tipped his head until it rested on Will’s shoulder. “Thanks,” he croaked hoarsely. Now his throat was acting up too. He waited until his voice was steadier before saying, “Not today, but some day.”
“Any time, sweetheart.” Will dropped a kiss on Isa’s head, and they sat together watching Conrad and Borachio get arrested in the most dramatic way the ladies could make it.
“How is Sara, by the way? If she doesn’t recover, I’m going to be the only guy in the whole show.”
“She told me her doctors are trying to decide right now if she needs her appendix removed, so plan on playing Benedick on opening night.”
“Poor Sara.” Isa frowned. Poor Isa too. He hadn’t expected to actually be in the play. For the most part, freshmen were only tech support. If one did get a part, it was only as a bit character. Not one of the leads.
“Don’t look like that.” Will nudged Isa with his body. “I’ll make you the prettiest lesbian in the show. No one will even know who you are.”
Isa smiled ruefully. “That will help if my family decides to show up.”
He hadn’t told his friends much about his life back home. Only that they hadn’t been very supportive. No one had pressed, but instead welcomed him with open arms and given him the encouragement to be brave enough to, if not openly announce being gay, not have to hide who he really was. Since half the theater department was queer in one direction or the other, everyone had guessed pretty quickly and treated Isa with nothing but love and acceptance. The unconditional friendship he’d found here had been a godsend.
They watched the rehearsal in companionable silence until it finally broke up. “I have to go for another sitting in a few minutes,” Isa said reluctantly.
“It’ll be okay, Isa. They’re good people. I’m a great judge of character.”
Would Will still think that if he knew what had happened last night between Briar and Isa? Probably. It wasn’t like Isa hadn’t wanted it. Will would probably tie Isa up and carry him to the studio if he knew.
Isa slapped on a carefree smile. He could do this. He could control his feelings and his hormones long enough to keep his promise. “See you tomorrow, Will.”
“It really will be okay, I promise,” Will said seriously, letting Isa know he needed to work on his acting skills.
“I know.” This time, Isa summoned a real smile for his friend.
Chapter13
Briar
“All I’m saying is that you need to take it slow with him,” Alex said, rubbing his forehead. This indicated stress, Briar was certain.
It wasn’t all Alex was saying. While they were setting up for the next modeling session, he’d been lecturing Briar about how dating worked, and it went completely against Briar’stry it and see what happensmindset.
It was Briar’s turn to rub his forehead. Whether he was mirroring Alex or not was anyone’s guess. “How slow?” Briar signed. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer.
“No more holding him against his will. That’s a big no-no across the board, no matter what gender is involved.”
“What if he’s lying about it being against his will?” Briar signed. He was at his communication limit, but for Isa, he would keep going as long as it took.
“You can’t know what another person is thinking. I know you’ve been taught a lot about reading body language, but some things we can’t know for sure, whether we were born understanding this stuff or not.”
