Page 13 of From the Shadows
Chapter 4
“Why don’t you like Shay?”Jeremy asked, as he popped a slice of apple into his mouth.
“What?” Diego knew this question was coming. He’d been avoiding Shay for nearly a month now. “I don’t even know him.”
“Right, but he’s been here a while, and you haven’t come down to dinner once. He’s an awesome cook. Last night he made these meatballs out of beans, and covered them in some kind of gravy, then put them on thesehugebuns—he called them hoagies—and served them with mushrooms, onions, and peppers.”
Diego scowled. “You never eat beans. You said you hated them.”
When Jeremy’s cheeks pinked, Diego had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. “Shay knows how to make things that taste really good, but he didn’t try to hide they were beans. He asked me to taste them before I decided I didn’t like them.”
“And you did?”
“No. I refused. He said he’d make me something else, but… well, I think I hurt his feelings, and I really like Shay, so I took a bite.”
“And what did you think about them?”
Jerm’s eyes went huge. “Dude, Ilovedthem. You missed a gooddinner.” He glanced down at the game controller sitting on the couch beside him. “Shay thinks you hate him.”
Goddamn it. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut? “I don’t hate him, Jerm. I just… I don’t get along with humans.”
Pleading eyes turned toward Diego. “Butwhy?” he asked. “How many do you know? I mean, Shay’s doing everything he can to make this place—” He mumbled something.
“Make it what?”
“A home” came the snarled reply, Jerm’s anger a thing to behold. “He’s always here, never has to run off for days or weeks on end. He plays games with me, he’s teaching me cursive writing, and he’s way more patient than any of you.”
And that went straight to Diego’s heart. They’d all tried so hard to give Jeremy a home, to make him feel like he was part of this weird and dysfunctional family, and now this human waltzes in and suddenly Jeremy says what they’ve been hoping to hear for years.
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
Jeremy’s breath hitched and his eyes went wide. “That’s not how I meant it, D.”
But it probably was. Jerm needed the stability Shay provided, and Diego couldn’t be jealous of it. He’d asked Empatia to find someone to fill that slot, but did Shay have to be so damn good at it? Everyone said that Shay was a fucking godsend. That he’d taken the place and turned it into his own.
“It’s okay, I understand.”
“No, really. He’s just…. He’s a good guy, D. If you’d stop hiding in your room and give him a chance, you’d?—”
That was enough. All Diego had heard was how amazing Shay was, how great he was, how wonderful. Incredible. He was sick to death of hearing about Shay Nowak. It was never going to get better. The longer he stayed here, the more attached Jerm would get, and the more Diego would lose him.
Empatia?
Yes?
Please tell Mr. Biggs I appreciate the faith he’s shown in me over the years, but I can’t do this anymore. I’ll have my stuff out of the house by tonight.
Diego, we can discuss?—
By tonight, E. You’ve been a pain in my ass, but you’re a great therapist. I wish you the best.
He stood, ignoring Empatia’s voice in his head. “Jerm, you’re going to have to leave. I have things I need to do.”
“Diego—”
He sucked in a breath. Why did he feel like his heart was being ripped out? He reached for Jeremy, who launched himself into Diego’s arms.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! I love you.”
