Page 88 of Lucky Shot
“Lots of people don’t like their face on social media,” I tell him. It’s not even a lie. “We’ll figure this out. I promise.”
Roux’s door opens and Gabe steps into the doorframe. Concern colors his face right away as he looks at Roux, shivering in my hold. There’s no hiding that this man likes my brother a lot.
“Do you want to come with me?” I ask.
He snorts. “While you fuck your boy for the next week? No. I’m going to pass.”
I laugh, kissing the side of his head. “It’s a big hotel. I didn’t say anything about us sharing a room.”
Roux sighs. “Maybe,” he says quietly.
“Tell you what.” I run my fingers through his hair at the back of his head. “If you decide you want to come, just give me a call and we’ll get it set up.”
“I don’t want to bother you,” he whispers.
“You never bother me. The only time I won’t answer my phone is during the game, but only because I won’t have it on me.”
“Really?” he asks, and the teasing note is back in his voice, even though he doesn’t pick up his head. “That’s theonlytime you’re not going to answer?”
“Fine. There are a couple of other activities I won’t answer during, but I’ll always call you right back. You know that.”
He snorts. “Okay,” Roux concedes. “But I should really figure it out on my own. You’re not always going to be there.”
“Yes, I am,” I tell him. “I will always be there when you need me. All you have to do is say so.” I look up at Gabe, who’s still staring at Roux. “So if at any time over the next week you need to come to Colorado, you and Gabe are welcome.”
Gabe’s gaze meets mine and he nods, offering me a slight smile. He moves back into Roux’s room and shuts the door quietly.
“Or you can come on your own,” I tell him quietly.
I feel his smile.
“Roux, I don’t want you to feel like I’m nagging you about this but… I really think you need to make sure he knows where you’re at concerning him,” I say.
He pulls back and I can already see his whine before it leaves his mouth. “I have,” he says. “Like every day. Make him stop having emotions, Lix.”
I chuckle and pat his cheek. “He’s good for you,” I tell him. “Not that I’m placing any pressure or trying to influence how you feel. But heisgood for you. He gets you out of the house and makes you laugh. I just want to make sure he doesn’t get hurt at the end of the summer.”
Roux nods. “I know. I don’t want that either.”
“Good. I’m going to call Pretty now. Have fun with your fuck buddy.”
He winces, his cheeks coloring slightly. Then he glares at me before walking back into the room and shutting his door with asnap.
Grinning, I pull my phone out and head to the back patio. I dial Pretty.
“Hey,” he says. “Everything okay?”
“I think this Trevor guy is a fake all around,” I tell him. “We’re already in the process of transferring Roux out of Marley Coast and while Trevor is the one who ended it with him, I’d really like him found.”
“I’ll let my friend know.”
“What are the odds that he’s given different names to other people?” I say, beginning to pace the length of my deck. “Do you think he had others under his control too? Was he hurting other people at the same time he was my brother?” Am I adding ‘cheater’ to his long list of transgressions?
“I’m sure he’ll be found.”
I frown. “Why do you think that?”
“I can’t talk about my friend. I’m sorry. It’s the one thing in my entire life I can’t tell you, Demi. Please don’t be mad.”
