“Wake up, dipshit.”

“Owww! Fuck!!!” Shaun sat up jerkily, clutching his aching mouth, which had just been struck. As his blurry vision came into focus, he took his hand away and saw little drops of blood on his fingertips. He looked up angrily to see Gretchen turning away, looking back towards the front of the van. “You fucking bitch…I’m bleeding. Did you just hit me?”

“You deserved it. I’ve been trying to wake you up for the past ten minutes,” Gretchen grumbled. “You’ve been dead to the world since we left the house.”

Shaun bared his teeth at the girl. “So?”

Gretchen whirled around again and furiously met Shaun’s eyes. “I told you not to drink so much, Shaun. You’re wasted.”

“No, I’m not,” Shaun sniffed. “I was sleeping it off.”

Gretchen turned back around with a huff and crossed her arms.

Shaun looked out the window. He hadn’t noticed, but they weren’t moving anymore. They were in a tiny parking lot behind a row of what looked like little shops, bars, and restaurants. He figured they’d finally arrived at the venue. As he took in the surroundings, the back doors on the van slammed shut and Shaun jumped about a mile.

“Relax, that’s Harry,” Gretchen said. “He’s unloading all our shit. You could have helped him, but I know you’ve been busy, sleeping it off.”

“Shut up, cunt,” Shaun snapped, then grabbed his head as a sharp pain lanced through it, totally unrelated to Gretchen’s bitchslap. “Fuck…my head’s pounding…”

Shaking her head, Gretchen pulled a bottle of water out of the side door compartment. “Here,” she said, holding it out for Shaun to take. “Drink some water or something. Christ. You make all these huge leaps and bounds at maturity then you go and do something stupid. Like this.”

Shaun snatched up the water and drank half of it in a few swallows. It was warm though and didn’t taste good, so he tucked it into the seat beside him afterwards.

Up front, Gretchen had stopped bitching and she took her phone out and scrolled through it for a second. “We’re a little early yet. Ben’s about 15 minutes behind us.”

“What time is it?” Shaun croaked. He felt like utter shit. Besides his pounding head, his stomach just felt…unsettled. The sandwiches weren’t blending well with the alcohol, apparently.

“7,” Gretchen said. “We’ve got thirty minutes till we’re supposed to line up on stage.”

Shaun nodded. He needed to find a bathroom. Like, now.

Unfortunately, Gretchen was in no hurry to get out. They sat in silence for several more minutes. Shaun wasn’t thinking about anything but his stomach. The longer he sat, the sicker he felt, and he started to moan softly under his breath.

Suddenly, Harry appeared on the driver’s side of the van. He slipped in the front next to Gretchen, a little smile playing on the edges of his lips.

“The stage is really cool, guys,” he said. “You ready to go?”

“Yep.” Gretchen slipped her phone into her bra. “Ben will be here in 10. Let’s get a jump on setting up.”

“He’s cutting it pretty close,” Harry commented as he and Gretchen got out of the van. He had more to say but then the doors slammed shut and Shaun was left hunched over and moaning in the backseat. He sat like that for a couple minutes, afraid to move. He had to puke, there was no denying it. He just didn’t know how far he could go before he tossed his cookies. Everything was spinning, too, and he was worried he wouldn’t even make it out of the van.

Tap, tap, tap

Shaun looked up miserably to see Gretchen and Harry watching him through the back window. Gretchen threw her arms up, then gestured for him to ‘come on’.

Shaun groaned and clutched his stomach as he slowly slid across the seat towards the door. Gretchen yanked it open impatiently.

"Come on, we don't have all night," she snapped. "Get your ass out here."

Knowing it was a bad idea, Shaun got out of the van. The warm evening air hit him like a wave, making his head spin even more. He stumbled, barely catching himself on the side mirror.

"Jesus Christ, Shaun," Gretchen hissed, rushing over to steady him.

Shaun tried to bat her hands away but ended up nearly losing his balance again. Harry appeared on his other side, gripping his arm firmly.

"You okay, man?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Shaun shook his head weakly, afraid to open his mouth. His stomach was churning violently now that he was upright. "Bath...room," he managed to croak out, swallowing hard against the rising nausea.

Gretchen and Harry exchanged worried glances as Shaun swayed between them, his face pale and clammy. Finally, Harry pointed to a narrow alley between two brick buildings. "The stage is through there. We can probably sneak in the front entrance of the bar. There should be a restroom inside."

Shaun nodded weakly and took a shaky step forward. His friends tried to support him, but he shrugged them off, determined to make it on his own. He staggered towards the alley, one hand trailing along the rough brick wall for balance.

The alley was dim and smelled of stale beer and garbage. Shaun's stomach rolled violently as the odors assaulted his senses. He could hear Gretchen’s and Harry's concerned voices behind him, but they sounded distant and muffled, as if he were underwater.

Halfway down the alley, Shaun had to stop, doubling over and bracing himself against the wall as his stomach heaved. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the nausea to subside, but it only grew stronger.

“Shaun!” Gretchen was right behind him now, her voice sharp with concern. “For God’s sake, just let us help you.”

“I’m fine,” Shaun croaked, though it was painfully obvious he wasn’t.

Harry stepped in, firm but gentle. “Come on, man. No shame in leaning on us for a minute.”

Before Shaun could protest, Harry slung an arm around his shoulders, steadying him as they made their way toward the glow of lights at the end of the alley. The sound of laughter and music grew louder with every step.

When they emerged from the dim alleyway, the sight of the packed street stretched before them hit Shaun like another slap in the face. The paved area, strung with fairy lights that swayed gently in the late summer breeze, buzzed with people. There was a tangible excitement to everyone that passed, and Shaun began to sweat, nervous he was going to lose it in front of the crowd.

Around them, bars and restaurants spilled their patrons out onto patios and sidewalks, each establishment competing for attention with neon signs, chalkboard menus, and live music filtering through open doors. The air carried a heady mix of sizzling food and the faint tang of local beers.

“That’s the bar over there,” Harry said, pointing to a narrow, two story a few buildings down. The bar had claimed its spot as the centerpiece of the block and a wide, polished outdoor stage dominated the grassy area just beside it, complete with towering speakers flanking either side and a lattice of professional stage lights overhead. The backdrop, a striking mural of vibrant cityscapes and abstract patterns, caught the light in flashes of color as the sun dipped lower. Rows of sturdy barricades cordoned off the stage area, creating a dedicated space for the large growing crowd, so large, it was already spilling out onto the surrounding sidewalks.

The outdoor bar off the side of the main building matched the vibe, with multiple bartenders slinging drinks to the busy crowd. A small marquee board perched above the bar announced the night’s lineup, with Defaced listed under the headliner in bold orange letters. The entire setup had a buzz of expectation, and the vibe was electric, charged with the promise of a memorable night. All eyes seemed to gravitate toward the stage, where Shaun’s band would soon take center stage.

Shaun took it all in as sweat trailed uncomfortably down his neck. The setup was huge—bigger and brighter than he’d imagined. “Woah,” he breathed.

“I know, right,” Harry laughed, his grip on Shaun tightening as they paused to take it in. “They weren’t kidding about going all out for this bar crawl.”

Gretchen, ever practical, gave Shaun a hard nudge. “Impressive or not, you need to get your shit together before we go up there. Bathroom’s inside. Move.”

Shaun swallowed hard, nodding as Harry helped guide him toward the bar’s front door. The crowd parted reluctantly as they walked, a few curious eyes following their awkward procession.

Inside, the air was cooler but carried a dense mix of sweat, alcohol, and fried food. Shaun pushed past the press of bodies with Gretchen leading the way, her voice cutting through the noise as she barked directions at anyone in her path.

“There.” She pointed to a hallway at the back of the bar where a bright white sign reading ‘Restrooms’ glowed like a beacon of hope.

Shaun staggered inside and barely made it to one of the stalls before his stomach gave up entirely. He fell to his knees and heaved violently, gripping the edges of the grimy toilet for support as wave after wave of amber colored puke gushed out of him. By the time the nausea finally subsided, and the puking stopped, his legs felt like jelly, and sweat clung to every inch of his skin. He stayed hunched over for a moment, eyes shut, trying to catch his breath.

The bathroom door creaked open behind him, and Gretchen’s voice cut through the pounding in his head. “Christ, Shaun. You’re a mess.”

“Thanks for the update,” he muttered hoarsely, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

Gretchen didn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, she called over her shoulder, “Harry, get him a Pepsi, would you? Something with sugar.”

“On it,” Harry’s voice echoed faintly from outside.

Gretchen grabbed a handful of paper towels and ran them under cold water. “Sit your ass down,” she ordered.

Shaun didn’t argue. He shuffled out of the stall and sat on the edge of the sink, leaning back against the tiled wall. His head lolled to the side, but before he could fully zone out, Gretchen appeared in front of him, armed with the wet towels.

“You’re lucky I like you,” she said, her tone a mix of exasperation and fondness as she dabbed at his clammy face. “Because you’re a goddamn disaster.”

Shaun flinched at the cold touch, but he didn’t pull away. “I didn’t mean to drink that much.”

“Yeah, sure. And I didn’t mean to slap you awake, but here we are.” Gretchen wrung out another paper towel and continued cleaning him up, her movements brisk but careful. “At least you’re cute when you’re pitiful. It’s probably why Jesse likes you so much.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Shaun muttered, and Gretchen snorted.

The bathroom door swung open again, and Harry stepped in, holding a plastic cup of Pepsi with ice and a straw. “Here,” he said, handing it over. “Drink this. It’ll settle your stomach.”

Shaun took it with a murmured thanks, sipping slowly. The cool, sweet fizz soothed his throat and eased the lingering nausea.

Gretchen crossed her arms, watching him like a hawk. “Feeling better?”

“Yeah,” Shaun said. “A lot better, actually.”

“Good,” she said. “Because you’ve got about 15 minutes to pull yourself together. Don’t make me regret hauling you out here tonight.”

Shaun cracked a weak smile, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. “I’ll be fine. Promise.”

“You better be,” Gretchen shot back, but her tone was softer now. “Because I’m not carrying your sorry ass if you pass out mid-set.”

Shaun dragged himself off the sink and straightened up. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror—his face was pale, his hair sticking out at odd angles, and a faint smear of dried blood lingered on his lower lip from Gretchen’s earlier wake-up call. He grimaced. “Jesus. I look like I got hit by a truck,” he muttered, swiping at his lip with the back of his hand.

“No,” Gretchen said, leaning against the stall door with a smirk. “More like a tricycle. You’ve had worse.”

Shaun rolled his eyes but couldn’t help a small, grateful chuckle.

Harry checked his phone, his expression tightening. “Twelve minutes. We should get to the stage.”

Shaun nodded. The Pepsi had done its job settling his stomach and had given him a bit of a sugar kick, too. “I’m good. Let’s go.”

The trio made their way out of the bar, pushing through the crowd. The air outside was cooler now, and the growing energy of the event was palpable.

As they approached the stage area, Shaun’s nerves kicked in. He scanned the crowd, noting the mix of patrons: there were the usual metal fans, people in black with piercings and tattoos, but there were others in the audience, too. College kids in neon shirts, older couples nursing beers, groups of rowdy bar crawlers already well into their night… Shaun started to feel dizzy again and he looked away.

They made their way toward a roped-off section at the far side of the stage. A crew member wearing a headset stood guard at the entrance, but when Harry waved, the guy lifted the rope, nodding them through without a word. Shaun followed the other two as they led him into the designated backstage area.

The space was still technically outside but it was tucked away behind a tall partition of canvas and plywood, blocking them from the view of the crowd. It was furnished with a couple of folding chairs, a small table littered with water bottles, and a portable fan lazily spinning in the evening heat. A string of dim, warm lights hung overhead, casting a soft glow that contrasted with the electric buzz of the main stage.

“This is us,” Gretchen said, pulling out a chair and gesturing for Shaun to sit. “Stay put and breathe or whatever you need to do.”

Shaun sank heavily into the chair, adrenaline and lingering nausea warring for dominance in his system. Harry crouched beside him, holding out the Pepsi. “Here. Keep sipping this. You’re gonna feel better in no time.”

As Shaun obediently took a sip, Gretchen crossed her arms and surveyed him critically. “We’ve got about 10 minutes until showtime. You need to be ready, Shaun. Remember, you’ve got one chance to make an impression. Don’t blow it.”

Suddenly, Ben charged into the room, his bass under one arm and his amp under the other. He spotted the other two clustered around Shaun and his face lit up in mock disbelief. “Holy shit. He lives!”

Shaun groaned. “Not now, Ben.”

Ben chuckled as he set his shit down. “Gretchen said you were hurling like 5 minutes ago. What the hell happened?”

Shaun groaned again, not wanting to get into it.

“Cut him some slack,” Harry said, slapping Shaun on the back. “He’s rallying.”

As the others talked amongst themselves, Shaun took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his damp hair, trying to get it to lie flat. He was still a mess, but there was no time left to dwell on it. The thrum of the crowd outside was growing louder, a restless hum of voices and clinking glasses underscored by the bass beat of a playlist being pumped through the stage speakers.

“Alright,” Gretchen said suddenly. “Five minutes. Let’s do this.”

Shaun stood, testing his legs. They felt sturdier now, and his stomach had settled enough that he didn’t feel like he was going to keel over. He cracked his knuckles, letting the familiar pre-show jitters replace the remnants of nausea. Harry grinned at him, giving a thumbs up. Ben was already fiddling with his bass, the picture of cool nonchalance.

“Ready?” Gretchen asked, her sharp eyes scanning Shaun’s face.

Shaun nodded, grabbing his guitar. “Let’s go.”

The four of them filed out onto the stage. The rush of noise from the crowd hit Shaun like a physical force. Cheers, whistles, and claps mingled with a few scattered jeers—it didn’t matter. It was all fuel. The stage lights were blinding at first, but as his eyes adjusted, Shaun could see the sea of faces stretching out before him.

And then he saw Jesse.

He was standing a few rows back, unmistakable even in the crowd. A bright red t-shirt clung to his chest, showing off his lean, athletic frame. It was short enough to reveal a tantalizing strip of his stomach and Shaun’s gaze dropped to the little hollow of his belly button, his pulse quickening. Tight jeans hugged Jesse’s hips, and his short red hair was pushed back, giving him a sexy, devil-may-care kind of look.

But it was Jesse’s expression that really hit Shaun. Those heavy-lidded eyes, smoldering and intent, were locked onto him like there was no one else in the world, just them.

It was far from the truth, though. They weren’t alone. On one side of Jesse stood his brother, Sam, arms crossed, wearing an expression of pure boredom. And on the other side was Brian, his wide, amazed eyes fixed on Shaun with unfiltered wonder.

Something inside Shaun shifted. Seeing them there—Jesse, Sam, and little Brian—gave him a jolt of clarity. They weren’t just a distraction or a source of tension in his life. They were one of the main reasons he was up here, doing this, pouring his soul into every note.

The nerves melted away. His confidence surged, his earlier weakness forgotten.

He grabbed the mic and leaned into it, letting the hum of the crowd settle into an expectant silence. “Hey, guys. We’re Defaced. Back from the dead.”

There was a round of enthusiastic cheers from the fans, the people who’d been following their story on social media. And from up here, it looked like almost all of them had showed up in support. The audience looked fucking enormous from this vantage point.

Grinning, Shaun waited for the crowd to calm again before he continued. “We picked up a new member, too. Say hi, Harry.”

Smiling, Harry lifted a hand. There were some cries of approval and whooping, but nothing like the first time. Shaun figured he’d better get on with it.

“Alright fuckers, we’re here to make some noise,” he growled into the mic. “What do ya say?”

The crowd screamed with excitement, and Shaun glanced at his bandmates, giving them the signal. He released the mic, then, and with his guitar slung low, he let the first chords rip out of the speakers. The sound was raw, primal, and electrifying, and the crowd responded with a wave of energy that washed over the stage.

Shaun glanced at Jesse again, and their eyes met. Jesse smiled—just a small, knowing curve of his lips—but it hit Shaun like a freight train. It was the kind of smile that said, I see you. I’m proud of you. I’m here.

Shaun sang like his life depended on it. Every lyric, every note, every strum of his guitar carried the weight of everything he couldn’t say out loud. And as he played, he felt the connection between him and Jesse grow stronger, a silent current of understanding passing between them.

“Once upon and once up high

a dandy dream what means to die

what things to come as life goes by

the core of human equation

pentagram presents a sign

a sign to saviorize

turn around

I'd like to know you”

Shaun’s fingers flew across the strings, the guitar growling under his command. Every movement was sharp, controlled, like a predator in his element. The harsh stage lights caught the glint of sweat on his muscular arms, the veins in his forearms standing out with every chord he played. His black shirt clung to his chest, outlining the contours of his physique, and his movements, intense and fluid, gave off an air of effortless dominance.

As he sang, his voice was rough and deep, a perfect match for the gritty sound of the band. There was something magnetic in it—an untamed quality that sent shivers through the crowd. The girls in the front row screamed, and a few of them reached up as though they could touch him, their eyes hungry with admiration. Shaun was amused watching the girls, his groupies. The sound of his voice rippled through them, drawing them in closer, their lips parting with excitement, their breath catching as he hit every note with precision. He was greatly enjoying the power he had over them. He suddenly understood the appeal.

But even better than the groupies, than the hundreds of excited people watching below, was Jesse. He stood at the edge of the crowd as the band made their way through the setlist, his eyes never leaving Shaun, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Shaun could see the pride in those gorgeous, blue eyes. That look made every nerve in his body hum with the desire to be seen, to be heard, to prove himself—especially to Jesse. He gave him a little nod of acknowledgement and Jesse’s smile widened, his body shifting as if he wanted to push through the crowd and reach him.

Sam, standing next to Jesse, looked surprisingly impressed, his usual bored expression replaced with something more like grudging respect. Even Brian, who’d been bouncing up and down, stopped for a moment, his eyes wide with awe. He couldn’t help but watch Shaun, the serious guy who usually kept to himself, come alive on stage.

When the final song hit, Shaun’s voice thundered over the crowd, his energy reaching a fever pitch. He was lost in the moment, no longer thinking, just playing—his body moving like a force of nature. The crowd was with him, screaming, clapping, chanting the band’s name, and the tension in the air was electric, every note feeding the frenzy.

As the song came to an end, with the last chord hanging in the air, Shaun threw his head back and let out a primal roar of satisfaction. He could feel the crowd’s adoration pulsing around him like a tangible force, and for a brief moment, he was invincible. The stage lights flickered as the band finished their set, and Shaun pulled the mic from its stand, his voice low and growling.

“That’s how it’s done, you assholes!” he shouted, a grin spreading across his face. “Defaced is back. Deal with it!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, their chanting swelling as they demanded more. Shaun could feel the heat of their energy on his skin, and despite the rawness of his voice and the sweat dripping down his back, he felt like he could keep going forever. But their set was done.

As the last echoes of their performance faded, the band stumbled off stage, high on adrenaline and the rush of the crowd. The makeshift backstage area felt like a sanctuary after the intensity of their set. Shaun's ears were ringing, his heart still pounding in time with the rhythms they'd just played.

"Holy shit!" Ben exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. "Did you see that crowd? They were losing their minds out there!"

Gretchen nodded, a rare, genuine smile lighting up her face. "We killed it. Absolutely killed it."

Harry clapped Shaun on the back, nearly knocking him over in his enthusiasm. "Man, I knew you could sing, but that was something else. You were like a fucking demon up there!"

Shaun grinned, still breathless from the performance. He could feel the sweat cooling on his skin, his muscles trembling with the aftershocks of adrenaline. The euphoria of the performance still coursed through his veins, making everything seem brighter, more vivid. "Thanks, man," he said, his voice hoarse from the intense vocals. "Felt pretty fucking good up there."

The muffled roar of the crowd could still be heard through the partition, their chants of "Defaced! Defaced!" reverberating through the makeshift backstage area. The energy was infectious, and the band members found themselves grinning at each other, caught up in the moment of their shared triumph.

Gretchen grabbed a water bottle from the table, tossing it to Shaun. "Hydrate, rock star. We've got to keep that voice in working order."

As Shaun gulped it down, grateful for the cool relief, the backstage area suddenly filled with new bodies. Toxic Hell had arrived.

The headlining band made an entrance like they owned the place, their boots heavy on the concrete floor, their leather outfits gleaming under the dim fluorescent lights. At the head of the group was their lead singer, a tall man with long black hair, piercing green eyes, and an air of superiority that filled the room like smoke.

Shaun straightened instinctively, locking gazes with him. For a moment, the noise and chatter of the room faded away, and the two men were caught in a silent battle of wills.

The lead singer smirked, his voice smooth as he broke the silence. “Not bad, rookie. You’ve got the crowd going out there. Must feel good, opening for the big leagues."

Shaun arched a brow. “Funny, I didn’t realize the ‘big leagues’ needed us to warm them up. Guess you owe us one for that.”

The man's smirk faltered for a split second before he leaned closer, his voice dropping. “Careful, rookie. The same crowd cheering your name tonight will forget you tomorrow. But me? I’ve got staying power.”

“Staying power? Is that what you call it when the headliner gets upstaged by the opening set?” Shaun’s smirk was devastating. “Hear that? Pretty sure they’re still calling our name.”

The lead singer was speechless for a moment, and indeed, the sound of the crowd calling Defaced’s name rang out in the silence. Shaun’s smirk refused to waver.

The guitarist, some guy with a ponytail, let out a low chuckle behind the singer. “He’s got guts, Xavier. I’ll give him that.”

Xavier, the lead, narrowed his gaze but there was a glimmer of amusement dancing in his green eyes. “Guts won’t get you far out here, rookie. But I’ll give you credit where it’s due—you’ve got talent. Might even make it if you don’t burn out first.”

“Good thing I’ve got water,” Shaun quipped, holding up the bottle Gretchen had tossed him. “Wouldn’t want to burn too bright for you guys to handle.”

Before Xavier could respond, the sharp chirp of Gretchen’s phone sounded. She glanced at the screen, then smirked. “It’s Jesse,” she said, looking up at Shaun. “He’s outside and wants to come backstage.”

Shaun felt his heart skip a beat. The adrenaline from the performance was still coursing through his veins, but now it mixed with a sudden surge of nerves. He nodded at Gretchen, trying to keep his voice steady. “Tell him I’ll come get him.”

As Gretchen relayed the message, Shaun turned back to Xavier one last time. “Guess I’ve got fans to take care of. You know how it is.”

Xavier tilted his head, his smirk returning. “Oh, I know. Better hope you can keep them. Fame’s a fickle thing.”

“Good thing I’m not just chasing fame,” Shaun shot back, then strode out of the room, leaving Xavier and his band in his wake.

Shaun moved quickly through the backstage area, his heartbeat thudding in his chest as he went. When he reached the exit, his eyes landed on Jesse, standing near the rope with Brian and Sam. Jesse and Sam were talking quietly and craning their necks to look back at the crowd over the barricade, so they didn’t see Shaun at first. Shaun slowed to a stop, but the thudding of his heart just kept increasing. The sight of the little redhead made everything around him blur, like the rest of the world didn't exist anymore. Jesse’s presence was simply mesmerizing, and it pulled at every fiber of Shaun’s being. He was so utterly gorgeous…

Little Brian, enthusiastic as ever, was the first to spot him standing there. "Shaun!" he yelled, his face lighting up as he ducked under the rope and ran right at him. Without hesitation, he launched himself at Shaun, his tiny arms wrapping around his neck. “I missed you so much!”

"Hey, little guy.” Shaun caught him easily, grinning down at the excited boy. “I missed you, too. Did you like the show?”

Brian nodded fervently. “You were awesome! So cool!”

“I told you you’d get to see me play before summer ended,” Shaun said, smiling as Brian hugged him even tighter. Honestly, he hadn’t thought much about the promise he’d made since he’d made it weeks back, but now he was extremely glad he’d been able to keep it.

“Do we get to go back to your new house now?” Brian asked, his blue eyes huge with curiosity. “Jesse says we’re going to spend the night.”

“Yep.” Shaun chuckled. “You don’t have to go back to your house until Sunday. Pretty cool, huh?” He started to set Brian down when he looked up and suddenly, his eyes locked with Jesse’s. The blue depths smoldered with that same intensity Shaun had seen earlier in the crowd and he paused with Brian halfway to the ground, the boy’s arms still latched around his neck like a little spider monkey, but in that moment, it was Jesse who had all his attention. The air between them crackled with electricity, a tension so thick it could’ve been cut with a knife.

Jesse didn’t speak, but his gaze did all the talking. His lips parted slightly and his devilish little tongue darted out tantalizingly to wet them. His chest rose and fell with the same rhythm as Shaun’s. They looked deep into each other’s eyes, no need for words—there was an understanding between them, a pull they couldn’t ignore. Shaun felt his cock twitch strongly with arousal.

“Brian, get off me before I drop you,” he murmured, trying to break the moment just enough to stay composed. Fuck…he’d teased Jesse about getting a hard-on during the show, but it was him that had ended up popping the boner.

Brian giggled but hopped down eagerly.

Uncomfortable, but trying not to show it, Shaun straightened up again and tossed his long hair over his shoulder. He couldn’t help sneaking another peek at Jesse and his gaze lingered on him as he struggled for something intelligent to say.

Sam, standing next to Jesse, ended up breaking the silence. With an arched brow, he looked between Jesse and Shaun then finally blurted: “So you really are a big rock star, then?”

Shaun cleared his throat and, at last, broke eye contact with Jesse. "I guess I’m just full of surprises," he said, keeping it casual even though he could feel everyone’s eyes on him.

"You’re not bad," Sam said grudgingly, his usual sarcastic tone softened just a bit. “Defaced is actually pretty cool.”

“Yeah?” Shaun couldn’t help the small, self-satisfied smile that tugged at his lips. Sam’s rare approval felt like a victory.

“Yeah.” Sam’s voice dropped into a mockingly low, impressed tone. “Those girls in the front row were definitely into it.”

“Oh, the groupies?” Shaun snorted.

Sam’s eyes widened in exaggerated curiosity. “Like, how do you even get groupies?” he pressed, completely oblivious to the sexual tension in the air. “What’re they like? A lot of them were smoking hot.”

Beside him, Jesse let out a sigh, shaking his head in disgust, though there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. Shaun just gave him a knowing look, silently begging him not to make this more awkward than it already was.

“I don’t fuck with the groupies,” he said, turning back to Sam. “You’ll have to talk to Harry about them if you’re interested. He’s probably got a story or two for you.”

Sam sniffed and nodded, trying so desperately to look cool.

"Come on then, let's head backstage," Shaun said, gesturing for the others to go ahead of him. Sam and Brian hurried through first with Jesse trailing behind them. Shaun immediately fell in step beside the redhead and subtly, he laid a gentle hand on the small of his naked back.

Jesse’s lips curled upward, and he shifted the tiniest bit closer to Shaun, but didn’t otherwise react to the intimate touch. He and Shaun held their silence as they followed the younger boys through a maze of halls to the backstage. The awkwardness of the situation was palpable, but Shaun could feel their chemistry simmering just below the surface. He couldn’t wait to get Jesse alone.

As they entered the backstage area, Shaun was relieved to see that Toxic Hell had cleared out. Only Gretchen, Ben, and Harry remained, lounging on folding chairs, messing with their phones, and sipping water bottles.

The kids shuffled into the middle of the room, looking around curiously, but Jesse didn’t go much further than the doorway. Shaun stopped beside him and casually slipped an arm around his narrow waist, his fingers ghosting along the strip of exposed skin just above Jesse's waistband. He felt the redhead shiver slightly at the touch, and a smirk played at the corners of Shaun's mouth.

Ben, sensing the charged atmosphere between them, jumped to take over the introductions. "Sam, Brian, this is the amazing girl I was telling you about in the car.” Proudly, he tossed an arm around Gretchen’s shoulders but she was busy with her phone and shoved him off immediately, much to Sam’s and Brian’s amusement.

“Hands off,” she said, turning back to her phone. “We’ve got like 200 new comments on our page right now. Some fan uploaded a video of us playing and its blowing up. Might go viral.”

Harry looked up from his phone, too. “Seriously?”

Distracted, Gretchen nodded.

“But, sweetie pie,” Ben started, looking incredibly hurt. “We’ve got guests.”

With a sigh, Gretchen set her phone aside, then looked up boredly.

Ben hurried to smooth things over. "Alright, let me do some proper introductions here," he said, clapping his hands together. "You guys already know me and Shaun, of course. This lovely lady right here is Gretchen, my girlfriend and our incredible drummer. She’s seriously the backbone of the band." He gestured to Gretchen with a flourish.

Gretchen gave a half-hearted wave. "Hey.”

Ben pressed on, undeterred. "And this strapping gentleman is Harry, our newest member, resident Lothario, and rhythm guitarist."

Rolling his eyes a bit, Harry gave the kids a friendly nod. "Nice to meet you guys. Heard a lot about you from Jesse."

Sam's eyes lit up at the mention of Harry's name. "So, you’re Harry?”

Harry gave him a little bow. “That’d be me.”

Sam sidled up next to him, his eyes narrowing in a mixture of fascination and skepticism. “So,” he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Where are all the… hot chicks?”

Harry faltered a bit, but raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You know how it is. They come and go,” he said with a shrug, though he didn’t seem all that eager to spill any details. Sam’s persistence wasn’t lost on him, though.

“Oh, c’mon. Shaun said you had stories about the groupies,” Sam pressed. “I bet you have them in your bed all the time.”

For once, Harry looked totally out of his element. “Uh… how old are you again, kid?”

“15,” Sam lied. “Old enough to get laid, anyway.”

Harry politely turned away to hide his amusement, but Sam refused to be deterred. He continued to ask rude questions and Harry continued to avoid him.

Beside Shaun, Jesse watched his brother make an ass out of himself with an amused little smile on his face. Shaun was only half paying attention though. He couldn’t stop staring at Jesse, watching his expressions change. And now that he’d started, he couldn’t stop touching him either. Shaun lazily stroked his calloused thumb along Jesse’s bare hip, sighing softly when Jesse leaned imperceptibly into the touch. They had barely exchanged a word so far, but Shaun could feel an incredible heat rolling off the redhead’s firm little body. He wasn’t cold or anything, but he really wanted to wrap himself in Jesse’s warmth. His cock was chubby from just standing next to him and he desperately needed to find some relief.

On a totally different subject, Brian rushed back to them and tugged insistently on Jesse’s arm.

Jesse turned to the boy. “What’s up buddy?”

“Shaun showed me his guitar before, so I already know what they look like. Can I see the drums now?” Brian asked, looking up pleadingly.

“Uhhh.” Jesse glanced at Gretchen, who was busy sneaking peeks at her phone again.” I don’t know, buddy. Maybe you should ask Gretchen. It’s her instrument.”

At the sound of her name, Gretchen looked up again and caught sight of Brian gazing at her expectantly. She smiled tightly but she obviously didn’t know how to engage.

Ben, who had been hanging back, jumped in to help his girlfriend. “I think he’s interested in your drums, Gretch.”

Gretchen glanced at Ben, then at the drum set sitting off to the side. She hesitated for a moment before nodding, though it was clear she wasn’t entirely comfortable with the situation. Resigned, she turned back to face Brian. “You wanna check out the drums?”

Brian nodded enthusiastically and immediately, he scampered away, leaving Shaun and Jesse to themselves.

Ben beamed. “See, Brian? Isn’t she the best?” He reached out to squeeze Gretchen’s hand, but she dodged it, leading Brian to the drum kit instead.

“C’mon kid. Let me show you how it works,” she said, gesturing Brian closer so he could see.

As she began pointing out the different parts of the kit, Brian’s eager questions drew her into a conversation that even made her smile. Ben watched them together fondly, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He looked like he might burst with pride.

“They’re cute, huh?” Jesse said softly beside him.

Shaun turned to look at him, momentarily forgetting his surroundings. Jesse’s smile was small but genuine, and it made Shaun’s chest ache.

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice quieter than he intended. “I guess they are.”

The moment stretched between them, intimate and unspoken. Shaun’s fingers, still resting lightly on Jesse’s hip, tightened just slightly. He didn’t even realize he was doing it until Jesse glanced down at his hand and back up at him with a teasing smirk.

“You’re awfully touchy tonight,” he murmured, his tone low and amused.

Shaun felt heat rise in his face but didn’t pull away. “Can’t help it,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re… distracting.”

Jesse’s cheeks colored faintly, as well, but he didn’t break eye contact. Instead, he leaned in closer, his voice dropping even further. “Well, I could use a distraction. How about some water?”

It took Shaun a second to process the words. “Oh! Yeah, sure.” Reluctantly, he stepped back, his hand slipping away as he moved across the room to get some water. He grabbed a bottle and returned to Jesse. “Here, babe.”

Jesse took the water with a small, grateful smile. But instead of drinking it, he twisted off the cap and tipped the bottle over his chest, letting the cold water spill down the front of his shirt.

Shaun stared, his jaw tightening as the wet fabric clung to Jesse’s lean chest, highlighting one of his little, pebbled nipples.

“Oops,” Jesse said, his voice entirely too innocent as he held the empty bottle out. “I think I need some towels. Know where I can find some?”

Shaun swallowed hard. His mind was racing, he could barely think straight, but he did remember Gretchen cleaning him with paper towels earlier in the bar’s bathroom. “Yeah… uh, I think there’s some in the bar,” he managed.

“Great,” Jesse said, tossing the bottle aside. “Lead the way.”

Shaun turned and led Jesse out of the room. As they walked back down the hall, he was thinking he’d take them around to the front of the bar and hopefully, they’d be able to sneak in with the crowd, unchecked. He was also starting to wonder why Jesse had spilled water all over himself in the first place, when suddenly, Jesse grabbed his arm and yanked him into a storage closet.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Jesse turned and leapt into Shaun’s arms, a lot like Brian had done outside. Startled, Shaun caught him around the waist and held him tightly as frantic kisses rained down on his face.

“Shaun, Shaun, mmm, Shaaaun….” Jesse moaned. “Oh god…I missed you so, so much.”

Shaun let the kisses continue for a moment or two, then gently, he turned and pressed Jesse against the door. Once his weight was supported, Shaun reached up and cupped his face between both his large hands. “Stop,” he murmured and finally, Jesse fell still, staring back at Shaun with a dazed expression. “Fuck Jess,” Shaun said, tenderly stroking his warm cheek. “Did you forget how to kiss? You’re doing it all wrong.”

Jesse blinked at him in confusion. “I…am?”

Chuckling deep in his throat, Shaun pushed his fingers through Jesse’s silky-soft auburn hair. “I’ll just show you what I mean then.”

Jesse’s beautiful blue eyes grew wide and smirking, Shaun leaned impossibly closer and pressed their lips together.

The second he tasted Jesse, Shaun knew he was lost. Neither of them would be leaving this room until he’d had his fill. Jesse’s taste, the sweet smell of his skin and hair, the scorching press of his flesh against Shaun’s, it was intoxicating. He felt drunk all over again, but this time, with lust.

His cock had been half erect since Jesse had appeared backstage, but now it had reached its full length and was rock hard against the fly of his jeans. He pressed it firmly against Jesse’s, which he could feel was just as hard and excited as his own, then he started to grind.

Jesse whimpered into Shaun’s mouth and thrust back desperately, his fingers tangling in Shaun’s long hair, pulling him closer, as if closer were even possible.

Shaun smiled against Jesse’s lips, a low, satisfied hum rumbling in his chest. He tilted his head slightly, his tongue brushing against Jesse’s bottom lip, seeking entry. Jesse didn’t hesitate, parting his lips to let Shaun in, and their tongues met, sliding against each other in a slow, hypnotic dance that made Shaun’s cock pulse crazily with need.

“God, Jesse…” he murmured between kisses. “You feel so fucking good right now.”

Jesse’s response was to arch into him, his body fitting against Shaun’s perfectly, like they were two pieces of a puzzle finally slotting together. “I missed this,” he whispered, his voice breathless and full of longing. “Missed you.”

Shaun pulled back just enough to look at him, still cradling the back of his neck with his hand. Shaun’s fat dick lurched with desire as he studied the redhead’s flushed face; his swollen lips, glistening with their combined saliva.

“I missed you too,” he said, his voice deep. With a thumb, he stroked Jesse’s burning cheek, brushing against the freckles scattered there like stars. “More than I can ever say.”

“Then don’t say anything,” Jesse murmured, tugging Shaun back down into another searing kiss.

As their mouths crashed together, Shaun kissed Jesse with a slow, deliberate intensity as he rediscovered every curve and contour he had. His hands began to roam, too, sliding down Jesse’s sides to grab handfuls of his pert asscheeks. Groaning, he squeezed the firm globes as thoughts of fucking filled his head. He was close to spinning Jesse around and ripping his jeans down, but, almost grudgingly, he had to admit to himself that Jesse would need preparation, and that he had neither the tools nor the patience. And honestly, there was no telling how long they had. Jesse’s fucking family was just down the hall.

Suddenly feeling a little frustrated, Shaun used his handful of ass to pin Jesse to the door, and growling, he began thrusting his hips in short, rhythmic bursts, rutting his cock into Jesse’s with increasing abandon. It wasn’t what he wanted exactly, but it did feel good.

Jesse hardly seemed disappointed, at any rate. He clung to Shaun, moaning wantonly into his mouth as the kisses got wetter and sloppier. He wasn’t able to move as much with Shaun’s hands gripping him so tightly, but with his thighs wrapped around Shaun’s waist, and his ankles locked just below his butt, he urged Shaun on, drawing him in with his wiry legs.

Shaun and Jesse found a rhythm like that, rubbing, grinding together relentlessly. The little redhead was a livewire in his arms, and Shaun continued to grind his hips, continued to kiss Jesse deep, sucking his tongue passionately as their coupling came to a literal head.

Jesse came first. With little warning, he tore his mouth from Shaun’s and threw his head back with a strangled cry. Shaun was close, so he didn’t stop. He latched onto Jesse’s exposed throat sucking the sensitive spot where his slender neck met shoulder. He sucked harder and harder as the other boy groaned and shook through his orgasm.

“Baby….it hurts,” Jesse moaned a little, his thighs clenching hard around Shaun’s continually thrusting hips.

Shaun knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help himself. Instead of pulling away, he drove his teeth into Jesse’s soft skin, tasting sweat and just the faintest hint of blood. Jesse gasped and arched helplessly into Shaun, submitting even as he trembled with pain.

Shaun thought it was so fucking hot, he was suddenly tipping over the edge himself and as he came, he bit down even harder. Jesse let out a yelp and finally, he started to struggle. Shaun released him, so quick, he stumbled back into one of the storage shelves, knocking a spare reel of cable and a clunky mic to the floor.

“Fuck…” he muttered, grabbing onto the metal shelf to stop its precarious sway. He was breathing heavily and the muscles in his arms and legs were screaming at him. He’d kinda forgotten about all those hours he’d spent digging that trench earlier today at work.

Across from him, Jesse winced as he rubbed his brand-new hickey. “Jeez, Shaun. I thought you were going to start sucking my blood for a second there.”

Feeling sheepish, Shaun kicked the spare mic away. “Sorry. I got a little carried away, I guess.”

“How bad is it?”

“Pretty bad,” Shaun grumbled. “It’s bright red and obvious as fuck.”

Jesse rubbed the love bite again. Slowly, he smiled. “You marked me.”

Shaun thought about it for a moment. “I mean, you are mine,” he said pointedly. “I knew you’d let me do it.”

Jesse crossed his arms but he seemed more amused than anything. “Maybe a little warning next time?”

Shaun blinked at him. “Next time?” Jesse was going to let himself be bitten again? What other things would he allow? Shaun remembered finally admitting to his blood lust for Jesse the night before their big accident. It had been awkward as hell, and worse yet, they hadn’t spoken of it since.

And Jesse was obviously still avoiding the topic like the plague, because he just laughed and waved Shaun off like it’d been a joke. Nothing more. “I’m just distracted by the come drying in my shorts right now. We need to clean up. Fast. Before they find us in here.”

Shaun stepped away from the shelves and noticed the exact same thing Jesse had mentioned. “Damnit. I should have come down your throat. Fuck this…” The front of his jeans was stained in an incredibly obvious way. Add Jesse’s hickey and it’d be clear to anyone paying attention exactly what they’d been up to. Everyone was gonna know.

Still laughing, Jesse started poking around the storage shelves. “We’ll just tell everybody we were celebrating, and things got a little…wet.”

“Wet?” Shaun scoffed at him.

“Yeah.” Jesse turned around with a spray bottle of Windex and a handful of blue cleaning rags. “We were having fun and beer got spilled. Nothing crazy.” He approached Shaun and sprayed him a few times on the chest, so his t-shirt sorta resembled the spill Jesse had down his. Then he sprayed Shaun around his crotch area, making the dark spot even bigger. “We spilled shit in our laps. Who cares what anyone else thinks.”

Shaun was incredibly concerned about what everyone else would be thinking though, especially here at the venue he’d just crushed. They had to get out of here before they caused a scene.

Jesse wasted a minute or two cleaning them with Windex and rags, but honestly, it was a super last ditch effort. Shaun wouldn’t be happy until he got a chance to change.

“C’mon,” he grumbled, taking the cleaning supplies from the redhead and tossing them back on the shelf at random. “Let’s figure out how we’re getting home.”

Jesse nodded and let Shaun draw him back into the main hallway. As they walked, Shaun reached out and discreetly grazed his fingers along Jesse’s. He may have just come, but that hardly meant he was satisfied. He wasn’t done touching Jesse…not even close.

Beside him, Jesse smiled and sent him a little wink. They didn’t even have to speak. Jesse knew what Shaun was thinking, and he was fully in agreement.

The moment they entered the backstage area, Gretchen pounced on them.

“Seriously, guys?” she snapped, planting her hands on her hips and giving them a look. “We’ve been entertaining your kids for like 15 minutes. Couldn’t you have waited?”

“Nope,” Shaun said, unrepentant. “That was 100 percent necessary.”

Gretchen rolled her eyes. “Whatever. We’re trying to pack up and get out of here before Toxic Hell finishes. Sounds like they’re bombing out there…”

Shaun paused to listen, and she was right. There was a lot of booing amid the whine of the guitars. The fans weren’t into it.

“C’mon,” Gretchen said, already turning back to the group. “If we can all grab a couple things, we can do this in one trip. Let’s head out people!”

Between Shaun, Ben, Harry, and even Sam managed to pitch in, all the heavy items were accounted for. Jesse and Gretchen grabbed a couple smaller things while Brian was especially eager, holding onto Gretchen’s drumsticks like they were trophies. Gretchen awkwardly thanked him for his ‘help’ as they all shuffled through the exit and into the hallway.

On the way out, Sam continued to hassle Harry about the girls. He was bragging about his experience, or whatever, and Harry was listening politely, commenting here and there. Gretchen and Ben were bickering about something, and Brian listened with interest, tagging along with those silly drumsticks. Jesse and Shaun headed up the rear, just enjoying the moment, the togetherness. The night had gone well despite everything. Shaun was weary, but in a warm, satisfied kind of way. And even better, soon, he and Jesse would be alone in his bed.

They reached the end of the hallway and filed outside. Harry turned and started back along the side of the stage so they could cut across the little street and through the alley to the parking lot. The others followed him, and Shaun was about to do the same when he caught sight of a very familiar head of blond hair in the opposite direction, back near the ropes.

Shaun’s jaw tightened, his entire body stiffening as he saw Kyle standing there, flanked by Kenny, Emily, and Jordan from school. Shaun’s vision tunneled, and all he could think about was how Kyle kept worming his way back into their lives, corrupting Sam, manipulating Jesse, and just being a smug, conniving asshole.

“Fucking Kyle,” Shaun muttered, his voice low and venomous as he dropped the amps he’d been carrying into the grass.

“Shaun?” Jesse asked, looking back in concern.

Shaun didn’t answer. His legs were moving before his brain could catch up, pure fury propelling him forward. Jesse’s voice rang out behind him, but Shaun didn’t hear it. All he could see was Kyle’s smirking face, and all he could feel was the overwhelming urge to make him pay for everything he’d done.

Kyle looked around just in time to see Shaun stalking toward him. His cocky smile faltered, but he didn’t move fast enough. Shaun closed the distance in a heartbeat and, without hesitation, pulled back and slammed his fist into Kyle’s face.

The satisfying crack of fist meeting bone echoed in the air as Kyle stumbled backward, clutching his nose. Blood trickled down his face, and he let out a high-pitched yelp of pain as he fell to the gravel, landing hard on his ass.

“Shaun!” Jesse screamed, running after him, but Ben and Harry were there in an instant, grabbing Shaun by the arms before he could lunge again.

“Get the fuck off me!” Shaun growled, his muscles straining as he glared down at Kyle, who was groaning and trying to stem the flow of blood with his sleeve.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” he whined, his voice nasally and muffled. “I didn’t even do anything! I thought you guys would like to see some familiar faces!”

“Are you serious right now?” Jesse asked as he came to a stop a few paces away, eyeing the kids from school with apprehension. His voice trembled with anger and something deeper—fear. “Why would you bring them here, Kyle?”

Kyle feigned innocence but an underlying malice shone through. “Oh, come on, Jesse. I’m just helping you face your fears, like a good friend. I figured it’d be nice for you all to have a little reunion before school starts.”

Jesse shook his head, disgusted, but Shaun was snarling.

“A good friend?!” he growled, struggling to free his arms so he could smash Kyle’s face again. “You’ve been fucking with Jesse and Sam for months, you slimy bastard! You’re a fucking cancer!”

“Shaun, calm down!” Ben barked, tightening his grip on Shaun’s arm.

“Calm down?” Shaun whirled his head around to glare at Ben. “First, this piece of shit gives Jesse’s dumb little brother drugs, gets him drunk, lets him hook up with prostitutes, and who the fuck knows what else, basically just to get my attention and to piss me off!”

Sam, standing nearby, shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting between Kyle and Shaun. “I…I don’t…” he mumbled, his usual coolness faltering under the weight of the confrontation.

“Then he gets Jesse to tell him all our business and spreads the rumors around our school and talks ‘this’ asshole,” Shaun continued, gesturing sharply at Kenny. “Into beating the fuck out of Jesse. Remember those bruises he had when summer started? Well, that was this guy’s handiwork.”

Kenny, for his part, looked totally embarrassed as the band gave him dirty looks.

“Now, me and Jesse have been broken up for six weeks and Kyle, the fucking predator, has been taking advantage of him the entire time I’ve been gone!” Shaun shouted turning his full attention back to Kyle, the real root of the problem. “He’s been doing the same shit to Jesse that he’s been doing to his little brother. Feeding him drugs and alcohol all while pretending to be his friend. He’s purposefully giving him bad advice, manipulating him into dangerous situations, and he keeps doing weird, fucked up shit like this!”

Kyle laughed bitterly from the ground. “You’re insane, Shaun. I’m just a nice guy trying to help people loosen up. It’s not my fault you and your precious boyfriend are so uptight and can’t handle a little fun.”

Shaun’s eyes bulged out of his head. He lunged for Kyle again, but Harry and Ben held fast. “You pathetic fuck!!!” he roared. “I am never going to want you, Kyle! You raped Jesse and probably Sam, too, didn’t you?! I fucking know you did, because somewhere in that twisted head of yours you think its justified. I won’t fuck you, so you fucked the people I care about most!”

Kyle’s eyes darted around nervously. “I-I would never—”

“LIES!” Shaun shouted, struggling against Harry and Ben. He wanted to say more, he wanted to violently tear the blond’s head from his very shoulders, in fact, but Jesse cut him off.

“That’s enough!” the redhead stepped forward, his voice shaking but firm. “I don’t need Shaun to talk for me. You’re not a nice guy, Kyle. You’re a manipulative, selfish asshole who preys on people when they’re vulnerable. Shaun’s right. He was always right. I can’t believe I ever trusted you.”

Kyle’s face twisted in anger, but before he could retort, Gretchen stepped in, too, her eyes blazing. “So this is the infamous Kyle? Pfft.”

Kyle blinked up at her in confusion. “I’m sorry…who are you?”

“The drummer,” Gretchen said, folding her arms. “I’ve heard a lot about you in the past couple weeks. I don’t know what all this is about,” she said, gesturing to the other teens, Kenny, Emily, and Jordan, who so far, had done nothing to defend him. “But corrupting a 13-year-old? Taking advantage of Jesse? No wonder Shaun hates your guts.”

Kyle’s bravado cracked. He turned to Kenny for support, but the other boy was frowning.

“Jesus, Kyle,” the jock said slowly, his tone heavy with disbelief. “I thought you were the party guy who knew where to get the good weed. I didn’t know you were this much of a creep. Or that you’ve been this obsessed with Shaun the whole time. What is this, some kind of twisted crush?”

Kyle’s face turned an alarming shade of red, blood still trickling from his nose, so he looked like an ugly, smashed tomato. “N-no! That’s not true!” he stammered, his voice cracking. “Come on, Kenny! Don’t be like that. You know me!”

“Yeah, I thought I did,” Kenny shot back, his lip curling into a sneer. “But all this? Getting close to Jesse, messing with his brother, getting us to show up here, what? Just to stir the pot? It’s fucking weird, man. You’re obsessed. Admit it, you’re hot for Shaun, aren’t you?”

Emily gasped softly, covering her mouth, and Jordan barked out a sharp laugh. “Oh man, it all makes sense now. You’re jealous of Jesse, aren’t you? Wow, Shaun’s right. You are pathetic.”

Kyle’s eyes darted around desperately, looking for someone to back him up, but no one stepped forward. “That’s not—it’s not like that!” he protested, his voice rising in pitch. “I don’t care about Shaun like that! I’m just—just—”

“What? Just stalking him for fun?” Kenny interrupted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Dude, face it. Shaun doesn’t want you. He’s not interested. And honestly, you’re embarrassing yourself.”

Emily shifted uncomfortably, finally stepping away from Kyle and crossing her arms. “This is so messed up,” she murmured, shaking her head. “You’re making all of us look bad.”

Kyle’s face twisted in humiliation and rage, but no one came to his defense. The silence was deafening. With a sharp, bitter glare at Shaun, he scrambled to his feet, clutching his bloody nose. “Fuck all of you!” he spat and without another word, he turned and bolted into the night.

“Well, that was...something,” Ben muttered, finally releasing Shaun.

“Good riddance,” Harry added, nodding firmly.

Shaun shook them off, breathing heavily as he came down from the incredible rush of his adrenaline. And then he remembered Kenny and the other two. They were still on the other side of the rope and when Shaun caught Kenny’s gaze with furious, narrowed eyes, the jock hesitated then stepped forward. Immediately, Shaun drew himself up again, poised for anything. The last time he’d seen this asshole, Shaun had whacked his face in with the butt of his grandpa’s rifle then watched as he’d swallowed his teeth. He’d heard Kenny had gotten them replaced. Honestly, the jerk had never looked better.

"Look, I didn’t come here to fight," Kenny said, holding up his hands. His voice was surprisingly calm and Shaun narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Kyle told us about the show, and we wanted to see what all the hype was about. That’s it."

“Really? That’s it?” Shaun snapped.

“I mean, we were all kinda talking shit about you on the ride up here, but I don’t think anybody was actually serious,” Kenny said. “Well, I mean, maybe Kyle was. I didn’t know you two had…history.”

Shaun rolled his eyes. “Do you actually know anything about me? Like really?”

“No,” Kenny said and he seemed a little ashamed of himself as he admitted it. “We all know the same thing about you. Those stories about you and your crazy parents are like urban legends. We were just stupid kids when it happened, you know. I’m sorry we were such jerks to you, growing up.”

“Stupid kids who grew up into even stupider adults,” Shaun grumbled, his jaw ticking with anger. “You know the absolute worst thing that ever happened to me in my entire life. And you’ve been judging me ever since you found out. I’m sorry, but I can’t forgive you. Not for that.”

Kenny sheepishly rubbed his neck. “Um. Okay then.”

Jesse stepped up, sensing the tension was about to boil over again. “Shaun,” he said softly, placing a hand on his arm. “Let it go. He’s trying.”

Shaun clenched his jaw, his fists still tight at his sides, but he took a deep breath and nodded once. “Fine. You want to make amends? Apologize to Jesse for beating the shit out of him.”

Kenny looked genuinely uncomfortable but nodded. He turned to Jesse now, his voice quieter. “I’m sorry, man. I shouldn’t have done that. I was pissed about Emily, but it wasn’t right. And… I was wrong to judge you for… you know, being with Shaun. It’s none of my business.”

Jesse looked at Kenny for a long moment, his arms crossed over his chest. Finally, he gave a small, grudging nod. “Okay. I accept your apology. But if you mess with me again—”

“I won’t,” Kenny interrupted quickly. “I promise. When school starts, you won’t even know I’m there. I’ll keep Eric in line, too.”

“Good,” Shaun said sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Because Jesse has enough to deal with at home without you assholes making it worse at school. I’m done with that place, but he still has to survive there.”

“Wait, you’re dropping out?” Kenny asked, his brows lifting in surprise.

“Yeah,” Shaun said flatly. “I’ve got a job, I’ve got my band, and I’ve got better shit to do than waste time with people who think they’re better than me.”

Kenny looked like he wanted to argue, but he just nodded. “Fair enough. I guess… good luck with all that. And for what it’s worth, you were really good up there tonight,” he added with an awkward half-smile.” If I hadn’t known that was you up there singing on stage, I never would have recognized you. Not in a million years.”

“Yeah, man. That was pretty wicked,” Jordan chimed in. “Not my usual kind of music, but I can see why people are into it.”

Shaun crossed his arms and nodded, accepting the compliments in silence.

Emily cleared her throat, drawing the attention back to her. “I just want to say I’m sorry, too. About everything. What happened with Kenny, the rumors, all of it. I was upset, too, but I’m okay now. I’ve got Jordan and I’m glad you’ve got Shaun. Seems like he really cares about you.”

“Yeah, he does.” Jesse hesitated, then gave her a small smile. “Thanks, Emily. I’m glad you’re happy.”

She smiled back. “Let’s talk sometime. When school starts up again. We’ll probably share a class or two.”

“Yeah. Okay,” Jesse said, then he held out a hand. “Friends?”

Emily shook it. “Friends.”

“Alright,” Shaun said gruffly, stepping in to break them apart. “We’re done here. Let’s go Jesse.”

Without waiting for a response, Shaun turned and started walking back to the abandoned equipment. Everything they fucking owned was spread across the lawn. Great. Jesse and the rest of the band followed, and even Sam stuck close, subdued by the intensity of the confrontation.

Back at the rope, Kenny, Emily, and Jordan lingered for a moment, watching the group leave. Kenny rubbed the back of his neck, muttering something under his breath, and Emily looked thoughtful. Jordan just slung an arm around her shoulders, clearly ready to move on.

Somehow, they managed to get all their crap back to the parking lot in under 10 minutes. Everyone seemed to sense Shaun’s urgency to leave and nobody had the balls to cause a delay. They split the supplies between Ben’s car and Harry’s van, then quickly packed up. Brian was begging to ride in the big GMC so Shaun, Jesse, Brian, and Sam rode back with Harry while Gretchen and Ben did their own thing.

Once they’d left the venue, Shaun’s mood lifted a little. The stress of the day was still there in the background, but it was hard to pay attention to once Brian and Sam were bouncing around the backseat of the van, pretending they were on a camping trip or something. The van was pretty cool, so Shaun understood.

He and Jesse were cuddled together in the third row, watching the kids play around. They didn’t say much, there was obviously a lot he and Jesse had to talk about, too, but neither of them were in a hurry. It could wait.

As they got closer to Gretchen’s, Brian and Sam started talking about food. It was getting late, it was almost 11, and Shaun figured they’d better grab something before they got back to the house. He pulled out his wallet. “Stop at McDonald’s or something, Harry,” he called up front. “I’m buying.”

Everybody cheered and Shaun felt like a fucking hero. It was worth the $50 price tag, at least.

When they got back to Gretchen’s, Harry went to find the beer while Shaun and Jesse got the kids situated in the living room. The TV came on and they all dug into their fast food dinners. Shaun and Jesse joined Harry and got beers for themselves. When Sam asked for one, as well, shockingly, Jesse nodded and said it was alright.

Harry seemed a little uncomfortable, but he handed the kid some alcohol.

“I don’t see the point in telling him no,” Jesse explained, watching as Sam cracked his beer open and took a swig. “He either drinks with me or he’ll go out with Kyle. I figured this was the lesser of the two evils.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “Kyle didn’t even invite me tonight. He didn’t mention he was coming. That was fucked up, earlier. Surprising you with the guy who beat you up.”

“You think?” Jesse sneered. “Obviously, he was hoping for some kind of fight. He got one, but I don’t think that’s what he was expecting, exactly.”

Shaun cracked his knuckles. “If I ever get that piece of shit on his own, I’m going to slit his fucking throat. There’s always someone there to stop me but one of these days….”

Everyone looked at Shaun in amazement.

“You better be careful who you say stuff like that in front of,” Harry said cautiously after a moment. “If that kid were ever to go missing…”

Shaun laughed evilly. “Well, you’re the only ones who know. So if it happens, keep your fucking mouths shut. Kyle’s been asking for this for awhile now. Mark my words, if he keeps trying to fuck with me and the people in my circle, I will kill him.”

Harry, totally spooked, set his beer aside, his handsome face drained of all color.

Jesse and Sam were a little more desensitized to Shaun’s wild moods, however, and they took the threat a little less seriously. They continued to drink and when Jesse changed the subject and started raving about the concert, Sam joined in, and after awhile, Harry took up his drink again and chimed in, too. He continued to send Shaun nervous looks, but Shaun didn’t bring up the topic again.

Eventually, Brian curled up on the couch and passed out with his Happy Meal toy clutched in his little hand. Shaun carried him upstairs to his bed so he could get some peace. He, Jesse, Sam, and Harry were still talking and drinking. They were kinda waiting up for Ben and Gretchen to get home, but they hadn’t heard anything from the couple yet.

By 1am, they were all wasted and laughing. Harry had finally given in and was telling Sam all about the slutty groupies. Everyone was enjoying the crazy stories and Sam had a million questions about everything. It wasn’t exactly the way Shaun had pictured his night going, but he was enjoying himself and Jesse was beside him, smiling and touching him lightly on the knee. He was content with his presence.

Shortly after 1, Ben and Gretchen strolled in the front door. They had tales of stopping at the I-Hop for a late dinner and from their ruffled appearance and the smiles on their faces, they’d made time for a quickie, as well.

Harry decided to head home after that, and with the laughter still lingering, the rest of them called it a night. Gretchen pulled out her blowup mattress and started getting it set up for Sam while Shaun gently transferred Brian back to the couch and Jesse tucked him in with the Jack Skellington blanket.

It was finally time to go to bed. Gretchen and Ben cleared out, going to their own section of the house while Shaun waited patiently by the stairs for Jesse to get his brother settled. He turned the lights off, turned the TVs volume to low, and gave him a bottle of water for later.

“Night,” Jesse said to Sam. “Come pound on the hatch if Brian needs me in the night.”

Sam nodded distractedly. He looked pretty comfortable on the blowup bed and his eyes were locked on the action movie playing on the TV. Beside him, on the couch, Brian was out like a light. His mouth was partially open and he snored softly, in a deep, satisfying slumber. They’d be fine.

Jesse came to stand just below Shaun on the stairs. Shaun held out his hand and the redhead took it and let Shaun pull him up to the bedroom.

The moment the hatch banged shut behind them, Shaun lifted Jesse off the floor and into his arms. He hugged him tight, burying his face in Jesse’s sweet-smelling hair. God, he smelled fucking delicious.

“Shaun…” Jesse moaned. “Oh god, I want you…”

In total agreement, Shaun carried Jesse to the bed and laid him in the pillows, crawling on top of him so his long hair fell around Jesse’s beautiful face.

Jesse reached up and gently brushed Shaun’s hair away, combing his fingers appreciatively through the wavy locks, a smile curling his lips. Shaun grasped Jesse’s chin, then leaned down to catch those lips in a passionate kiss, pushing his tongue inside right after. He was forceful and he pushed Jesse to meet his insistent pace by pressing sharply on his jaw with the tips of his rough fingers.

Jesse’s hands fell away and he submitted to Shaun’s demanding lips and tongue. They devoured each other like that for several long moments.

Finally, Shaun had to pull away to catch his breath and he rested his forehead against Jesse’s, panting hard. Below him Jesse’s eyes were tightly shut and he looked like he was deeply turned on. His cheeks were red and his lips were so, so wet.

Shaun wanted to keep going, but suddenly, he was overcome by how warm and comfortable he was on top of Jesse. He hadn’t felt at peace like this, not for a long time…

“Shaun?” Jesse asked and suddenly, Shaun realized he’d rolled off and was tunneling into the blankets. “What are you…? Oh,” he laughed. “You must be exhausted, huh?”

“Mmm,” Shaun murmured, but his eyes were already falling shut. His body was shutting down whether he liked it or not.

“It’s fine, baby. We’ll finish this in the morning,” Jesse whispered, brushing Shaun’s hair back and kissing him softly on the forehead. “Get some sleep. You did so good today. You were amazing.”

And Shaun did exactly that. Smiling softly, he drifted off to sleep with Jesse’s fingers stroking methodically through his long, wild hair…

***

Shaun didn’t know what time it was when he opened his eyes next, but when he did, the room was still dark and it took a couple seconds for his vision to adjust before he could clearly see the redhead sitting astride his naked thighs, right behind his fully erect cock.

Jesse was naked, too, and he smiled down at Shaun, obviously very pleased with himself.

“What are you doing?” Shaun choked out. Somehow, Jesse had stripped him completely naked and had gotten him hard, as well. He was definitely surprised.

“I’m about to sit on your cock,” Jesse said casually. “Sorry. I couldn’t wait anymore.”

Shaun sputtered in a wordless reply. There was really nothing to say though, and he finally resorted to groaning as Jesse opened a little bottle of lube and poured some into his hand.

“Gretchen’s got tons of lube in the bathroom down there,” Jesse said offhandedly as he slicked Shaun’s large erection. “This one’s supposed to have a cooling, tingling effect.”

As soon as Jesse finished speaking, Shaun felt a tingling sensation around his cockhead and he moaned a little. It was…interesting to say the least.

But then Jesse scooted forward and wiggled into place, moving to sit just over Shaun’s hips, just in front of his cock and Shaun swallowed hard. The feel, the warm press of Jesse’s skin against his, made Shaun’s dick twitch excitedly, then it started to pulse crazily with need when Jesse reached back and guided it between his silky cheeks. It was just getting better and better and Shaun sobbed brokenly when he felt his tingling cockhead make contact with Jesse’s wrinkled asshole.

“Ready?” he gasped.

Shaun growled low in his throat and grabbed Jesse’s narrow hips, urging him on. He was ready, damnit. He wanted this more than anything.

Jesse bit his bottom lip and pushed back firmly. He cried out a little and Shaun groaned even louder in response as he felt his cockhead slowly engulfed in tight heat.

It was the most perfect feeling in the world. Shaun dug his fingers into Jesse’s hips and tensed up as the redhead impaled himself on his cock. Jesse was so so tight and hot and wet inside. It was even better than Shaun had imagined it’d be. Jesse took his time, letting his asshole stretch around Shaun’s stupidly big cock. He made delicious noises, little groans and whines, as he bounced up and down, pushing himself to go lower and lower with each thrust. His face was screwed up beautifully, a single bead of sweat tracking down from his hairline, and Shaun watched him in awe as he worked, totally entranced by him.

Finally, Jesse had Shaun’s entire cock inside his body and he arched his back a little as the length pressed against that secret spot inside him, his prostate. He rested his little hands on Shaun’s scarred chest and took a moment to let himself get used to the penetration. He shut his eyes and moaned loudly, lost in his own little world of pleasure, swaying astride Shaun’s cock, his own hard dick bobbing just in front of him enticingly.

Shaun left him alone for a second or two, but his dick was craving friction. Firming his grip on Jesse’s hips, he started to move again. He thrust up into Jesse’s body with insistent, little hip thrusts. He was impatient and it felt good while he waited.

Soon, Jesse sat up and with a little groan, he started to lift himself up and down, working the muscles in his legs as he slid Shaun’s cock in and out of his slippery channel over and over. At first, he went slow, but he pushed himself faster and faster until he’d set a pace that had them both gasping for breath.

Shaun’s eyes rolled back in his head. “Fuck Jesse…” It felt incredible and oh God Jesse looked gorgeous doing it. The redhead had his head thrown back, so the mark Shaun had added to his throat earlier was clearly visible. He rode Shaun with abandon, his hands curled on Shaun’s chest while his cock bounced crazily between them, dripping little droplets of salty precome across Shaun’s belly.

Shaun reached up suddenly and yanked Jesse down on top of him. He swallowed the redhead’s cry of surprise and kissed him deeply, plunging his tongue as far as he could into Jesse’s hot mouth. He loved Jesse so fucking much…he literally wanted to crawl inside of him. Close just wasn’t close enough….

In response, Jesse moaned into Shaun’s mouth and shifting his hips, he started fucking himself at a new and even more wonderful angle. His body was wide open in this position and Shaun shivered as Jesse consumed him totally.

They rocked together for several more minutes. Their bodies moved in perfect sync while their lips remained locked, their tongues wrapped around each other in an intimate embrace.

Soon, Jesse’s repeated bouncing stimulated both his cock and his prostate enough for him to achieve orgasm. He buried his face against Shaun’s chest and came with a little whimper.

The sensation of Jesse’s ass clamping down around his cock was amazing, but listening to Jesse lose control, feeling the redhead shake through another satisfying orgasm was even more so and Shaun followed right behind him moments later, filling Jesse to the bursting point with his hot, sticky seed.

They clung to each other in the aftermath, their chests moving together as their breathing evened out and returned to normal.

“What time is it anyway?” Shaun asked after a long moment of silence.

“A little after five am,” Jesse said. “I let you sleep for a couple hours, but your dick kept poking me. I figured I should probably do something about it.”

Shaun chuckled deep in his throat. “I’m glad you took the initiative.”

“I thought you would,” Jesse said, grinning.

Shaun yawned hugely. “We should get some more sleep. Nobody will be up for a couple more hours yet.”

“In a sec,” Jesse said, then he rolled off Shaun and sat up. He reached over for the bedside table and Shaun hadn’t seen what he’d grabbed but when Jesse placed his phone on his chest, he raised an eyebrow.

“You want me to call someone?”

“No, you got a text right after you fell asleep,” Jesse said. “It’s been bugging me for hours. Check and see who it is.”

“Um…why is it bugging you?” Shaun asked, but he sat up, too, letting the phone fall into his hand.

Jesse shrugged. “Maybe it’s Erin. Maybe it’s something about the car.”

Shaun’s stomach dropped at the mention of the male nurse. He was suddenly deathly afraid to check his phone. “It’s probably nothing—”

“Just check it!”

“Fuck! Alright!” Angry, Shaun opened his phone. The second he saw it was a message from Facebook, his heart clenched with panic. He hesitated, his thumb hovering over the notification. The message preview didn’t show much, just the sender's name: Miguel - One Thousand Nights. Relief flooded through him, but only briefly. He glanced at Jesse, whose sharp blue eyes were locked onto the screen with suspicion. Jesse wasn’t going to let this slide.

“It’s not Erin,” Shaun said flatly, opening the message. “It’s Miguel.”

“Miguel?” Jesse asked, his brow furrowing. “That guy from that one band?”

“Yeah. One Thousand Nights,” Shaun said, scrolling through the message. He read it aloud. “Hey, man. I saw that video of your show last night—seriously impressive. Want to grab a drink Saturday night and talk shop?”

Jesse raised an eyebrow. “Talk shop? About what?”

“How the fuck should I know? Music, probably,” Shaun snapped, tossing the phone back onto the bedside table. “He’s a musician. I’m a musician. What else would we talk about?”

Jesse’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, fine. That’s cool, I guess. Are you going to go?”

“Maybe. I don’t know yet,” Shaun muttered, closing his eyes and leaning back stiffly against the headboard. He was waiting for Jesse to ask to go along, but also praying that he wouldn’t. This was the second time he and Miguel had talked since that party, where Nicky had revealed Jesse was Shaun’s secret ‘girl’ friend. He hadn’t mentioned the episode, and Shaun was hoping to avoid it.

On a totally different subject, though, Jesse reached over and grabbed Shaun’s phone again. Shaun hadn’t bothered with a screen lock, so Jesse had no trouble opening it up. His expression tightened when he saw Erin’s profile picture still sitting in Shaun’s notifications. “I thought I saw something weird…What the hell is this?” he demanded, holding the phone up. Shaun’s eyes snapped open at once. “Why does Erin look like he’s auditioning for a softcore porno?”

Shaun’s expression darkened. “Don’t fucking start,” he growled. “It’s nothing.”

“Nothing? Really?” Jesse’s voice rose, a sharp edge of accusation cutting through. “He’s half-naked, Shaun. Blowing a kiss at you. And you’ve been texting him all week.”

“About the car!” Shaun barked, his temper flaring. “That’s all we’ve been talking about—the fucking car!”

Jesse wasn’t backing down. “And that’s why his picture is staring at you every time you open your phone? Because of the car?”

“Jesus Christ, Jesse, do you hear yourself right now?” Shaun snarled, sitting up straighter. He tried to snatch the phone out of Jesse’s fingers, but the redhead was faster and pulled it away. “You’re acting insane!”

“I’m acting insane? You’re the one blowing up over a simple question,” Jesse snapped, then he turned the phone around again and looked closely at Erin’s stupid romantic profile pic. “What if I opened this and read your last messages? Then what?”

Shaun's heart thundered in his chest as he lunged forward and grabbed Jesse’s wrist, his grip tight enough to make the other boy flinch. “Then you’d look like a suspicious, insecure little bitch, that’s what,” Shaun growled, yanking the phone out of Jesse’s hand, at last. “And then you’d get to read a bunch of messages about cars and registrations and feel like an even bigger idiot. Let’s just save ourselves all that fucking hassle, alright?”

Jesse’s face flushed, his mouth tightening in a thin line. “You’re being a dick,” he hissed, his voice trembling with suppressed hurt. “I just want to know what’s going on.”

“Nothing’s going on!” Shaun barked, throwing the phone onto the bedside table again, but this time he rattled the lamp and almost knocked it over. “You’re making this a thing when it’s not! You’re the one digging for something that isn’t there!”

Jesse stared at him, his jaw clenching. “Fine. Whatever. But what about Miguel? Can I at least go with you when you meet him?”

Shaun scoffed, throwing himself back against the headboard. “No.”

Jesse blinked. “Why not?”

“Because it’s band stuff,” Shaun said sharply. “And because I don’t need you there, making everything weird.”

Jesse frowned, his voice rising. “Weird? How the hell would I make it weird? Miguel already knows me!”

“He knows you as my friend, Jesse,” Shaun snapped. “And that’s how I want to keep it.”

Jesse’s face fell, the hurt flashing in his eyes like a flicker of light before a storm. “Why are you so fucking ashamed of me Shaun?”

“It’s…not about that.” Shaun’s jaw tightened. “It’s about keeping the gay stuff separate from the band stuff. It doesn’t mean I’m ashamed of you. Or that I love or care about you any less.”

“Like I believe that.” Jesse let out a bitter laugh. “And the gay stuff? Jesus, Shaun, do you hear yourself?”

“Yeah, I do,” Shaun said, his tone clipped. “And I’m saying it for a reason. You don’t get how this works. You’re not in the band. You don’t have to deal with people judging every little thing about you. Fuck, Jesse… We’re on social media now! Everyone’s watching us!”

“I get it more than you think,” Jesse said angrily. “But you’re pushing me away again. You always do this when you’re scared.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have to if you’d just back the fuck off for once!” Shaun snapped, his anger flaring uncontrollably. “Stop pushing me! I’m going to meet Miguel alone, and you know what? I’m meeting Erin alone in the morning, too. Because right now, I don’t need you embarrassing me.”

Jesse stared at him, his blue eyes wide and shining with unshed tears. For a moment, it seemed like he might shout back, but instead, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up.

“You’re unbelievable,” he said, his voice low and shaking as he grabbed his clothes off the floor and started to get dressed. “You’re so afraid of people judging you, you don’t even realize how much you’re hurting me. I thought we’d really accomplished something today making up with your old school bullies…but I guess not.”

Once he was dressed again, he turned and grabbed the edge of the hatch, lifting it just enough so he could slip down the stairs. He let the heavy door fall shut behind him and Shaun flinched at the sound, guilt gnawing at the edges of his anger. After a moment of silence, he heard a muffled exchange of voices—probably Jesse explaining himself to Sam before settling on the blow-up bed downstairs.

Shaun lay back, staring at the ceiling, his fists clenched at his sides. He hated himself for what he’d said, for how he’d pushed Jesse away. Again. But he couldn’t let himself dwell on it. Not now. He had to focus on getting through the meeting with Erin in the morning and once that was over, he could make it up to Jesse.

For now, Shaun forced himself to close his eyes and catch another couple hours of sleep.

***

The next time he opened his eyes, the sun was just creeping over the horizon and he sat up groggily, rubbing his face with the back of his hand. He winced a little, and checked his hand in confusion, noticing the knuckles were red, the one in the middle split and crusted with dry blood. With a snort, he remembered breaking Kyle’s face the night before at the show, and all the ensuing drama that had followed with Kenny and co. After another amazing show, he felt it’d ended up being a pretty good night. That was until Jesse had started messing with his cellphone…

Shaun kicked himself several times in a row as he grabbed up his phone and tapped into his Facebook app. Frowning severely, he went into his and Erin’s conversation and deleted the entire thing in one fell swoop. Why he hadn’t thought of this sooner, he didn’t know, but he did feel a bit of relief now that it was done.

It was just after 8 in the morning. Shaun had to meet Erin at the DMV 10 minutes from his townhouse at 11, and it would take just under an hour to get there. He’d forgotten to ask, but he’d need to get a ride from either Gretchen or Ben, as well. He was thinking Ben might be the better option, since Gretchen would probably be filled with nosy questions about Erin and the car sale. Either way, Shaun decided he should leave around 10, so he had two hours to shower, grab something to eat, then make sure Jesse didn’t hate his guts for brushing him off again last night.

Shaun grabbed a change of clothes, tossed his shit on from yesterday, just so he wasn’t naked, then snuck down the stairs. He was relieved when he spotted Jesse curled up on the blowup bed next to Sam. Beside them, Brian was still face down on the couch. All of them were fast asleep and Shaun breezed through the room silently, heading for the bathroom with a single minded determination.

Luckily, he didn’t run into anyone else and he hurried into the bathroom, then kicked the door shut behind himself with a soft click.

He spent a few minutes brushing his teeth and combing the knots out of his hair, then he stripped and climbed in the shower.

Shaun had the faucet turned up extra hot and he was standing under the spray with his head down, hair in his face, thinking how good the water pressure felt on his sore muscles when the shower curtain fluttered open and another body joined his in the little stall.

Shaun pushed his wet hair out of his face and turned to see Jesse standing behind him in the steamy shower. He was naked, too, and Shaun couldn’t help taking in all his smooth, pale skin as he stood there worrying his bottom lip, debating with himself what to say.

“What’s up Jesse?” Shaun prompted after a second, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to give the redhead a start. “I thought you were still asleep.”

“No. Not really,” Jesse said and with a little sigh, he stepped closer so the water finally licked at his thighs. His cute little penis rested just between them, nestled lazily in its bed of reddish-blond hair and Shaun checked that out, too. “I didn’t sleep much. Not even before I left your bed last night. It was even worse once I joined Sam on that blowup mattress.”

“I’m… sorry,” Shaun said awkwardly. The guilt from before was flooding back and he didn’t like how it felt. He didn’t know what to do.

But Jesse shook his head, determination shining in his gaze. “No. It’s OK. I wanted to apologize for last night, actually.”

“You…wanted to apologize?” Shaun was totally confused. He’d thought he was the one in the doghouse, not Jesse.

“Yeah. I mean, you were right. I was being a jealous, insecure little shit about those messages with Erin,” Jesse said, shrugging. “I’m sorry, baby.”

Shaun blinked at him in surprise. While part of him wanted to do the right thing, which was to come clean and take the blame, another part wanted to run and hide from the truth. Jesse was just making this too easy. “Its…fine, Jess,” he said quietly and Jesse smiled up at him hopefully.

“I know nothing’s going on with Erin, ok? You’re trying to make things better for us, for me, and I need to let you do that,” he murmured, stepping even closer so water splashed up his chest, leaving little droplets on his soft, freckled skin. “I trust you. You should see Erin by yourself today. It’ll be quicker that way. And that thing with Miguel tonight? You should go alone, too. It’s just band stuff. Nothing I’d be interested in.”

Sighing, Shaun rested his hands on Jesse’s hips. “Jess, I—”

“I’m serious,” Jesse said and he did look very stern with his brow furrowed and his bottom lip protruding. Shaun couldn’t help smiling a little at how cute he was. “I’ll stay here with the kids. It’ll be better that way. You can get everything done, then you’ll come back to us and we’ll be together again. I get it, ok? I know you aren’t ashamed of me or whatever. I just get paranoid sometimes and maybe a little dramatic but what can I say, I love you Shaun.”

Shaun felt another pang of guilt and regret as he looked into Jesse’s earnest face. He was gorgeous though, and Shaun just wanted to appreciate him. “And I love you, too, Jesse,” he said, cupping one of his soft cheeks. “More than anything.”

Jesse’s lips curved into a small, relieved smile, and Shaun couldn’t resist closing the distance between them.

Their mouths met in a slow, tender kiss. Jesse sighed into it and looped his arms around Shaun’s neck, holding on as the steam curled around them like a protective cocoon, shielding them from everything outside this moment.

Shaun deepened the kiss, his fingers tangling in Jesse’s wet auburn hair as his other hand slid down to grip his waist, pulling him in hard against his excited dick. Jesse moaned and thrust back, wiggling against Shaun’s cock oh so perfectly.

“Fuck Jesse,” Shaun murmured against the redhead’s lips, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You’re definitely forgiven.”

“Really?” Jesse breathed, smiling back playfully. “Because I’m not done apologizing just yet.”

Shaun chuckled, the sound low and warm as he pulled Jesse even closer. “You’re not? Hmm, what else did you have in mind?”

Still smiling, Jesse shimmied out of Shaun’s arms, then lowered himself so he knelt, hands and knees, on the hard porcelain at the bottom of the tub. He looked up coyly, then wrapped a single hand around the base of Shaun’s rapidly lengthening cock. “How about a blow job?”

Shaun nodded enthusiastically, and beaming, Jesse opened his mouth and swallowed him hungrily. He didn’t hesitate, he sucked Shaun just the way he liked, gazing up at him adoringly the entire time.

Shaun tipped his head back and moaned loudly at the delicious sensation of Jesse’s tongue and lips working his shaft. Jesse was moaning too and their sex noises bounced around the steamy little room. Shaun didn’t care who heard them though. He stroked trembling fingers through Jesse’s silky, red hair trying to resist the urge to grab him and hold him firmly in place while he fucked his face over and over again. It felt so fucking good, but Shaun was patient and he let Jesse pleasure him at his own pace.

“You’re such a good little bitch, Jess,” he murmured, watching with heavy-lidded eyes as the other boy slurped his cock like it was his favorite summer popsicle. “Show me how much you like being my slut. Make me come, Jesse. Swallow a big load of my seed and tell me you love it.”

Moaning, Jesse forced himself to go faster, stretching his lips wider and taking even more of Shaun into his mouth as he bobbed his head along Shaun’s pulsing length. His pretty blue eyes watered from the strain and Shaun thought he looked perfect like that, crying and moaning around his big dick. Jesse was getting off on it, too, and his unoccupied hand was busy at work between his thighs, pulling his own erection at the same speed of his bobbing head.

Groaning with approval, Shaun cupped the back of Jesse’s skull, urging him to keep going, to keep doing exactly what he was doing. He was close and he could tell Jesse was too from his erratic movements. In just moments, Shaun came hard down the back of Jesse’s throat while the hot water continued to pound his muscled back and shoulders.

Jesse drank him down obediently. The act seemed to turn him on immensely and he came right after Shaun, spraying his seed all over the floor of the bathtub so it was quickly washed away in the rush of water. He pulled back to catch his breath , then he cleared his throat. “I love swallowing your come, baby. And I love being your slut, too. I didn’t know it, but I think I’ve been waiting for something like this my whole life. Being here with you… it feels right. Like I’ve finally found where I’m supposed to be.”

Silent, Shaun drew Jesse up from the floor and wrapped him in a big, powerful bear hug. He knew exactly what he meant.

They spent awhile longer in the steamy shower, enjoying the warm water and each other. Eventually, Gretchen pounded on the door and yelled something about ‘breakfast!’ and they finally got out, pausing to take turns drying each other with Shaun’s fluffy towel.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice these,” Jesse said in a motherly tone as he worked on drying Shaun’s abdomen. He ran an absent finger along the deep, vicious cut Shaun had carved into his ribcage last Monday. There were a few smaller ones below it from the following days, but Jesse hurriedly moved on, shaking his head. “I just don’t think this is normal, Shaun. I wish we could find another outlet for your anger.”

“It has nothing to do with anger,” Shaun grumbled. “I enjoyed making them. I told you, Jesse, pain, the sight of blood, your innocent little tears, it fucking turns me on.”

Jesse carefully avoided his eyes, bending to finish with Shaun’s legs. “I bet it has something to do with the way your parents…met their end. You saw such a horrible thing at such a young age. It was bound to have some kind of negative effect.”

Shaun shrugged disinterestedly. “I don’t know. I never thought about it before.”

“I have,” Jesse said solemnly, then he straightened up and handed the towel to Shaun, turning so he could start on his back. “I’m so worried you’ll make a mistake one of these times and cut too deep. That thought terrifies me, Shaun.”

“Well, it’s not going to happen, so stop thinking about it,” Shaun snapped, quickly toweling off Jesse’s skinny backside, then starting aggressively on his arms. The blue cast on his forearm was damp and Shaun wrinkled his nose a little at the smell of it. “Fuck, Jess, when the hell is this thing coming off? It reeks.”

“I know,” Jesse said with a sigh. “I keep getting it wet. It’s been such a huge inconvenience.”

Shaun spun Jesse around and dried off his chest with brisk movements. He’d been calm just minutes ago, but now he was tense from Jesse’s comments about his newest self-inflicted injuries. He frowned as he ducked lower and swiped at Jesse’s penis, then down each of his firm little thighs. “You should let me saw it off for you,” he said harshly. “Today. That’s what I’d do, anyway.”

Jesse winced, looking at his cast with trepidation. “I don’t know. I missed a follow-up at the hospital last week. Maybe I can just call and get an appointment for them to pop it off before school starts.”

“They’re not going to just ‘pop’ it off,” Shaun growled, finally flinging the towel onto the counter, then turning to sort through his change of clothes. He shook out his pair of jeans, then yanked them on, scowling. “They’ll probably recast it and force you to go another month. We don’t need the stupid doctors. Let me handle it.”

Jesse planted his hands on his hips. “After you just reminded me how much my blood and tears turn you on? No thanks.”

Shaun forced his arms through his t-shirt, his expression darkening. “I thought you trusted me.”

“I do, I just…” Jesse opened and closed his mouth a few times, starting to look silly as his argument fell apart. “You’re just so…impulsive, Shaun.”

“You might be surprised how methodical I can be once I’ve got a tool in my hand,” Shaun said in a deep, measured voice and Jesse blinked at him a few times in surprise. “The guitar’s not the only instrument I’ve mastered, you know.”

“Oh, you’re a master at the bone saw now?” Jesse scoffed, grabbing his clothes as well.

“Something like that,” Shaun said evasively.

“Let me think about it,” Jesse said as he pulled his t-shirt over his head. “I’ve got a week and a half before school starts again. I want it off before then, so I might get desperate.”

Shaun shook his damp hair over his shoulders then gave himself a fierce glower in the mirror. “Whatever, Jesse. Do what you want. Just don’t come crying to me when the doctor slaps another cast on you.”

“C’mon. Let’s get something to eat,” Jesse sighed as he finished dressing, hopping into his little pair of skinny jeans then zipping up the fly. “I’m starving and you’re grumpy. It’s not a good mix.”

Shaun rolled his eyes, but he followed Jesse out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, where the smell of bacon and coffee was already filling the air.

At the table, the atmosphere was lively. Sam, Brian, and Gretchen were talking excitedly about the food as they filled their plates with eggs and bacon. Ben was just finishing up the toast and he carried it to the table with a big grin.

“Alright everyone, dig in while its hot!” he said as he set the plate in the middle.

Jesse squeezed Shaun’s shoulder then moved to grab the empty seat next to Sam. Shaun was thinking about grabbing a cup of coffee when Brian caught his eye.

“Come sit with me Shaun!” the toddler called from the table and sighing, Shaun gave in and went to join the kid.

“Good morning,” he said neutrally. “Did you sleep okay?”

“Yeah!” Brian said. “I had a dream you let me play on stage with you and it was really cool because the twins were there, too, and they were really jealous they couldn’t dance like I could.”

Shaun snorted. “That’s…a pretty funny dream, kid.” He grabbed a couple slices of bacon from the tray in the middle and munched them appreciatively.

“I thought so,” Brian said cheerfully, taking a big bite of toast. “Miss Gretchen says she’s going to show me more about the drums today. I’m really excited!”

Shaun listened patiently as Brian babbled about this and that. Across from them, Jesse watched them interact, clearly pleased to see them bonding. Shaun didn’t mind. He’d missed Brian’s unwavering loyalty and adoration. The kid loved everything he did or said or was involved in and it was such a weird self-confidence boost every time.

After breakfast, Jesse wrangled Shaun and Sam into helping him clean up the kitchen. He said it was to thank Gretchen for the food and for Ben cooking it. Gretchen was tickled pink, and she happily took Brian into the other room to watch TV while they worked. Ben stayed behind for a moment to finish his coffee and Shaun took the opportunity to corner him while Gretchen was distracted. It was just past 9:30. He had to be leaving soon.

“Hey, uh…I need a ride after this,” Shaun said to Ben as Jesse got started with the dishes. Beside him, Sam boredly started drying. It was Shaun’s job to put away, but he could do that in just seconds.

Ben looked up, raising an eyebrow. “Ride where?”

“I didn’t mention it, but I’m supposed to buy a car off this guy I know,” Shaun said awkwardly as Ben’s other eyebrow inched upward to meet the first.

“Someone from work?”

“No. I met this nurse at the hospital,” Shaun grumbled. “I don’t think you guys even know him. He’s younger and he works the night shift.”

“Wait…you mean Erin the nurse?”

Shaun blinked in surprise. “You met him?”

“Yeah. When we were visiting Jesse,” Ben said, his eyebrows still raised with suspicion. “He had a lot of questions about you. He and Jesse must have talked about you for hours.”

Shaun snorted and looked away uncomfortably. “Figures…”

“So, does Jesse know you’re meeting Erin?” Ben asked, swirling the last of his coffee in the bottom of his mug.

“Yep. We talked about it,” Shaun said shortly. “Now, about that ride…”

“I mean, sure. I can take you wherever you need to go,” Ben said casually. “Just be careful what you’re getting into.”

Shaun narrowed his eyes. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know.” Ben shrugged, then tipped his mug back and drained the last of caffeine into his mouth. “It kinda seemed like that nurse had a crush on you or something. Gretchen and I talked about it after we left. It was kind of funny, but we didn’t think you were like…still talking to him.”

Shaun drew himself up to his full height, so he stood just a few inches over Ben. “He offered me a really good deal and I’ve gotta take it. I’m in no place to be picky right now. I need wheels.”

“Ok. I get it.” Ben nodded, then set his cup on the table and stood up. “Just let me throw something on and I’ll meet you in the living room in twenty.”

Shaun glanced back at the sink, at Jesse and Sam hard at work with piles of dirty breakfast dishes. “Make it thirty,” he grumbled. “I’ve still gotta help put those away.”

Smiling, Ben clapped Shaun on the shoulder. They split up after that and Shaun went to help clean up while Ben went to get changed.

Soon, the last dish had been put away and Jesse followed Shaun up to his room so he could get his wallet. There, in the silence, they shared another passionate kiss.

“See you soon, I hope,” Jesse said, pulling back to look up at Shaun with his big, sparkling blue eyes.

“It’ll be two hours at least,” Shaun murmured. “The drive’ll take up most of the trip. It’s almost an hour both ways.”

“Well, I know you’ll speed on the way back,” Jesse said smartly and Shaun snorted in reply. “Just…hurry back to me. Please?”

Shaun kissed Jesse’s soft lips one more time. “I promise. I’ll be back before 1, at least.”

Jesse nodded and finally, Shaun backed away. Taking a deep breath, he turned to go downstairs.

***

Ben dropped him off in the DMV parking lot a little before 11. Shaun stepped out of the car, nodding a quick thanks through the rolled-down window. Ben gave him a small smile in reply before he pulled away, leaving Shaun standing alone in the summer heat.

It was another scorcher out today, but it wasn’t the temperature that had Shaun’s blood boiling. It was the sight of Erin, leaning against his red car, dressed in a sleeveless tee and jeans that clung indecently to his hips. He looked good and he knew it. There was a smug grin plastered on his face and it made Shaun grit his teeth in anger.

“Shaun,” Erin greeted, his tone almost sing-song as he pushed off his car and strolled closer. “I’m so glad you came alone. I was hoping it’d just be the two of us.”

Shaun’s hands balled into fists at his sides. “Yeah, well, let’s get this over with,” he snapped, brushing past Erin without looking at him. “You’re already causing enough problems for me.”

Erin chuckled, falling into step beside him. “Problems? I’m just here to help you get your car. What kind of trouble could I possibly cause?”

“Jesse was in my phone last night.” Shaun stopped and turned abruptly to glare at him. “He saw your stupid fucking messages, your flirty ass profile pic on Facebook—and now I’ve got to deal with the fallout! He thinks somethings going on, Erin…”

“Aww, trouble in paradise again?” Erin asked, his voice dripping with mock concern. “But I didn’t do anything, sweetie. I haven’t messaged you in days. And I even kept my distance at the show last night. Yeah, I was there. Great performance, by the way.”

Shaun froze, his heart dropping into his stomach. “What?” he growled, his voice dangerously low.

Erin’s grin turned sly. “I said, I was there last night. I saw the whole thing. You guys really rocked the place. And that little...high school reunion with your old pals afterwards? Chef’s kiss. Pure drama.”

Shaun’s vision blurred with red-hot fury. “You were at my show,” he said flatly, his voice trembling with anger. “After I told you not to come?”

Erin shrugged, his grin widening. “What can I say? I was curious. I wanted to see you in action. And wow, Shaun, you really do put on a show. I’m very impressed.”

Shaun took a threatening step forward, towering over Erin’s little form. “I told you to stay the fuck away!” he growled. “And instead, you show up, uninvited, just to spy on me?”

“Spy on you?” Erin laughed easily, unbothered by Shaun’s aggression. “I just wanted to enjoy some live music. The drama afterward was a bonus. It looked like you were defending Jesse’s honor. The way you went for that blond guy…it was seriously hot.”

“Shut up!” Shaun barked, his voice rising as his temper frayed. “You weren’t supposed to be there at all! I told you not to come! You’re lucky I didn’t see you last night. If I’d had to actually deal with you on top of everything else…”

Erin’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “I thought you and Jesse were solid? Did my little profile pic really get you into that much trouble?”

“Fuck you! Don’t act like you know what’s going on…None of this is any of your fucking business!”

“But it’s hard not to notice,” Erin pressed, undeterred by Shaun’s fury. “I mean, you’re here, alone, meeting me. That can’t be sitting well with Jesse, can it? So, what happened?”

“You happened!” Shaun roared, his voice echoing across the parking lot. “You’re the reason we fought last night! Everything was fine until he mentioned your name!”

Erin’s smirk didn’t falter, though his eyes glinted with something sharper. “He’s awfully jealous for some reason. Seems like there’s more going on there than you’re admitting…Does he know we fucked?”

Shaun snapped. He grabbed Erin by the front of his tank top and yanked him in close, so their faces were just inches apart. “If you ever show up uninvited again, I swear to God, Erin, I’ll make you regret it… Do you understand me?!”

Erin didn’t flinch, his grin still in place, though it was laced with amusement now. “Relax, Shaun,” he said smoothly, as if Shaun wasn’t seconds away from smashing his face. “I’m just...teasing you. You’re fun to mess with, you know?”

Shaun shoved him back hard enough to make him stumble. “Stay the fuck out of my life,” he hissed. “And keep Jesse’s name out of your mouth, or I swear—”

“Swear what?” Erin interrupted, his smile never wavering. “You’ll deck me like you did that blond kid last night? Shaun, please.”

Shaun’s teeth ground together audibly. “Inside. Now,” he barked, his voice shaking with suppressed rage. He turned on his heel and stormed toward the DMV doors, not even bothering to check if Erin was following.

As the doors swung open, Shaun stalked inside, Erin following closely behind. The blast of cool, air-conditioned air barely registered; his mind was still boiling from the confrontation outside. He avoided looking at Erin, focusing instead on the desk ahead where a middle-aged woman sat, her glasses perched precariously on her nose as she typed something into her computer.

“Good morning!” Erin chirped as they approached the counter, flashing the woman a charming smile. “We’re here to transfer the title of my car into his name,” he said, gesturing to Shaun who stood beside him grumpily with his arms crossed. “He’s a good friend of mine.”

The woman looked up, clearly unimpressed by Erin’s chattiness, but she nodded and slid a form across the counter. “Fill this out and sign here. Both of you,” she said curtly, then returned her attention to her computer.

Shaun picked up the pen and started scribbling his information, his jaw clenched. Erin, on the other hand, took his time, asking the woman questions like they were old friends.

“This place is always so busy. How long have you been working here?” Erin asked curiously, totally ignoring the form.

The woman glanced up, her expression flat. “Fifteen years.”

“Wow, you must know all the ins and outs then,” Erin said brightly. “Bet you’ve got some stories, huh?”

“Done,” Shaun said before the woman could reply. He set his pen down, then turned to glare heatedly at the nurse. He wanted this over with, not drawn out into some friendly chat session. “Come on, Erin. Let’s get a move on. I don’t have all day.”

“Oh, shoot. I’m talking too much again,” Erin said with a laugh, but finally, he started to complete the form.

Shaun drummed his fingers impatiently on the counter as he waited, his annoyance growing with every second that passed. He couldn’t wait to get out of here.

“Alright, I think that’s it,” Erin said after a couple minutes, sliding the completed form back across the desk.

The woman scanned their paperwork, stamped a few boxes, and then handed Erin a payment slip. “$85 for the transfer fee,” she said.

Before Shaun could reach for his wallet, Erin was already pulling out his own. “I’ve got it,” he said smoothly, handing over a credit card.

Shaun blinked in surprise. “You don’t have to—”

“I insist,” Erin said, cutting him off with a wink. “Consider it a little gift from me to you.”

Shaun frowned but didn’t argue. He wasn’t in the mood to fight over $85. The woman processed the payment quickly, handed them a receipt, and then passed Shaun the updated title.

“Here you go,” she said, her tone bored. “You’re all set.”

“Thank you so much,” Erin said warmly. “You’ve been a big help. Have a great weekend!”

The woman gave him a tight smile and turned back to her computer. Shaun, without another word, turned on the spot and made his way to the ATM near the DMV’s exit. He pulled out his wallet, jabbed his card into the slot, and withdrew $500 in cash, the amount they’d agreed on for the car. That left him with $120, not a lot since he was still planning on paying Gretchen, fueling his new car for the week, and buying his own lunch at work. But he’d have to make do.

When he returned to Erin’s side, the nurse was waiting by the door, still smiling like he didn’t have a care in the world. Shaun didn’t bother acknowledging him as he pushed the door open and stepped outside into the sticky heat.

Erin unlocked his car with a click of his key fob and gestured for Shaun to get in. Shaun slid into the passenger seat, tossing the cash onto the dashboard without a word. Erin glanced at it but didn’t say anything as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

For the first few minutes, the ride was quiet except for the low hum of the AC. Shaun stared out the window, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Erin, ever the talker, eventually broke the silence.

“You know, Shaun,” he began, his tone casual, “you’re lucky to have Jesse. He’s got such a sweet heart. A little high-strung maybe, but sweet.”

Shaun grunted noncommittally, refusing to engage.

Erin glanced at him, undeterred. “I know you two are still kinda going through a rough patch, but you’ll work things out. Jesse’s more than worth it, I’m sure.”

Shaun didn’t respond, his fingers drumming absently on the armrest.

“I mean, I’ve been in a couple of long-term things myself,” Erin continued, steering them smoothly onto the main road. “Nothing like what you and Jesse have, of course. You guys seem… special.”

Shaun shot him a sideways glare but didn’t take the bait. He was tired of Erin’s antics. He didn’t want to fucking argue anymore.

Erin chuckled softly, as if amused by Shaun’s silence. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re getting this car. You’ll look great behind the wheel. So will Jesse. This is a good step in the right direction for you guys.”

Shaun rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything, letting the aimless chatter wash over him as they drove toward Erin’s townhouse. Soon, this entire ordeal would be over and he could block Erin on Facebook and never talk to the guy again. He was just counting down the seconds until that could finally happen.

As soon as they pulled into the driveway, Shaun jumped out of Erin’s car. He didn’t wait for any invitations or pleasantries. The quicker he got this over with, the better. He barely glanced at the little sedan parked in front of the townhouse; his only focus was on getting the keys and leaving Erin behind for good.

“Shaun,” Erin called, hopping out of the car and trailing after him, his tone sugary and pleading. “Don’t be like this. Come inside for just a minute, okay? I’ve got the papers right on the counter, and I was thinking we could talk. You look so tense—I could help with that.”

“Don’t fucking start,” Shaun growled, spinning to level a glare at him. “Just get the keys and the paperwork, Erin. Right now.”

Erin’s grin faltered for a moment before he plastered it back on. “Come on, sweetie. Why do you have to be so mean? I’m just trying to be nice here. Besides, it’s hot as hell out here. Wouldn’t it be better to cool off inside? We could grab a drink, maybe...celebrate your new car properly?”

Shaun's jaw tightened. “I’m not stepping foot inside your house,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “Keys. Papers. Now.”

“Why are you so uptight? You weren’t like this before.” Erin stepped closer, his hand brushing Shaun’s arm in a way that made Shaun’s skin crawl. “I know you had fun that night, baby. And you know what? I’ll make you a deal—forget the money. The car’s yours, free of charge. All I want is one more night with you. Just one. That’s fair, right?”

Shaun froze, his blood boiling. For a moment, all he could do was stare at Erin, stunned by his audacity. Then, slowly, he stepped forward, his broad shoulders squaring as he loomed over Erin.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” he hissed, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. “You think you can buy me? Bribe me? Is that what this is?!”

Erin blinked, his smile faltering again, but he didn’t back down. “It’s not like that, Shaun,” he said quickly, his tone turning defensive. “I’m just saying, we had something good. Why not enjoy it one last time?”

Shaun’s patience snapped like a frayed wire. “We had nothing!” he roared, his voice echoing down the quiet suburban street. “You were a mistake—a stupid, fucking mistake that I regret every goddamn day! And now you’re trying to blackmail me into doing it again? What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Across the street, a woman stepped out onto her porch, her phone in hand as she stared at the scene unfolding before her. A man watering his lawn nearby froze mid-motion, the hose still dripping onto the grass as he watched with wide eyes. Shaun saw them, but he didn’t care. He was beyond caring.

“You don’t get to keep doing this, Erin!” Shaun shouted, his voice shaking with fury. “You don’t get to worm your way into my life, into my relationship, and fuck everything up just because you’re desperate and pathetic! You’re nothing to me, do you hear me? Nothing!”

Erin’s face turned crimson, his smile finally cracking under the weight of Shaun’s rage. He glanced around nervously, noticing the neighbors watching with open curiosity. “Shaun, please,” he said, his voice lower now, almost a whisper. “You’re making a scene.”

“Oh, I’m making a scene?” Shaun barked out a bitter laugh. “That’s rich, coming from you. You’ve been a fucking disaster waiting to happen since the moment I met you. And you know what? I’m done. I’m done with your games. You don’t get to control me. Not now, not ever.”

Erin looked like he wanted to argue, but the attention of the neighbors seemed to finally sink in. His shoulders sagged, and he gave Shaun a tight, forced smile. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “You win.”

He turned and stormed back into the house. Shaun stood there, breathing hard, his fists clenched at his sides as he watched Erin disappear through the door. Moments later, Erin returned with a set of keys and a folder of paperwork. He thrust them into Shaun’s hands without a word, his face flushed with humiliation.

“There,” he said stiffly. “Happy now?”

Shaun snatched the keys and papers without responding. He stuffed the folder under his arm and marched toward the car without a backward glance.

“Don’t think this is over, Shaun,” Erin called after him, his voice low and venomous. “You’ll hear from me again.”

Shaun didn’t answer. He slid into the driver’s seat of his new car, started the engine, and pulled out of the driveway. As he drove down the street, he caught a glimpse of the neighbors still watching from their porches. One guy gave him a small nod, as if in solidarity.

For the first time all morning, Shaun felt a sliver of satisfaction. Erin might not be gone for good, but for now, Shaun had what he came for. And he had a plan for the next time Erin tried to crawl back into his life. He cared too much about appearances. His neighbors’ scrutiny had forced him to back down and Shaun had a feeling the same would be true about his friends at the hospital. He’d probably do anything to keep from looking like a huge slut in front of his coworkers and patients. If Shaun ever needed to, he’d use that to his advantage.

Just…one last thing.

Before he jumped on the highway, Shaun pulled into a busy gas station a few blocks away and parked, pulling out his phone. He opened Facebook, found Erin’s profile, and blocked him without hesitation.