LeftInTheDarkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

the only one who noticed as Devlin and Jessica fell silent. They all stared at James. Christian didn’t know how the others were feeling, but he had a pang of sympathy for the guy.
    “Do you forgive him?” Devlin asked.
    “Up until ten seconds ago, I would have said no, but now looking at him…” Christian trailed off.
    “You still feel as if he’s our friend,” Jessica finished.
    “Yeah.”
    “Taylor’s forgiven him,” Jessica pointed out.
    “That’s no biggie. Taylor could forgive Saddam and Osama,” Devlin snorted.
    “Yet, you feel the same way? Don’t you?” Christian pressed.
    Devlin cocked a brow. “No, I’m still quit miffed at the pair of terrorists.”
    Christian elbowed him. “You know what I mean.”
    His boyfriend let out a long sigh. “Yeah, I can’t help but feel sorry for James. I know it may come as a shock to everybody, given my reputation of being an asshole, but he’s my cousin. It’s kind of hard for even me to let that go.”
    Jessica studied Christian. “How about you?”
    Christian looked back over at James, noting how sad and lost their friend appeared. It reminded Christian of the night not so long ago when James had broken down at the coffee shop and cried over how his dad was treating him. Christian had felt so protective over him, and that hadn’t changed.
    “Damn it! Fine, I guess I can forgive him. But only because Taylor did,” Christian huffed.
    Jessica snorted. “You’ve been hanging out with Devlin too much. You’re beginning to sound just as bitchy as him.”
    “Go get James before he starts dressing in black and goes on all emo on us,” Devlin said.
    Despite his teasing, Christian could feel the way Devlin tensed up. Knowing that he worried Christian might still have feelings for James, Christian leaned over and gave his boyfriend a soft kiss. “Don’t worry, nothing is going to change between us.”
    Surprisingly, Christian really meant that. Even when he dug down really deep, the only feelings he had toward James were friendly. Now that he had Devlin, Christian found his crush was gone, and he didn’t want anybody else. Sure, Devlin might have thorns, but that only made him more interesting.
    Jessica leaned over the table and said something to James. Whatever it was, Christian couldn’t hear, but given the panicked look James sent them, it wasn’t going well. After a couple of moments, Jessica stomped her foot in frustration, then she picked up James’s tray and made her way over to her seat. After gaping at her for a few seconds, James got up and gave chase.
    As he got closer, though, James began to falter, his gaze uncertain. Finally, Christian couldn’t take it anymore. He smiled and waved James over. Even so, James still approached slowly, as if he expected to be yelled at.
    “I didn’t think you’d ever want to talk to me again,” James said in a small voice.
    Devlin pulled Christian in closer. The move was so possessive that it gave Christian a heady thrill. Wow, not only does this hot guy want me, but he’s not afraid to show it.
    “Yeah, well, we’re kind of used to having your ugly mug around,” Devlin quipped.
    When James still hesitated, Christian added, “You know how we hate change. Sit down already.”
    A look of pure relief passed James’s face, and Christian realized they’d made the right decision. He and Jessica were just sitting down when Andy came walking in.
    Maybe a better word would be he waltzed in. A smile played on his lips as he all but skipped up to the table. Going by the hickey on his neck and the way his clothes were all rumpled, he hadn’t slept in his own bed, either.
    Christian’s gut clenched in dread. In the short time he’d known Andy, he’d seen the guy swiftly slipping away. Born to rich parents who barely acknowledged him, Andy seemed to be starved for attention, and he didn’t care where it came from.
    To make things worse, Andy had this whole puppy dog yet hot thing going on for him. Since