My Forever Read Online Free PDF Page B

considering it might pull some of his stitches, but Lucas found he couldn’t deny that soft plea. He helped Kyle to the living room and moved his blankets on the couch aside to clear a spot for him.
    “Are you hungry?”
    At Kyle’s nod, he went back to the kitchen and began rummaging through his fridge and cupboards for sustenance. There wasn’t much. He’d have to go shopping soon. He settled on eggs and toast, figuring Kyle’s stomach may be feeling a little queasy. When everything was ready, he loaded it onto a tray and placed it on the cushion beside Kyle while he took the other end of the couch. Kyle attacked his food with the fervour of a half-starved man.
    “When was the last time you ate?”
    He shrugged, saying in between bites, “Friday morning, I think.”
    “Friday?” It was Tuesday now. Check that—Wednesday, at one o’clock in the morning. Lucas scrubbed his hands over his face, trying to push back the urge to ask a multitude of questions. There was one main topic that they needed to get out of the way before all else.
    “Thanks. That was really good.”
    Lucas smiled down at the empty plate. At least that proved that Kyle’s starvation wasn’t due to a lack of appetite. He took the tray to the kitchen sink then fished out a bottle of water and a couple of Tylenol. Handing them to Kyle, he sat back down at an angle to face the young man.
    “I’ll be ready to leave by morning,” Kyle mumbled. “And I’ll find a way to pay you back.” He kept his head bowed, his face hidden behind long bangs.
    “Going back to Craig?”
    Kyle shot him a look that said ‘of course’ but only nodded his head.
    He bit back a frustrated sigh. “You don’t have to go back there, you know. Don’t you have any friends that will take you in for a while?”
    This time the look was incredulous, followed by a humourless bark of laughter. “No. No friends.”
    “Kid, he’s liable to kill you the next time he loses his temper.” Kyle shook his head adamantly and Lucas ground his teeth. “Then stay here with me.” A streak of fear passed through emerald green eyes and Lucas quickly clarified his offer. “I only mean to help. You wouldn’t be obligated to do anything but work to save money for yourself. Once you’ve accumulated enough, you could get your own apartment and decide from there whether you want to continue working for me or not.”
    Kyle shook his head. “It’s not that easy.”
    Lucas rubbed at his temples, predicting a migraine by the time the sun came up. “Hold that thought.” Jogging over to the fridge, he pulled out a couple of beers, handing one to Kyle when he returned. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I would like to know why you think Craig is your only option.”
    Kyle placed the water bottle on the floor then took the beer and popped the lid before taking a deep swig. “I guess an explanation is the least I can give you for your help.” He downed the rest of the bottle and stared at it in deep concentration.
    Lucas got up and brought the remainder of the six-pack into the living room. “Good. I’ve got plenty more liquid courage here and no place to go. Lay it on me.”
    His guest giggled as he accepted another bottle but his face all too soon grew solemn and grave. “My dad kicked me out when I was fifteen—when he found out I was gay. I thought I was old enough to take care of myself, maybe find a job where I could get paid under the table. The kids at the homeless shelter I went to, though… They weren’t…they, umm… I just couldn’t stay there anymore. After a few months on the streets and a hostage situation, I asked my brother to take me in.”
    “A hostage situation?”
    Kyle sipped at his beer, a troubled expression darkening his features. “I was really hungry and sleeping on a bus-stop bench. Some guy came up and said I could work for him. I thought it was real work. The kind that didn’t involve selling myself.” Glancing up through