Page 102 of Point Proven
“Or we can just… tell them we want to fuck?” My face heated with the words as I bit my bottom lip. “I’m sure they would understand.”
“Alright. With your permission, I’ll tell them.” After situating me against one of the wooden beams outside, he gathered my crutches and handed them to me. “And don’t scare me again like that. You’re still healing. Got it?”
“I got it.” Shoving his head away from me playfully, I smiled. “Go.”
Chuckling, he headed over to the door and opened it. Waiting until I crossed through the threshold to step in and close the door, he walked around me toward the kitchen after it slammed behind us.
Before he even took two strides, Oren was already stepping around the corner from the dining area. His eyes were red, nose irritated as if he’d been crying while we were gone.
“I-I’m sorry if I said something that triggered you both. I didn’t mean to hurt either of you, and I didn’t mean to impose outside. I know… know what I’ve done is bad, and I’m sorry for causing any more harm, especially to you, Liam, as Ineverwanted to… to hurt you.”
“Oren… You have nothing to apologize for. I’m sorry for yelling at you when I didn’t mean to. Liam stepped wrong, and it freaked me out. I didn’t mean to take my anger out on you, and there’s nothing wrong with what you’ve done. You did it to survive, just like Liam did.”
Oren sniffled, rubbing his arms. “I’m still sorry for… for even playing a role in it. I should’ve… should’ve asked for help, or refused, or done something?—”
“No, please don’t apologize, Oren.” Every ounce of me wanted to reach out and touch him, to place my hand over his shoulder to provide some semblance of comfort, but Icouldn’t.Not with my body relying on my crutches to keep me upright.“I’msorry for taking away from what you shared with us. It was brave. And… And I’m really sorry that I couldn’t stay and listen to all of it.”
He shook his head, those cerulean eyes flickering between Simon and me. “You don’t need to apologize. I get it… I really do. It’s not… easy to bring up what’s been done to you, or the ramifications of what you did to keep yourself safe. It… I-It doesn’t change what happened if you think about what you could’ve done differently, but it’s a never-ending cycle.”
“We love you,” I offered, hoping it would ease his nerves. “And hearing that you experienced what I did… It just… It hit a different spot.”
He smiled, but it wasn’t full of his usual brightness. “I understand. I love you both, too.”
Simon cleared his throat. “We do, Oren, and I’m proud of you always. You did what you needed to. You survived to meet Thorne. You survived to meet all of us, so don’t youeverdisregard yourself like that.”
Oren nodded, quickly brushing his tears away with his fingers. “Thank you… f-for not judging me.”
“I never will,” I whispered. “You and I are more alike than you realize, Oren.”
“Yeah… I guess… guess we are…”
Simon sighed. “I can’t stand this.”
Oren flicked his attention to him. “What? What are you?—”
His words were cut off as Simon approached him, yanking against his shirt to pull him in for a hug. Patting his back, his other hand tilted Oren’s head against his chest. “I’m sorry you’ve never been able to tell anyone.”
As if that’s who he really needed to acknowledge him, Oren wailed, wrapping his arms around Simon. He responded in kind, continuing those light back rubs as Oren allowed himself to feelthe weight of his past. And as he relinquished those tears, Matt and Lev appeared, turning their attention to me.
“Well… this is an interesting sleepover breakfast,” Matt muttered, brushing a few tears from his own cheeks.
Thorne stepped out of the small bathroom, sliding the door shut behind him. “I leave to take a piss, and suddenly everyone is crying. What happened?”
Oren was the first to laugh; the sound warbled from his recent sobbing. “Me…”
Raising his brows, Thorne glanced over the group. “Well?”
“Simon and Oren hugged it out, and well, your fiancé started crying after,” Matt replied, leaning against Lev. “It was sweet.”
“Oh, shut up, Matt,” Simon muttered as he pulled away from Oren. “He was standing there like a sad puppy, and I’m not going to leave my best friend hanging. But I do think your assistance is requested for the rest, Thorne, as Liam and I need to head out.”
Oren wiped the rest of his sorrow from his face, but the lingering effects were still there. He was okay, but I knew that mask well, as I still used it frequently. Harboring more than he wanted to allow himself to feel, I had no doubts Thorne would help him through the rest like Simon would with me.
“What? To go fuck?” Matt asked, cocking his head. “Why the sudden?—”
“Yes.” Simon shrugged. “Any other questions?”
At everyone’s silence, Simon glanced at Oren once more. “Call or text if you need me tonight, or any night. I’ve got you, Oren, but I think Thorne’s always going to take good care of you.”
