Page 85 of Light Up My Life

But I should’ve let him. I should’ve walked him straight to the front door when I first brought him downstairs because then he wouldn’t have been in my house when Marcus’s bedroom door swung open, when I jerked my head in the direction of the sound, still in Ryan’s arms, and Marcus walked out. He was wearing earbuds, but he locked eyes with me right away.

Ryan cursed and released me, but it was too late, Marcus had seen.

He popped his earbuds out. “What are you doing?” my brother asked in a low, angry voice.

What was I even supposed to say at this point? I couldn’t say that Ryan had just stopped by to talk. We had literally been hugging. Marcus probably even guessed that we’d been kissing. I knew my face looked beyond guilty.

I finally found my words. “Please don’t tell Mom or Momma. Please.”

“What exactly am I not telling them?” Marcus asked. His eyes were still angry. “Are you two … do you…”

“I like her,” Ryan said. “We—we like each other.”

Marcus kept staring at me like Ryan hadn’t even spoken, like he couldn’t hear him.

“Marcus, come on,” I said. “Is it so shocking?”

“Yes,” he assured me. “I thought you liked William.”

“Who’s William?” Ryan asked.

“Buddy,” Marcus clarified.

“The elf?” Ryan asked.

“No,” I said. “I don’t. At all.”

“Then why do you flirt with him like crazy?” Marcus said. I had never wanted to punch my brother more than in that moment.

“Stop. I do not.”

“Might want to tell him that.”

“Marcus, this has nothing to do with William. This is about me. And Ryan.” I was shaking. Ryan must’ve noticed because he placed his hands on my shoulders, holding me steady.

Marcus frowned. “You know Mom is going to hate this.”

“Why do you think I haven’t told her?” I whispered.

“Just one of your parents will hate it?” Ryan asked, as if this gave him hope.

“No,” Marcus said, finally shooting his angry glance at Ryan. “They’ll both hate it. One will just hate it more. Now, will you please get out of our house?”

“Marcus, stop. Seriously.” Tears stung my eyes.

Ryan put his arm around me, squeezing me against his side.

There were footsteps upstairs, and I realized how loud we had gotten. We’d woken someone up, and I didn’t want to wait and find out who.

“I’ll stay,” Ryan said to me quietly. “If you want me to. To explain myself.”

“Not right now,” I said. “Not like this.”

“You want me to go?” he asked.

I nodded.

He gave me one last squeeze and then rushed through the back door.