Working Out West - Lila Rose Page 0,20

come around.”

I snorted. “I don’t think so.”

“You told Lucas yet?”

“Not yet, but I will.”

“Told me what?” I jumped at Lucas’s voice from the doorway.

“Um… well….” I didn’t want to bring it up now.

Lucas made his way over, hugged Kylo, and took a seat opposite me, just as Kylo said, “West has a couple of days before his lease is up, and he needs to move out.”

I glared at Kylo. The conniving shithead just threw me under the bus, even though he was right.

I waved it off with a laugh. “It’s fine. I’m just going to stay in a motel until I find a new place.”

Lucas shook his head. “No you won’t.”

Hell.

“Lucas, you and Wreck haven’t been in there long. I’m not—”

His hand shot up, and Kylo chuckled but then wheezed and held an arm across his ribs. Served him right. Only I regretted that thought as soon as I had it. Kylo didn’t deserve anything; he was only trying to look out for me.

Lucas ordered, “You’ll move in with us. No ifs, buts, or any other bullpoop.”

Suddenly, I wanted to cry. I clenched my jaw, sniffed, and stared down at the white hospital sheets.

“West?” Lucas said gently.

Sucking in a shuddering breath, I told them, “My life before college wasn’t easy.” I looked up and smiled sadly at Lucas. “I know I haven’t said much about my parents, and you might think they’re supportive, but they aren’t. If I didn’t have the scholarship, they would have me still living under their roof and rules.” I rubbed my sweaty hands down my jean-clad thighs. “They don’t know I’m gay. They believe it’s a sin. They’re very religious and controlling. They refuse to help me with rent or food because they think it’s foolish to move away from them. They said I could have gone to a college close to them, and they would have helped with everything because I would still be living with them. But I couldn’t. I had to get out. I had to live, and breathe, and be myself.”

“Of course you did,” Lucas said. He knew how lucky he was with his parents. They were amazing and loved Lucas and Saint so much, no matter what. Even Kylo lucked out with his parents—his foster ones—Boom and Wendy.

“I don’t hate my parents. But I do resent them shoving religion down my throat and having me thinking there was something wrong with me for being gay.”

“I’m fuckin’ glad you got out,” Kylo stated.

I nodded. “Me too, and I guess I’m telling you both this because I wanted to say thank you.” Smiling, I looked at them both. “Thank you for caring and wanting to help.”

Lucas sniffed and wiped at his eyes. “We always will.”

“Fuck yeah,” Kylo said.

And now I had that off my chest, I needed the subject moved on before I felt too awkward for sharing.

“So,” Lucas drew out. “Does this mean you’ll listen and move in with us?”

Grinning, I replied, “Yes. It’ll just be for a while—”

He clicked his fingers to shut me up. “I don’t care how long. We’d be happy to have you.”

Kylo and I snorted. We knew Lucas would be happy about it, but Wreck wouldn’t. However, the guy wouldn’t say anything. He’d go along with whatever made Lucas happy.

“Wade won’t care.”

Kylo and I chuckled, which ended with Kylo groaning.

“He won’t,” Lucas demanded.

“Sure,” Kylo said and patted his arm. “Shit, I completely forgot,” Kylo stated, looking at me. “Since both of us haven’t been comfortable working at Polished, I spoke to Death about some jobs in surveillance for his security company, and he’s looking into it for us.”

“That sounds great. I’ve been worried that if any professors or doctors found out I worked at Polished, my career would be down the drain before it even started.”

“Speaking of. You two need to scat. I love you visiting, but you both need to study, and I need some beauty sleep, or I’ll never heal and perform for Saint.”

Lucas screwed up his face and covered his ears with his hands. “That’s my cue to go. Besides, we have to get West moved in.”

“We what?” was roughly snarled from the doorway.

Lucas was up out of his seat and across the room in seconds. He wrapped his arms around Wreck and beamed up at him. “We have a new roommate. Isn’t it wonderful? West is staying with us for however long he wants while we finish our studies.”

Wreck’s jaw clenched, and his eyes lasered across the room to both Kylo and