Fake Friends - Saxon James Page 0,76

up, the smooth surface heavy in my hand.

All I have to do is ask, Should I fight for Rowan?

Yes, and I’ll kiss the movie goodbye. Yes, and I’ll go down there and bail him out just like Leon wants me to do. To show Rowan that I’m there for him. Always.

And if it says no … the panic simmers back to the surface. If it says no, I’ll do the movie.

Leave.

I glance down at the little view screen to see a corner of the options bob pathetically into view.

I imagine the answer. Some version of My reply is no or very doubtful and then I … leave.

I leave.

I can’t leave.

The ball rolls out of my hand and hits the floor with a loud thud before rolling out of sight.

I can’t do the movie.

I can’t walk away from him.

No matter what, even if this is too much for him, I have to try.

And that trying starts with getting my ass back in the car and heading for the diner.

There’s just enough time to switch out my T-shirt for one that doesn’t stink of clammy indecision, and then I’m back in the car, tearing toward town.

I find a parking space a block away from the diner, and in my enthusiasm, the front of the bumper hits the gutter.

Oops?

I scramble out of the car, trying to both calm the fuck down and get there as quickly as I can. It’s been at least twenty minutes since Leon called me, so I have no clue if they’re still in there, but if they are … yep. I’m ready.

Probably.

Until I get to the door.

Will I even be welcome inside? Rowan’s whole family probably hates me if he told them about us, and I wouldn’t put it past his dad to throw me out on my ass.

Nope, I’m doing this.

Just casually going to stake my claim in front of a diner of people who’ve known me my whole life.

Nothing to see here.

Fuck.

I push the door open.

They’re the first ones I see.

Rowan looks panicked. All big eyes staring at the table. His dad isn’t looking at him, and his mom seems to be trying to make up for it by looking at him too intently. Father O’Connor just looks plain sad.

And this kind of depressing shit is stopping right now.

The door opens behind me again and this time Leon, Royce, and Tanner walk in. Leon nods my way as they take over a booth, not bothering to hide the way they’re staring. Just seeing them confirms to me that I’ve made the right choice.

Here I go, then. Sucking in a deep breath, I make my way over.

“Mr. and Mrs. Harvey. Father O’Connor. So good to see you all again.” I grab Rowan’s shoulder and give it a squeeze, ignoring the way I can feel him staring up at me. “I’ve gotta say, I’m disappointed I wasn’t invited to lunch.”

“Circus.” Brenda manages a small smile even as her husband looks like he might be sick. “We’re just having a family conversation.”

“Perfect timing, then. I’m family, I’ll join too.” But just as I go to move away and find a chair, Rowan grabs me. He pushes closer to his mom and makes room for me beside him.

Even better.

Rowan’s grip on my hand is tight. “What are you doing here?” he murmurs.

“Leon called me.”

I feel some of the tension leave his body as he presses against my side.

“So what are we talking about?”

No one answers me at first. Then, Rowan’s voice is soft as he says, “Conversion therapy.”

Cold creeps through me. My voice turns brittle. “What?”

“It’s a suggestion,” Father O’Connor says.

My free hand slaps down on the table. “Are you people fucking shitting me?”

“Circus, this place isn’t like those horror stories you read about—”

“Is it designed with the intent to turn queer people straight?”

“Well, that is the main—”

“Then yeah, it is just as bad.” I swing around to Rowan’s parents. “Do you have any clue how much your opinions have already fucked with Rowan’s head? He’s spent the last decade—at least—of his life trying to hide this side of himself, and now you’re asking for more? What is wrong with you?”

“It’s just a suggestion,” Karl snaps. “We’re not being unreasonable here. We care about him, and we need to see him at least try, and if that doesn’t work—”

“Try?” My voice shakes dangerously, but I can’t believe the words coming out of their mouths. “What do you think it was like for him in high school? With his friends pressuring