It wasn’t the right time for Lucas to know since Kylo was hurt, but I wasn’t going to hide my anguish.
Lucas crossed his arms over his chest. “You hardly know him. Why do you care so much?”
“Because he’s mine.”
Wreck’s eyes flashed, but they settled, unlike Lucas’s—even his mouth dropped open. He took a deep breath, and I knew I was going to get a talking to before he even started with, “What do you mean he’s yours? You can’t mean like I think you mean because that’s just stupid. You’ve never once looked at a guy before, and what, you now think you can fool around with Kylo and his feelings? I won’t let it happen. You do not get to mess with him like that.” He glared, his chest heaved with every breath, and his fist was in my face. “Ouch, dammit,” he complained after hitting me.
I rubbed at my cheek, looking at him. “What was that for?” I demanded.
Lucas ignored me and started shaking his hand out. “You broke my hand with your dang hard face. Wade, Wade, he broke my hand. He broke my wacking hand.” Wreck’s lips twitched, but he brought Lucas into his arms and gently checked his hand over.
“It’s bruised, but not broken,” Wreck assured him.
“Stupid boofhead.” He glared at me.
“I could have gone without knowin’ which hand you jerk off with,” Death put in.
Lucas stilled, blinked, no doubt realizing he’d overshared. He groaned, turning to me with another glare like it was my fault he’d blurted it.
“Why did you hit me?” I asked.
“Because… well, you hit Wade when you thought he was just messing with me. I don’t want you to play with Kylo. He—”
“I’m not, and I won’t. What Kylo and I have is serious, and it’ll continue no matter what happens.”
“You’ve never been with a guy before, you—”
“Neither had Wreck, but you were all okay about that. Can’t you just believe I’m in it for the good reasons? I want Kylo in my life.” I threw my hands up in frustration. “I know I’ve never even thought about bein’ with a guy before. Maybe my eyes hadn’t been opened to the possibility until the right guy came along. Yeah, I’ve known Kylo for a long time, but it wasn’t until we spent some time together did I understand I wanted more from him.”
Lucas studied me, then sighed. “I can’t argue with that.” He glanced back at Wreck before facing me again. “But if you hurt him, I will harm you. Just remember, I know the body a lot more than anyone.”
I nodded. “Got it, bro. But I’d never hurt him, not intentionally.”
“Fine, I’m going to get ice for my hand.”
He didn’t believe me completely, and I couldn’t blame him. I’d been the same when I found out about him and Wreck. Eventually, he’d see how serious I was about Kylo. Until then, I wasn’t going to waste my time or breath convincing him. Instead, I sat back down. Death sat beside me, but I didn’t pay attention to him or anyone around me. I buried my head in my hands again, closed my eyes, and prayed that everything would be all right with Kylo.
“Family for Kylo—”
“Here,” Boom yelled.
I stood, my heart beating so hard it near made me dizzy. Boom curled an arm around Wendy as they moved closer to the doctor. I stepped up with them, along with the others waiting for news. My gut churned, my ears waiting, and my eyes clung to the doctor in case he disappeared and I’d dreamed his arrival.
“Good news, he’s out of surgery, awake, but tired and dazed. Would you like to see him?”
Relief flooded my system. Suddenly it was easier to breathe.
It surprised me when they looked my way. I shook my head. “You guys go first.”
Wendy smiled softly. She reached out, and I took her hand as it squeezed around mine. “We won’t be long.”
I nodded. “It’s okay, take your time.”
After another squeeze, they walked through the doors.
Fuck. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.
I smiled down at my feet as a hand gently grasped the back of my neck. “He’s good,” Death said.
Smiling at him, I replied, “Yeah, he is, and we’ll get the fucker who did this, so he’ll be even better.”
“Damn right. Breathe easy, brother.”
“So,” Lucas drew out, stepping up beside me, “who knows about you and Kylo?”
Death snorted, and he moved off, probably not wanting to join in on the conversation.
“I gathered Boom and Wendy know. Death obviously does