章 62: Chapter 62

“It’s okay,” he whispers at one point—and for the first time, it might be. Hundreds of miles outside Alex’s family’s reach…it might finally be okay, even only for a little while. For the first time, Ryan is confident that he can make it okay.

He draws back then, taking him by the shoulders to examine him. It was ridiculous to expect that he had changed, but it’s justified. There are new bruises—specifically, a spectacular black eye, a split lip, and a mottled pattern along the left side of his jaw. It’s almost as bad as Ryan’s ever seen him, and his gut clenches tightly at the sight. Worse is his posture—a little heavier, a little less…summer.

But Ryan doesn’t say a word about the bruises, or the defeated posture, or the slightly sharper than usual edge of shoulder-blade that he can feel when he tugs Alex back into another, far briefer hug.

He does say, “I’m glad you came,” as they draw apart again, but nothing else.