Chapter 23
Nathan's POV
I woke up to emptiness.
The space behind me was empty
I laid there, staring ahead— thinking about yesterday.
Then I heard running water. From the bathroom.
Kieran.
I sat up slowly, my eyes drifting toward the door.
I should leave.
Before he comes out.
Before this turns wierd.
I slipped off the bed and walked quietly toward the door. My hand rested on the handle for a second—
then I opened it and stepped out.
And froze.
My mom.
She was walking down the hall.
Her eyes moved from me… to the door behind me.
Back to me.
My stomach dropped.
Before I could say anything, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me down the hall.
"Mom—"
She didn't stop.
Not until we were inside my room.
She shut the door firmly behind us.
Then turned to me.
"Why do you keep doing this?" she demanded.
"It's not what you think—" I started.
""Oh really?" she cut in sharply. "So now you and Kieran are friends? Friends that walk out of each other's rooms early in the morning? And if I remember correctly, that's exactly what you said the last time—with that bastard Crowley."
I swallowed.
"Yesterday was his mother's… death anniversary," I said quietly, choosing to ignore her last sentence.
Her expression didn't soften.
"So you comforted him by spending the night?" she asked.
I didn't answer.
Silence filled the room.
Her voice dropped, colder this time.
"Do you want us thrown out of this house? Back on the street?"
I shook my head quickly.
"No."
"Then why?" she pressed. "Why can't you—?"
She sighed.
"Why do you always let that part of you win?" she continued.
I looked away.
"If Chris were to found out about this— about you…" she said, her voice tightening, "he won't hesitate. He will send us packing. Back to the hell we ran from," she finished.
She studied my face for a moment.
Then her tone shifted—quieter, almost like she was convincing herself , she held the back of my head.
"They are temptations," she said. "Sin… lust…"
Her eyes met mine.
"And you will overcome it."
----
Nathan's POV
I sat at the edge of the bed, Mom's words still lingering in my head.
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
I frowned slightly.
Then stood and opened the door.
Kieran stood outside.
I blinked.
He had never knocked before. Usually, he just let himself in.
"You forgot your jacket," he said, holding it out.
I looked at it.
I must've left it in his room last night.
I took it from him.
"Thanks."
He nodded once. "You're welcome."
Silence followed. But he didn't leave.
I looked at him properly.
He cleared his throat.
Then reached into his pocket and brought out something.
A ticket. He handed it to me.
I frowned slightly.
"What's this?"
"It's a ticket to Rae's exhibition signing," he said.
Oh.
My eyes widened slightly.
"I heard from—" he stopped himself, then cleared his throat again. "I heard you like his paintings."
I stared at him.
Why is he giving me this?
The Kieran standing in front of me right now didn't feel like the same person I had known since coming here.
"Do you want it or not?" he asked suddenly, irritation slipping into his voice.
Like he was annoyed at himself for even trying.
But his expression stayed softer than usual.
I quickly took the ticket.
"Thank you."
He opened his mouth slightly, like he wanted to say something else—
but another voice interrupted.
"Kieran."
We both turned.
Zane walked toward us.
"Hey, babe," he said with a smile.
I smiled back automatically.
"Was i interrupting something," He asked jokingly.
"You didn't tell me you were coming today."
"Yeah, well…" he rubbed the back of his neck lightly. "I actually came because of Kieran."
"Oh."
His eyes shifted to what was in my hand.
"What's that?"
I looked down quickly.
"My jacket," I said, lifting it slightly.
"Hm."
Zane nodded slowly.
Kieran suddenly shoved his hands into his pockets and turned away.
"Hey, dude, wait," Zane called after him.
Before following, he leaned down and kissed my cheek.
"I'll be back."
Then he jogged after Kieran.
I stood there for a moment.
Then looked down at the ticket still in my hand.
And slowly closed my fingers around it.
Before stepping back into my room and shutting the door.
------
Zane's POV
I woke up feeling guilty.
I couldn't believe I forgot yesterday.
Every year, me and Kieran spent his mother's death anniversary together.
We'd stay indoors all day.
Drink.
Played old video games.
Sometimes we barely even talked.
I smiled faintly as I drove over, remembering some of the memories.
By the time I got there, the guilt had eased a little.
I entered the house and headed upstairs.
That was when I saw Kieran standing outside Nathan's room.
He was talking to someone.
"Kieran," I called.
They both turned.
Nathan.
"Hey, babe," I said with a smile.
He smiled back immediately.
Cute.
I glanced between them.
"Was I interrupting something?" I asked jokingly.
Kieran didn't answer.
He only shoved his hands into his pockets.
Nathan looked slightly awkward.
"Umm… you didn't tell me you were coming today," he said.
"Yeah, well…" I rubbed the back of my neck lightly. "I actually came to see Kieran."
Nathan nodded slowly.
That was when I noticed what he was holding.
A jacket.
And—
a paper? A ticket?
"What's that?" I asked.
Nathan lifted the jacket slightly.
"My jacket."
Hm.
I looked at the paper again briefly, but before I could ask—
Kieran suddenly turned to leave.
I frowned.
"Hey, dude, wait."
Before going after him, I leaned down and kissed Nathan on the cheek.
"I'll be back."
Then I followed after Kieran.