Alexander Eaton || A Uriah Pedrad Love Story

Chapter 46

"Kyle," I said softly. "Did Daddy do anything else?"

"Said not to tell," he said. My heart hurt for him.

"Four, can we do anything?" I asked. He nodded and promised to take care of it.

"Dinner is done if you guys wanna eat," Hannah said. "I'm going to go lay Kyle down if he's sick."

Uriah had his arms around me as my heart broke all over again. I broke down sobbing right there in the middle of my future brother-in-law's living room. Uriah was rubbing my back trying to soothe me, but I could not calm down. The memories of my own father hitting me came flooding back.

"What the fuck was that?" He yelled, throwing me to the ground in the living room.

"I, I don't know," I said, trying to set my jaw and take whatever was happening like Tobias would've.

"You didn't know he was transferring?" He yelled. "I don't believe you. You know this hurts me more than it hurts you."

I sat silently, waiting for the crack of his leather belt and the stinging of it making contact with my back. I bit into my lip so hard it was bleeding, but I never made a sound.

Three weeks later, giving me just enough time for my back to heal, Marcus lit into me again.

"What is this I hear that your teachers found you kissing a Candor boy?" He asked. I waited silently, not wanting to piss him off even more. "I asked a question." I still didn't answer. There was no denying it. I'd fucked up and got caught kissing a boy.

"Maybe this will be the time that finally cures you," he said before cracking his belt down on my back.

"Breath, Alex, baby boy, breath," Uriah had his strong arms around me, trying to talk me through my panic attack.

"What's wrong?" Hannah asked.

"He's got PTSD," Zeke explained softly.

"Not to mention I'm a fucking crybaby faggot," I said.

"Alex," Uriah said. "Where did that come from?"

"The first 16 years of my life I got beat for so much as looking at my father wrong. I kissed a boy once on a dare and was beat within an inch of my life. Sorry if I believe it. Sorry that having a PTSD induced panic attack makes me believe it. And sorry that seeing your brother go through what I endured makes me believe it," I said, becoming pissed with everyone. It wasn't their fault I felt like this, so I knew I needed to calm down. I noticed Four and Uriah were the only ones still in the room.

"Uriah, why don't you take Alex home? I'm sure Tris and Shauna will be more than willing to watch the twins," Four said.

"Just give us a minute alone, please," Uriah said, frustrated with the fact that everyone else thought they knew what was best for us. Four left the room almost silently as I sat down on the couch, burying my face in my hands.

"Alex, baby, talk to me. What's wrong?" He asked.

"Why, how, do you love me?" I asked, not knowing what it was I needed to hear.

"You are the love of my life, baby boy," he said, sitting down beside me and pulling me into his side.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because everything about you is perfect baby boy. I love everything about you. Even your anxiety. It reminds me that you trust me because you come to me when you're having a breakdown or you need a second to regroup," he said, pressing his lips to my forehead.

"I love you Uriah," I said.

"I love you too, Alex. Today's been a rollercoaster. Want me to see if Mom will watch the twins?" He asked. I nodded softly, wiping at my cheeks in attempt to calm down.

I could hear him from where I was sitting.

"Mom, will you watch the twins? I'm gonna take Alex home. He isn't feeling the best," Uriah said.

"Yeah, of course. I'd love to watch them," she said.

"Thank you, Momma," he said. "We're gonna head home."

"No dinner first?" She asked.

"No. We'll come eat leftovers tomorrow," he said.

"Sorry, little bro. There isn't gonna be any leftovers," Zeke said through a mouthful of food. Uriah just thanked his mom again and walked away. He helped me onto his back and gave me a piggyback ride home.