Three Simple Words

Chapter 7

His grip on Jess's torso tightened once they were on the road. As they sped down the highway it took almost all of Jess's concentration to ignore the way the other boy's body felt against his own, the protective arms, the head that rested on his shoulders. The way his arms caressed him with a gentle firmness, the way his breath tickled Jess's neck. Thomas had the same concentration but because of the way his arms felt against the other boy's hard torso, the heat that he could feel coming from the other's back, the sweet smell of leather and cologne.

Both knew that this moment couldn't last, albeit for different reasons but both drawing the same conclusion.

For Thomas, he knew-or at least thought- that the other boy was straight and the issue that he was dating his sister.

In Jess's mind the reasons were less obvious but nonetheless present, he couldn't date the person his sister had been dating even if they broke up but also, he knew that Thomas could never date some with as much baggage as he had.

Nevertheless, both boys couldn't help but focus on the way they felt when they were pressed up against each other. The ride wasn't overly long but it felt like an eternity.

When Jess pulled over, all that could be seen were the vast desert and canyons that made up the majority of New Mexico.

"What are we doing here?" Thomas asked, perplexed. "Come on" Jess prompted gently, gesturing to the other boy the unmarked path that they were going on.

In that moment Thomas felt safe, fearless and it wasn't because he was dating the other boy's sister but Jess made him feel fearless. When he finally followed the green-eyed man, he found him with his legs dangling over the edge of the canyon, the sunlight shining in his dark hair.

Without thinking, Thomas took out his phone and captured the way the sun seemed to make the other boy shine like a star. After he get control of himself again, he went to sit beside the other boy, far enough that they weren't touching but close enough that it looked like they were more than just friends.

"My mom used to take me here whenever I had a bad day. Since then, it's kind of became my spot" Jess explained, seeing the questioning look on the blonde's face.

The scene in front of them was beautiful and terrifying and everything in between. Across the canyon, desert was all the eye could see, each plant and animal seemed to be in sync with each other. The canyon wall was a rusty color and the rock seemed to jolt out at every angle but beyond all of that, the scene was peaceful. Out here, Thomas didn't have to pretend to be any one else or worry about his father or Wren or Ariel. With Jess, he felt his anxiety subside, the pain was gone.

"Why do you let them pick on you?" Jess began "You're obviously strong enough to take on that prick" Thomas knew that question had been coming but he also knew that if he told Jess the truth, he would out himself and the reason he was dating Ariel.

"I... I... what I mean to say" Thomas sputtered. He had never had a problem lying before but with Jess he couldn't seem to find a good enough reason except the truth.

"Stop, please, just don't say some bullshit because your dating my sister" Jess urged, reading Thomas well enough to know that the next thing to come out of his mouth would have been a lie. Thomas would have stood up to make space between them but as it were, he was in too much pain to move. Instead he wiped his face with his hands, trying to hide the confusion that crossed his face.

"I... I can't tell you" Thomas started, "it's not that I don't want to, it's just that" "that you're dating my sister" Jess interjected, already knowing the struggle that went on inside the other boy's head.