Page 130 of Unexpected Prejudice

Don sneered, crossing his arms over his chest, obviously pleased with the crowd. “I’m talking about you being a disgusting homo. At first, I didn’t care. Suck whatever cock you want as long as it isn’t mine. But then you started coming at us? Your fucking teammates? That’s repulsive.”

Before I could even deny what he was saying and keep my secret, Don pulled out his phone and shoved the screen in my face.

There, right in front of me, was a picture of me and Ty that looked like we were making out, missing the rest of it where I shoved him off.

Panicked, I glanced at Shay-Lee, who didn’t even have the dignity to look me in the eyes. Instead, he was staring at the ground while I was being outed. And it wasn’t just me, but also poor Ty. Wasn’t he still their friend?

Proud of himself, Don turned the screen and checked out the photo himself. “Tell me, how many times did you check out our dicks while sharing a shower with us?”

“So, what?” I huffed, ignoring the dozens of pairs of eyes staring at us. “I’m gay, big fucking deal. At least I’m not a rapist.”

“Again with that bullshit?” he hissed before stepping closer. “You really need to learn to keep your mouth shut.” Spit splattered from his mouth and landed on my face. “Your poor ass can’t afford it.”

Good, so he also knows I’m broke?

“Or what?” I wiped off his spit.

“Last time wasn’t enough, huh? Want me to bust your head again?”

“Fuck you,” I hissed, and before I knew it, his fist collided with my face and sent me to the ground. Don was much stronger and bigger, and he used it to his advantage by sitting on my chest, ready to beat the shit out of me again.

I didn’t care.

I was ready for it.

I was already hurt from the inside, so what was another blow to the face?

“Don’t touch him,” Shay-Lee snapped, stopping Don right before he punched me again.

Looking aside, I found him standing above us, with his fists shoved in his jeans and a cold stare on his face. Did he finally come around?

“He’s not worth it, so get the fuck off him.”

Listening to Shay-Lee, Don stood and stepped back.

“Shay-Lee,” I tried to say, but he continued, saying things that shattered my heart.

“And you? Just get the message and get the fuck out of here. You’re no longer one of us.”

Crushed by the weight of his words, I remained on the ground. He’d just dismissed me. After everything we went through, he threw me to the dogs like I was nothing. Not even a shred of recognition of what we’d been through together. Of what I’d been for him for the past few months.

Everyone seemed to return to the party. Swallowing my pride and pain, I got up and dragged myself out of there.

I had just been outed, punched, and threatened, but all I cared about was still him. Always him.

He was all I could think about, and that drove me insane.

Jordan

“Don’t forget to take out the trash when you go,” my manager said as I clocked out.

If my public humiliation earlier today hadn’t been enough, I also had to endure my eight-hour shift in this shitty place. My life was a fucking disaster.

Taking the trash with me, I walked to the back alley, where the dumpsters were.

“Fuck,” I cursed as I stepped on something sticky that got on my shoe.

Opening the dumpster, I tossed the garbage into it, all but ready to go home, when someone shouted my name. Turning around, I was blinded by car lights. I squinted and covered my eyes with my hand to see a large car and a silhouette of someone, maybe a man, that swung something. There was a whooshing sound like a baseball bat slicing through the air, and then a toe-curling snap as if someone cracked shells in my ear. Shells? Maybe I thought about shells because I heard the ocean.