Page 133 of Unexpected Prejudice

That was true. When they returned my phone after waking up, I saw I had about twenty missed calls from him.

“I went to look for you, but it was already too late. The next thing I knew, some stranger walking their dog found you under the old pier, nearly bleeding to death.”

He clenched his jaw and tightened his fists together.

Needing to hear more, I asked, “But what about Ty? And the photo? Even if your words are true, you still outed me.”

Shay-Lee’s eyes snapped to mine, horror written in them. “I wasn’t the one to send that picture. Fuck,” he hissed, pressing his fist to his mouth. “The first time I saw it was when Don showed it to you, Jordan. You have to believe me. I-I would never.”

He was so defensive and vulnerable that I wanted to believe him.

“At first, I didn’t know why he thought you were gay. I assumed it was because of how close you became with Andrei’s friends… he kept talking about it, about them, and I tried to deflect that idea, but then he got that photo. I have no idea who sent it to him. I swear.”

“And Ty?” Even though he explained everything else, he still hadn’t explained why the hell he told Ty to hit on me.

“Honestly? I’m not sure. We were drinking, and the idiot told me he thinks he’s in love with you, so I told him to confess. I didn’t say you were gay. To be honest, I mostly tried to shrug him off by telling him he’d never know unless he tried. The moron got excited over nothing. But then I thought if he did it, maybe you’d finally hate me for telling him that.” He looked down at his feet.

“Why would you want me to hate you?”

“I already told you why.”

“To push me away again?”

Not saying a word, he nodded.

Fuck.

Everything I thought was the truth turned out not to be, and now I was fucking confused. Shay-Lee hadn’t rejected me but instead had tried to protect me in his own twisted way. The guy was fucked up to the core, so it wasn’t hard to believe he tried to push me away. Again.

He shook his head. “I thought I was keeping you safe. I was sure it would work, but then they almost…” He breathed rapidly, and tears started to roll down his face. “They almost killed you, and it was all because of me.” He choked on his last word before covering his mouth with his shaking hand. “I’m sorry, Jordan, I’m so fucking sorry,” he sobbed, and I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Come here.”

My words must have surprised him because he looked up, obviously not knowing what to do.

“I said, come here.” I signaled him to move closer, and he did, sitting on the edge of the bed. I reached for his hand. “Don’t cry.”

“I keep fucking things up. First Miles, now you. Look what happened to you.”

“Yeah…” I sighed, rubbing his skin. “But I’m alive.”

Letting go of his hand, I traced his cheek with my fingers.

“You swear you’re telling me the truth? And that you did all of that just for my sake?”

Without hesitating even for a second, he nodded. “I swear, Jordan. I swear on my life, and I’m sorry—” His whole face twisted with pain before he broke down in tears again.

I pulled him close until his head was resting against my chest.

Listening to him cry because of his guilt only made my own eyes swell with tears. Leaning my head back against the pillow, I bit my lips and tried to hold myself together. The tears coating my eyes weren’t ones of sadness but of relief. I was relieved that despite everything, he had never left my side.

“Hey, you’re awake,” Shay-Lee said as he entered my room and closed the door behind him. Since our conversation two weeks ago, he’d been here every day. “Here.” He handed me a plastic cup full of water.

I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until just now. Coughing, I cleared my throat. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” He smiled and sat back on the chair he evacuated before leaving the room.

“Did I sleep for long?”