Unwritten Law (Steele Brothers 1)

Anders doesn’t usually train on a Monday, so I haven’t had to worry about him running into Reed, but he skipped last week and wanted to make up for it today. I need to make sure he’s out of here before my students turn up.

What’s worse than the thought of them running into each other is the fact I’m going to have to pretend like Reed didn’t dump my ass for someone else, because he didn’t. He broke up with Anders. Technically.

How did I ever think this was going to work? Granted, I didn’t realise I’d started to like Reed more than a hook-up and friend until he told me we couldn’t have sex anymore, but what was my real long-term plan? Fuck him out of my system and then just look at Reed as a co-worker? I can’t ghost someone I have to see every single week.

Anders grabs a quick shower in my private bathroom off the side of my office and then goes back to work while I set up for the afternoon classes.

I have to mentally psych myself up to face Reed and pretend I’m cool with him.

When he walks through the door with the kids in tow, I can’t bring myself to look at him.

“Head on through. I’ll be there in a minute,” I say to no one and pretend to be busy behind the counter. My appointments and schedule need straightening out. That’d sound legit if he asked.

I sense a presence looming over me, but I don’t raise my head. That is until Davis says, “Law?”

My gaze flies up to meet his. The bruise on his face is already healed, but that was the least of his injuries. I’m interested to know what his torso looks like. “How … how is everything?”

He averts his eyes. “Good. Thanks to you. Mr. Garvey said I should thank you again—”

“I don’t need thanks. Just knowing you’re safe is thanks enough for me.”

“I am. Mum left Dad. Like officially and stuff. Signed separation papers or whatever they’re called.”

“I know it’s probably not what you want to hear, but … it might be for the best. You need to surround yourself with people who’ll support you and build you up, not criticise you for who you are or who you like.”

Davis nods but doesn’t seem convinced. “He’s still my dad, you know? I guess part of me is hoping he’ll wake up and realise he lost both me and Mum because of what he did, and he’ll apologise and want to make amends. I want him to …”—he breathes deep—“I still want him to accept me. That’s fucked up, isn’t it?”

“Language,” Reed says from the bamboo doorway to the classroom.

Davis looks at his feet. “Sorry. Just, thank you again.”

“No problem at all.” My heart breaks for the kid. Mum and Dad didn’t give a shit when Anders came out, and I assume they’ll be the same when I do. Imagining not having their support …

I try to stop Davis to say something reassuring—what, I have no idea—but it’s too late. He heads inside, and Reed still stands in the doorway, staring at me. Our eyes lock. His golden hair shines off the overhead lights, and in his gi, he looks like an ass-kicking angel dude. I wish he wasn’t hot.

“Anders told you, didn’t he?” he says, his tone defeated.

“Uh, yeah. But hey, it’s none of my business.” I go back to looking at the open ledger in front of me, pretending to focus on words when all I can focus on is my tongue thick in my mouth and my dry throat.

“Are we cool? Like, not just about Anders, but about the whole … waking up together on my couch thing.”

“We’re cool.” I shrug, trying to be nonchalant but my shoulders are stiff.

“We still on for our usual dinner tonight?”

Shit. I don’t think I could stand it. “Sorry. Not tonight. I promised Anders I’d be home.”

“Right. Got it. You told me that first night we met that you were protective of your brother, but trust me when I say I didn’t mean to hurt him or lead him on. I have my reasons for ending it, and I hope it doesn’t come between me and you.” He turns on his heel and heads back into the classroom.

Part of me wants to explain why I’m distant, but it wouldn’t do any good. He’s dating that other guy. Plus, I never had any faith that he’d forgive what I did. No, the fantasy in my head where I explain everything and he tells me he doesn’t care will never come true, and I have to accept that.

He’s only ever seen me as a friend, and why would he see me as anything else? When I was half out of it and kissed him that one time as me, he was mortified. Which is a normal reaction to your pseudo-boyfriend’s brother kissing you, I guess. But it stung.