He wasn’t wrong, not at all.

But in this town, I know what they were all thinking.

I know how dangerous it can be to open your mouth, and I don’t want it coming back on him. Or me. But mostly him.

He’s good. Almost too good. Where everything else is dark, he’s light. He always has been.

And unfortunately, I think sometimes that light blocks out just how ugly the real world can be.

19. Kingston

NINETEEN

KINGSTON

I’m annoyed by Camden being annoyed. It’s not like I don’t understand why he doesn’t want anyone talking about this. I get that more than anyone. But it’s not like I stood up and said, “Camden is gay, so all you fuckers better shut your mouths.”

I just told them it wasn’t right.

Still, the way he looked like he might lose his lunch and was so damn pale tells me just how scared he is.

I hate that he’s dealt with that alone for so damn long.

I don’t know how to make this right.

We play with Lucy for a while until their mom comes home and makes dinner. She doesn’t have to work tonight, so she puts Lucy to bed. Camden makes me do homework for an hour or so in his room before it gets late. And then it comes time for me to either leave or just go ahead and bring up all the cringey shit neither of us really wants to talk about.

I’m Kingston Wells, the loudmouth jock who rarely holds anything back, so of course I choose the latter. “I’m sorry I scared you. I would never out you though.”

My books are packed away in my backpack as it sits on the floor at my feet, both of us on his bed. “I know you wouldn’t on purpose,” he says carefully, way too carefully. I don’t like him using kid gloves with me.

“But you were scared I was going to on accident?”

He nods his head solemnly. “I was. It would ruin my life, Kingston.”

I hate that for him. I hate that I know that’s true. At least, his life here in Kensley. Our senior year. “I know I’m loud and dumb sometimes.” Before he can argue, I give my head a shake and keep going, “But I would never ever do anything to hurt you. But I know the shit they were saying hurts you too. And that’s not okay with me.”

I watch his throat move as he swallows hard, battling the emotions I know he feels but keeps locked down, deep inside himself. He’s always done that. “I know it’s not, and I admire the hell out of you that you can just say it out loud. But I can’t. I just can’t.”