Caelyx #3
Ren blinked, staring at me in obvious confusion before his eyes widened even more.
“Wait, that was you!?”
“I’m also who he was with the other day when he texted you asking if the room was empty,” I said. “I guess I don’t need to elaborate on why he wanted to know.”
Ren coughed into his hand, and shook his head. “Uh, no. I pretty much get the idea. So… You’re the guy he’s been texting?”
“Every day,” I confirmed. Every day lately, anyway. Except today.
“Wow,” he finally said, taking in a deep breath and then letting it out slowly. “I, um… I wouldn’t have expected that.”
“Why?” I asked sharply, before I could stop myself. “You don’t think a fuck-up like me could land somebody like Aspen?”
“Watch your tone,” Maddox warned lightly, from the entrance of the kitchen. When I turned around to look at him, he had his arms crossed over his chest and his hip leaned against the door jamb. I’d thought he’d gone into his room, but I should have known he’d be listening.
Giving him a dry look, I tilted my head. “Shouldn’t you be prepping your hole or something?”
“Shouldn’t you?” He countered pointedly, pushing off from the wall and stalking over to the table with us, pulling up a seat next to Ren.
Snorting, I flicked up an eyebrow. If he thought he was going to embarrass me by implying that Aspen could and would be pounding me at some point in the near future, he was sadly mistaken. If anything, I considered that a major flex.
“I didn’t mean it that way, Caelyx,” Ren cut in quickly, probably to avoid whatever remark I would have countered with. “Really,” he added, sounding apologetic. “I just meant… He’s seemed kind of different with this guy, and honestly I couldn’t imagine who it could be.”
“Surprise,” I responded. “Now tell me about his mom. I know he opens up to you more than other people.”
Ren grimaced, still looking hesitant.
“Look,” I tried again. I couldn’t be mad that he was too loyal to spill Aspen’s secrets, but I needed him to understand. “He called me last night, at like 3:00 in the morning. He was upset.”
Almost in tears, I thought, but didn’t voice that part. I was already skating on extremely thin ice even revealing that Aspen and I were hooking up, let alone if he ever found out I’d mentioned that part.
“He called you?” Ren echoed, again sounding shocked.
“After his mom called him, yeah. I walked to the dorm so he wouldn’t be alone,” I added, hoping to appeal to his romantic side.
“Wow,” Ren remarked, sounding impressed and somewhat charmed by my efforts.
It seemed Aspen didn’t exactly feel the same way, at least now that he’d had a chance to think back on it and feel embarrassed by how he’d acted.
But having him fall asleep on me had been one of the cutest things I’d ever experienced in my life.
He was like my prickly, hissy kitten that just wanted to be held but wouldn’t admit it.
“Well… I mean, I could tell you but I don’t really want Aspen getting upset with me. ”
“I’m not going to tell him that I know anything,” I clarified. “I just need to understand what’s going on so I can try to help.”
Ren groaned lightly, looking conflicted as he wrung his fingers together nervously. When he glanced over to Maddox for assistance, Maddox scoffed and held up his palms.
“Don’t ask me what to do. I’m still not sure I believe they’re even hooking up,” he said.
“You want me to take a video next time and send it to you?” I offered, and he gave me a withering stare.
“I’d rather give birth.”
“Keep taking Ren’s loads raw all the time, and you might end up living that dream.”
“Enough,” Ren said, rubbing his temples with his fingertips. “Okay, yes, fine. I’ll tell you. But please don’t be too obvious, Aspen is weird about people knowing his personal business.”
“My lips are sealed, Sir.”
He explained about how Aspen’s mom was an alcoholic, and how Aspen and his sister had tried everything to get her to stop, and some days were worse than others.
With Aspen gone for school and his sister having moved away for her husband’s job, things seemed to be getting worse on that front.
He went on to describe how guilty Aspen felt about being away from her, but that this was the closest school he’d been able to snag a scholarship for, and how he was always sending her money for rent and bills.
My stomach sank lower and lower as he talked, but his explanation was clearing up a lot of mysteries for me.
No wonder Aspen was so fucking stressed all the goddamn time.
It was unfair, that someone like him would have to deal with so much bullshit.
I wanted to help, more than just being a shoulder for him to lean on at 3:00 in the morning.
But I wasn’t sure how I could manage that yet.
I thanked Ren for his help, and sent the two of them off before holing myself up in my room and collapsing on my bed to stare at my phone screen.
I know you don’t want to talk to me right now, but I kind of need to know if you’re swinging by to pick me up for our shift. If not, I need to start walking.
I sent the text, and heaved a sigh, rolling over onto my side.
Shit. Things were so much worse for him than I’d thought.
But what could I do? And asking wasn’t an option, he’d only distance himself from me more if he knew what I’d found out.
Add on the fact that he didn’t want my, or anyone else’s sympathy, and it was a recipe for disaster.
I’ll be there.
His response was straightforward and blunt, but I was still relieved. If he could stand being in a car with me, then he didn’t completely despise me or anything. I’d known that, deep in the logical recesses of my brain, but it was nice to get a confirmation.
Glancing at the time on my phone, I decided I had a little time to plan my strategy before Aspen came around to pick me up.