Chapter 18

You Can't Come

"So about this party tonight?"

"You can't come," I stated, shading in my sketch.

Titus moaned and rolled over on the bed. We had been lounging for the majority of the day. I was surprised he wasn't whining about being bored. He was doing plenty whining about other things though.

He watched my pencil scribble across the page for a moment. "Why not?"

"Because, Chris hates you. He made it clear that he never wants to see you again."

Titus nuzzled my arm. "That guys a jerk. You shouldn't have been the one to apologize."

"Stop it." I scooted over. "You going to make me mess up."

Titus sat up and snatched the sketchbook from me. I opened my mouth to argue only to have Titus shut me up with a kiss. He wrestled away my pencil and tossed it onto the floor with the sketchbook as his tongue battled with mine. We parted with Titus hovering over me.

"He hurt you," stated Titus.

"We both did things we shouldn't have that night." I stared across the room.

"Aden." He guided my face back until our eyes met. "Lesson one when it comes to having a werewolf for a boyfriend, we're overprotective. I'm not letting the asshole be alone with you again."

I snorted at him. "Where the hell did this boyfriend title come from?"

"Fine." He leaned down next to my face and stop an inch before our lips touched. "We'll test it."

I swallowed hard and stared at him. "What are you doing?"

"Just waiting." The corner of his mouth turned up. "Seeing how long you last."

My mouth dropped open. "This isn't a game, Titus. Get off."

He shook his head and pinned my arms down.

"Stop it." I turned away.

He leaned in closer, so I could feel his breath on my skin. "Just amuse me, Aden." He placed soft kisses down my neck.

My heart was beating faster.

He chuckled and nibbled a trail across my collarbone. "I think we both know you're at least bi. Since a straight guy won't want me to kiss them so much." His hand grazed my sides, lifting up my shirt. "So let's say if you feel nothing, then I guess we haven't reached boyfriend status yet, but if you do." His leg slipped between mine. "than I think we're at that level.

Titus shifted his weight. I panicked and shoved him off back. He casually rolled to the side as I clammered off the bed.

"You're such an ass."

"Aden," he sang with a big smile.

I stopped halfway out the door. "What?"

"So, I guess, we're going out now." Titus leaned back against the headboard and put his arms behind his head. He gave me that typical smirk, while flexing his abs.

"The only thing we've established is that I'm gay." I slammed the door and marched to the bathroom. That boy was going to end me. I just knew it.

***

I walked with my parents to the Harper's backyard. It was decorated for the Fourth of July with red, white, and blue present in every aspect. The Harpers were known for going to the extreme, so it wasn't different than any other party they hosted.

My mother wandered off to talk with her book club group while my dad and I set out the lawn chairs. I brought a blanket for myself and throw it across the lawn.

"Quint." Chris's dad, James, walked over and shook my father's hand. "Glad to see the Perris made it."

My dad laughed. "My wife helped plan this thing. We couldn't miss it if we wanted to."

James laughed as well and sat down in my mom's chair.

"Do you know where Chris is at?" I asked.

"I think he's inside with the other boys in the game room."

I got up to leave. "I'll be back in a bit."

My dad nodded as I walked past. I went in through the backdoor past the pool. My nerves were building. I hadn't talked to Chris since I apologized, and I really hoped things were still good between us.

I went to the game room, but it was empty. Red cups lined the edge of the pool table, but everyone was gone. I searched upstairs but still didn't find them. Sitting on the stairs, I took out my phone to text Chris.

Voices sounded from the front lawn. I tucked my phone in my pocket and hurried to the front door. Glancing out the side window, I saw Chris standing with other members of the football team around Titus.

"Idiot."

I rubbed my forehead. I told him not to come. I told him at least ten times not to come. They started to surround Titus. This was going to end badly, and not for Titus. The werewolf was going to take out the entire team, and I was the one going to get blamed for it.

Stepping outside, I hurried across the lawn. "Hey."

Chris and Titus turned to me.

"Did you invite him?" snapped Chris.

I shook my head. "No." I glared at Titus. "I don't know why he's here."

Chris faced the other boy. "You," he pointed at Titus. "Get lost. This is my house, and you're not welcome here. And you," he turned to me. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

I stood there confused. "What?"

"You're still hanging out with him after what he did."

I shifted my weight as I looked between them. "I didn't think it would matter. I wasn't going to bring him around. I told him not to come."

"So that's how he found out," spat Chris.

The football team turned their attention to me. I should have just stayed in the backyard. Titus could take care of himself without me getting in the way.

"I told him not to come," I said softly.

"You're still just as idiotic as always." He shoved me back.

Titus reacted. He grabbed Chris's wrist and twisted it back behind my friend's head. "You need this arm, to do all your stupid sports?"

The team stood antsy around them. Everyone knew that Titus was strong, but there was a werewolf under there. I had to stop this now, before they experienced that side of Titus.

"Let him go," I stated.

He tightened his grip on Chris instead. "If I were to break it, that would be bad for your football career, right?"

Chris nodded, through gritted teeth.

"Stop it, please," I begged. "You're hurting him, Titus."

Titus leaned into the boy's ear. "Never touch Aden again, or I'll snap it." He released Chris and shoved him forward.

My friend stumbled to the ground. The others moved in to help him up.

"You're insane," breathed Chris. "Get off my property."

"Chris?" I went to help him.

He jerked away from me. "You can leave with him," Chris stated plainly, glaring at me. He led the group back to the house.

"Please, Chris. I didn't mean."

My friend just shook his head and disappeared inside.

My eyes were burning. "Why did you do that? He'd my best friend, Titus. Why can't you just get along with him?"

"The guy is an ass," he said plainly. "And I don't like competition." He turned and walked away from me.

"I don't have a crush on him!" I snapped. "He's my friend that's it."

Titus stopped and marched back to me. The aggression in his stride startled me, and I staggered back.

"That's a bigger lie than saying you're not gay. Hell, I knew the first day we met that you were at least bi. Why do you think I pursued you?"

Rubbing my arm, I stared at the grass. "It's not true."

"All you do is defend him, and he treats you like crap in return. Aden, he punched you in the face, and what do you do, apologize. Do you not realize how pathetic that sounds? Did Chris even say sorry for knocking your head in?"

I took in a shaky breath. "Why are you being like this?"

"Admit it, Aden." He moved in close.

I bowed my head. "I just want to be his friend. Can't I at least have that?"

Titus's expression softened. "Sorry," I sighed. "I guess, you've always known it won't work. Chris might as well have homophobe written across his forehead."

Swallowing hard, I blinked back any tears that had formed. "Yeah, I guess."

He pulled me into a hug. "Come on. Let's go."

"'kay."

Titus led the way to the side yard where we disappeared behind the hedges. He made sure to be out of view, before holding my hand. He took me to a grove of trees on the edge of the Harper's property. We sat down on an old bench swing with the majority of the paint worn off. Titus placed his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side.

"Are you mad at me?" he whispered.

I laid my head on his chest. "Why do you always think I'm mad at you?"

"Because I've done a lot of stupid things lately," he muttered.

I relaxed into his side. "I'm not mad. I'm just annoyed it took me so long to admit it. You were right," I sighed. "I just wanted to be his friend. That's all I cared about."

Titus kissed the side of my head. "Do I need to be worried if Chris turns out to be a closet gay?"

I laughed. "No."

"Good," he shifted in his seat. "Rather not have to kill anyone."

I elbowed him. "Knock it off. You're not killing anyone."

He rubbed the spot. "I might be a werewolf, but I still bruise, Aden"

"Hmmm..." I pulled my legs onto the swing. "You heal fast though."

"I suppose." He leaned his head against mine.

Our eyes met, and our lips soon followed. Titus lifted me onto his lap. I straddled him and grabbed his neck. His hands slipped up my sides and beneath my shirt. He continued to play with it.

"Just take it off."

We parted long enough for Titus to get my shirt off. I pressed my body flush against him and kissed down his neck. His hands roamed my back, before landing on my hips. His mouth went to my neck. I could feel his teeth grade against my skin.

This felt good. Better than when things were switched. I was surprisingly okay taking on more of the girl's roles. It felt amazing, so there wasn't any damn reason not to feel good about it.

"Titus," I breathed.

A deep growl was his only response as he tugged on my jeans. I tensed a little. Was I ready for that? I immediately relax. Hell, yes I was ready.

The sky was lit up as a firework exploded above us. The bang startled me, and I looked over my shoulder to see my whole community sitting on blankets.

"Oh my god." I climbed off him and snatched my shirt off the ground.

Titus nodded. "Yeah," he breathed. "Oh my god."

"That was close. If someone had seen." I pulled my shirt back on. "I be done. Everyone would know."

"Yeah," breathed Titus, still nodding.

I slumped back down on the swing and ran my hands down my face. "I can't believe we did that with like a hundred people sitting right there."

He was simply nodded, stunned and wide-eyed.

"Are you okay?"

Titus snapped back to life. With a deep breath, he put his arm back around my shoulders. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good."