Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy, #1)(44)

I fold my arms across my chest. “I’m his cousin.” I raise an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”

Oakley tenses. “No. Go inside. I’ll catch up with you in a little while.”

Sawyer tugs on my elbow. “Come on. We can go wait in my car until he’s finished.”

Begrudgingly, I follow her lead.

“What do you think that was about?” Sawyer asks as we get back into her van.

“I honestly have no idea.”

“Maybe that’s who he gets his weed from?”

I shake my head. “Doubtful. I was with him when he used a fake ID and picked some up at a smoke shop the other night.”

Shooting my gaze up the road to where he is, I watch their exchange.

Oakley’s doing most of the talking and he’s using his hands a lot, like whatever he’s saying has him riled up.

The other guy sits stoic with a grim expression.

That is until he leans over the center console and whispers something in Oak’s ear.

Oakley nods solemnly and the hand around his steering wheel flexes then clenches before he closes his eyes.

“I wonder if…” Sawyer starts to say until she stops herself. “Never mind.”

“What?”

If Sawyer has a theory on what might be transpiring here, I’m all ears.

“Do you think maybe…” Her voice trails off and she draws in a breath. “Do you think he might be…gay?”

To say I’m thrown would be an understatement. “The guy he’s with? Or Oakley?”

She picks at her cuticles. “I don’t know...both? I’m probably wrong, but your cousin and Hayley were practically attached at the hip last year, and now it’s like she doesn’t even exist. He’s also way more stoned than he used to be…as if he’s trying to escape from whatever is bothering him.” She shrugs. “I’m probably reading too much into it.”

I think about her theory. It’s not entirely out of the question. “No. You might be onto something. I caught him watching porn once, but his eyes were closed, so he wasn’t really watching it, you know? It was basically background noise—and if my ex is anything to go on—that’s not normal for guys.” I sit up straight. “He also didn’t object to or deny the rumor Jace started about us hooking up.”

I watch as the guy gets out of Oakley’s car and jogs to another one farther down the street. Oakley watches him the whole time. Almost like he misses him already. “They had a moment before. The guy whispered something to him, and Oakley looked like whatever he said hurt.”

Sawyer’s eyes widen. “Oh my God, you’re right. Not to mention, that guy didn’t like you very much, but he relaxed when you said you were his cousin. Maybe he’s upset Oakley’s pretending to be something he’s not and he was afraid you were his new beard.” Sawyer clutches her chest. “Look—Oakley’s watching him drive off. He can’t keep his eyes off him.” She sighs. “They’re like star-crossed lovers. A modern-day Romeo and Juliet. Only…Romeo and Romeo.” Her face falls. “He’s obviously scared to come out. We have to be there for him, Dylan. He has to know he has people who will love and support him no matter what his sexuality is.”

I agree. “Yeah, definitely. I mean, we’re family.” My heart sinks. “He said something about his dad not caring about other people’s happiness the other day. Maybe he tried to tell my uncle, and he refused to support him. But he doesn’t need Wayne’s support. He has me. And you.”

Her voice wobbles. “We won’t turn our backs on him.”

We’re so wrapped up in our conversation we both jump when Oakley knocks on the window.

“You guys ready to blow this popsicle stand?”

Sawyer and I exchange a glance as we exit her van.

Then, before I can talk myself out of it. I wrap my arms around him. “I know we didn’t start off on the right foot, but I need you to know I’m here for you.”

Oakley freezes. “Uh. Thanks.”

I hug him tighter. “I mean it, Oak. We’re family. Whatever you’re going through, I’ve got your back. You’re not alone.”

Sawyer joins our group hug. “I’m here for you, too.” She points to the sky. “And so is he. God loves all his children.”

Oakley’s mouth drops open. “What the fuck are you two smoking, and can I please have some?”

“We just want you to know how much we support you,” Sawyer says before she looks at me and mouths, ‘He’s not ready yet.’

I nod. We can’t push him. He’ll come out whenever he feels the time is right.

And we’ll be here for him when he does.

Oakley clears his throat. “As nice as this little love fest is, there’s a bottle of whiskey with my name on it inside.”

His eyes are trained on me as we all break apart. “Nice shirt.”

My mind flits back to the closet and the suggestion he made about me needing to make a trip to Victoria’s Secret. Perhaps he enjoys going there himself?

“Thanks. Maybe, we can go shopping sometime?”

“Dylan,” Sawyer hisses. “Don’t stereotype him.”

Crap, she’s right. “I’m so sorry. It’s totally cool if shopping isn’t your thing. We can do whatever you want.”