Aftermath by Bailey Bradford (best non fiction books to read txt) š
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- Author: Bailey Bradford
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Then he thought of Darren as Lee had last seen him and Leeās erection began going soft immediately. Heād thought Darren might have felt guilty for not being there when Stefan had died, that maybe that was why Darren had left Jackson right after Stefanās funeral. Darren probably thought Stefan would still be alive if Darren had been there, and maybe he would, but Lee doubted it. Stefanās last letter had hinted that heād made a new friend and felt bad about spending less time with Darren.
Lee wanted to know who that new friend had been and whether heāwhich was about all Lee knew about the mysterious friend, that he was maleāknew anything about Stefanās death. And whether itād been an accident or not, because while it was true enough that Stefan had fallen into Mercerās Ravine, it was equally true that Stefan had confided his fear of heights to Lee more than onceāand probably to Darren as well. So why would Stefan have been anywhere near such a steep drop? Would Darren know, or had Stefan and Darrenās friendship already become distanced by whatever secret friend Stefan had made?
Lee needed to know because not knowing was driving him insane. The idea that someone could have killed Stefan and got away with it wouldnāt leave him alone, hadnāt since Lee had learned of the manner of Stefanās death. Darren was the last possible lead Lee could think of, since the people heād asked in Jackson all claimed Darren was Stefanās only friend. Lee knew different, but heād kept Stefanās last confidences to himself.
Stefan didnāt know what heād missed, but something seemed to have happened. Darren had hickeys on his neckāStefan knew what those were, heād had one himself before he died, but he didnāt like to think about how that mark had ended up on him. He wished someone had noticed, though, once his body had been found. Maybe they had and just thought it was a bruise. Heād hit the bottom of the ravine really hard.
Lee mumbled something and Stefan focused on his brother, lying on the bed wearing nothing but a towel and a scowl. Stefan thought it was kind of funny, not just because it rhymed, but because Lee was fixing to find himself with company. Well, other company. It wasnāt like Lee knew Stefan was here. Stefan wished he did. He wished he could hug Lee and Darren both, tell them he was sorry for hurting them because he had been keeping a secret that had got him killed.
A knock on the door startled Lee. Stefan had known it was coming. Should he stay? He wanted to know what his two favorite people were going to talk about, but when Lee walked over and opened the door, the towel riding low on his hips even though he held it with his hand, Darrenās expression did funny things to Stefan. He knew that look on Darrenās faceāStefan had often stared at his best friend like that when he knew Darren wasnāt watching him. Then Stefan had looked at someone else, maybe not exactly like that, butā¦ Look how that had ended.
But Lee wouldnāt hurt Darren, not ever, and Darren was probably the best person Stefan had ever known. Still, he wasnāt sure what to do. Stefanās agitation increased as the two men stared at each other. The curtains fluttered and one of the chairs at the small table tipped backwards, and Lee and Darren both jumped, Darren saying something as he stepped inside to stare at the mess Stefan had accidentally made.
He should go, definitely. What if he got upset and something flew and hit Lee or Darren? He could hurt them and heād never want to do that. Some of the others like him had been working with himāonce heād quit freaking out when they tried to talk to himāand tried to show him how to control the weird stuff he could make happen. It wasnāt bad when he wanted it to happen, like trying to get attention by slamming Darrenās door. Well, that hadnāt turned out so well, so maybe he needed to learn how to control himself as well asā¦whatever it was he could do.
Maybe that was what Conner had been trying to tell him. Stefan hadnāt understood all the talk about āactions reflecting emotionsā, but now he thought he might. With one last look at the two men whoād loved him, Stefan floated away to find his new friend Conner.
āWhat happened?ā Darren stepped inside and stared at the chair. āHowād that get knocked over?ā Heād gone stupid with lust when Lee had opened the door wearing nothing but a towel, but seeing the curtains whip out until they were parallel with the floor had started to douse the desire. The chair shooting backwards before slamming onto its back had replaced the arousal with something very close to fear.
Darren glanced at Lee and didnāt feel any better. His tanned skin was nearly as white as Darrenās. Darrenās fear from the creepy event transferred to Lee. He cautiously put his hand on Leeās biceps. The muscle was hard as a rock and the skin covering it felt chilled under Darrenās palm.
āLee?ā
Lee shook his head as if clearing his thoughts then looked at Darren. āI donāt know what that was. I keep trying to convince myself a mouse tipped the chair over, but that doesnāt explain how the chair flew back a good six feet first, or why the curtains did that weird shit.ā
Darren bet Severo could explain it, which was a scary thought. There had to be more than a little truth to the rumors claiming Severo talked with spirits. Darren might have shrugged it off before, but believing in spirits wasnāt so difficult after
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