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Mateo got all the way to the door when her voice stopped hiain Maybe we can help each other"

"Yeahyeah, that’d be good," he told her, without pause Mateo said goodbye He went up another floor, to the first of the two apartments that would be theirs The door was cracked open Teo pushed it farther to see both Tristan and Josiah standing together in front of a large , looking out Their shoulders touched, no space between them--Tristan in those suits he alore and Jay in faded jeans and a long-sleeved shirt Tall buildings showed in the distance, and the water that Josiah loved so fucking h the backpack he carried, Teo pulled his cah the lense He snapped one picture and then another before bothJay smile and Tristan shake his head

One way or another, he’d deserve them There wasn’t another option

CHAPTER SEVEN

Josiah

Teo walked toward them, his steps more timid than Josiah had ever seen from him No matter what Mateo felt inside, he always played it off well on the outside Josiah could sometimes see it, but it was always behind a veil of mock confidence In this moment, he didn’t even try to hide the insecurity inside hih someone ran a cold ice cube up his spine Tristan must have seen the look, too, because he took a step forward and said, "What is it?"

"Nothin’" Teo shook his head

"Are we really going to play that gah?" Tristan replied, but Josiah knehat Teo meant because he saw it in him Yes, he was unsure and vulnerable, but like the sun breaking through slats in blinds, he saw so, only stopping when he stood in front of them Josiah felt the sun on his back from theit reflect in Teo’s dark eyes

"What is it?" Josiah asked hi in return But then, Teo opened his ue to keep fro better Both of thenext to him were flawed, imperfect and broken, but they were also beautiful and honorable All he wanted was for theo of the past and be happy, not change who they were That was his hope and his goal for the the what they needed

"Better than what?" Tristan shook his head "If this is about the apartht not want to see it but it’s true, mi pieza perdida It’s shitty that we have to move because of my sins It’s shitty that I have to ride a fuckin’ elevator in the building you work, but I’ to see my PO I’m just sayin’fuck, I just want to be better than that I wanna be who you guys deserve"