Josiah tried to wrap an arm around him to help but Mateo shook him off. “I’m okay. Gotta try and look like I’m not hurt, okay? We don’t want to call attention to ourselves. Just walk slow. We’re gonna go to the gas station.”

Josiah nodded, his eyes toward the ground. Mateo fucking hated that. Hated that he’d scared Jay. But he also didn’t want to risk any trouble.

It took a long time to get to the gas station. Mateo felt like a punching bag, his whole upper body aching. His stomach cramped for a whole different reason and he hated it. When they got to the building, he leaned against the wall. “How does my face look?” he asked.

Josiah still didn’t look at him. “There’s a bruise on the side of your head.”

He nodded. “Do you have any money left?” Another nod. “Can you go inside for me? See if they have any kinda hat or some shit. Whatever you can find. And grab the key to the bathroom.”

He was jittery the whole time Josiah was gone. His body didn’t want to stop moving, but every time he moved, he hurt. Molly and William were so good. He knew they wouldn’t be down with fighting. And even if they did believe it wasn’t his fault, they’d want to bring him to the doctor and call the police—all the shit Teo couldn’t deal with.

Josiah came back a few minutes later. “They only had a beanie.”

He nodded and took it from Josiah. “Come in the bathroom with me.” There was no way he’d let Josiah stand out here alone. It was one thing to go into the gas station with Mateo waiting right outside. That was all he’d risk.

The bathroom was on the side of the building. Josiah opened the door for them. As soon as he did, Mateo ran into the stall and emptied his stomach. He cramped as he puked, wishing like hell Josiah wasn’t out there hearing.

“Teo? Are...are you okay?”

The first thought that hit him was that was the first time Josiah had called him anything other than Mateo. Before he could speak, another wave of nausea hit him and he puked some more. He hated this shit. Despised the fact that he got sick all the time like a fucking pussy.

When nothing else would come up, Mateo struggled to his feet and flushed the toilet. Josiah grabbed ahold of his arm and helped him to the sink, where Mateo rinsed his mouth out. He threw water on his face. “Can you clean the back of my head for me?”

Josiah nodded before wetting paper towels. His head stung like hell with every touch. When he finished, Teo grabbed the beanie from Josiah and pushed it down on his head.

He knew their time was running short before Molly would be there to pick them up. “We need to hurry and go meet Molly. Remember, you promised you wouldn’t say anything.”

“I don’t want to be quiet if you could be hurt!” Josiah’s voice rose. “They slammed your head into the wall.”

Mateo sighed. “I’m trouble, Jay. They know that.” They’ll send me away from you.

“No they don’t. They care about you.”

He’d give anything to be that innocent. It was such a precious fucking gift. “Maybe they do in their own way, but they know I don’t belong with you guys just as much as I do. I don’t want them to send me away. They’re not gonna want me to cause problems for you. Fuck, they’re probably right, but—”

“No. You’re the only person who’s always been there for me. I’d make sure they knew that.”

Mateo shrugged. “Maybe, but I don’t wanna risk it, okay? Just trust me. Everyone has their price. Even when people don’t look like it, they’re out for themselves. We gotta be smart. If she says anything, I’m gonna say I don’t feel good. When we get home, don’t come right back to the room with me, okay? Eat dinner with them or whatever the fuck else. I’ll be okay. But if she wants to check on me, you do it. Can you do that for me, Jay?”

When Josiah nodded, Mateo licked his lips, wishing like hell that he could kiss him. Since he just puked his guts up, he didn’t figure that was such a good idea.

The walk back to where they were supposed to meet Molly was killer. It hurt to breathe. Just like his dad had taught him, Mateo didn’t let the pain show, shoved it to the side because he had more important things to deal with right now.

When Molly’s white Toyota pulled up to the curb, Mateo forced himself to smile at her. His head fucking killed him. He held his breath as he opened the door and slid into the backseat.

“Did you guys have fun?” she asked once Mateo and Josiah were both in the car.

“Yep. Got some shorts. I’m not feelin’ too hot, though.”