Seth propped a shoulder against the wall and stared at Caid Matthews. The guy ran one of the chop shops he dropped cars at. Communication between them was supposed to be limited to transactions that involved the drop-off of vehicles. He'd arranged it that way so they weren't seen together often enough to raise eyebrows. Specifically the eyebrows of law enforcement. "Tell me why I'm here?"

"You're here because I don't like the fact you keep bringing your boyfriend around. That kid could be a problem. He's a little too squeaky clean for this business."

Seth snorted. "Zayden Walker is the last person you need to worry about. Trust me, I have him under control." He pushed away from the wall and jabbed the other man in the chest with a finger. "If you want someone to worry about then worry about me. If you don't get these parts shipped out by tomorrow I'll take it out of your ass. Do we understand each other, Caid?"

Caid took a step forward so he towered over Seth. "Maybe I should just snap your neck and be done with this entire thing."

Seth wasn't intimidated by guys whose muscles outweighed their brainpower. It was very easy to level the playing field. "You could do that but then the cops would get an anonymous tip about the chop shop operation running out of the back of your seemingly legitimate business. How do you think your old lady would feel about that, hmm? You did promise her you'd go straight, didn't you? I think it was a month or two after your daughter was born. You swore to her you'd be here to raise your child, no more crime, no more jail time. How do you feel about snapping my neck now?"

Caid took a step back, his lip curled. "You're a special kind of psycho, kid."

"Yes, I suggest you remember that next time you attempt to threaten me. Ship those parts out, we have clients waiting." He turned and left, whistling his way out to where his bike was parked. Caid was becoming a problem he might have to deal with in a rather unpleasant manner. He sighed as he swung his leg over the bike and settled into the seat. Cutting ties was always difficult, it meant he had to find a replacement. Caid was going soft, fatherhood was affecting him. Caid's time with him might be at an end. It was time he began taking a closer look at his contingency plans, time to decide what his next move and final landing place would be. It was a shame, he'd hoped to pile up more evidence against Zayden, though he supposed all the pictures he had would have to do. He grinned, it was too bad he kinda liked Zay, they made a good team, but he doubted he could turn the guy to a life of crime. Zayden was honorable, he'd never want to knowingly be a part of anything that was against the law. He was a perfect patsy, trusting, and loyal.

"And stupid," he muttered as he started the bike. "He's so desperate to be accepted he'll take it from anyone who will give it." The only person you should worry about accepting you is you. If you can't accept yourself as you are, well, then seeking acceptance from the outside world was a wasted effort. It would never be enough if you already hated yourself.

Things had worked out exceptionally well. He never expected Zay to drop Alyssa and Josh the way he had. It had worked to his advantage they were listening to everything West had to say about him, though there was a small part of him that worried about Alyssa. The bitch was nosey and she wasn't about to drop things. The fact she called him told him that. He pulled over and dug his phone from his pocket and dialed.

"It's me, I have a job for you."

"Who?"

"Her name is Alyssa Roman, I'll text you a picture. She goes to Clarke Meadows. Take her out she's becoming a problem. It had better look like an accident or you'll be next."

"Got it, boss. I'll handle it."

Seth disconnected and shoved his phone into his pocket. He hoped once Alyssa was out of the way West would back the fuck off him. If he didn't stop filling peoples' heads with stories about him, well then it was time the cops got a tip on the previous car thefts. He chuckled. Hell, if he could link West and Zay together then he could kill off two birds at once.

"Time to get home. Might as well enjoy some time with my boyfriend before it all ends." He pulled away from the side of the road. He made time for a brief stop to pick up some takeout, then went home. He pulled into the driveway and then headed inside.

Zay looked up as he came through the door.

"Honey, I'm home! I brought burgers!" he announced, holding up the take-out bag. "Hungry?"

"Starving, I was on the verge of calling to see when you were going to be home," Zay answered with a smile.

"Sorry, work was nuts tonight. I could have used you there to help out."

"I wish I could have been there but this history paper is kicking my ass. I still need another couple of pages before it's done." He rose and came to where Seth stood in the kitchen, pulled him in for a hug, and a quick kiss. "Thank you for understanding."

Seth made a low sound, dropped the bag of food onto the table, and hauled Zay roughly into his arms before he kissed him, backing him against the wall. Zay kissed him back and he pressed his advantage, pressing close, one hand in Zay's hair, the other clasped over his hip. When he lifted his head they were both breathing hard.

He grinned down at Zay. "We could skip food altogether and go straight to bed."

"Seth ..."

"Right, not ready, I know." He sighed and stepped back. He turned away and began to empty the bag of food, stacking everything on the table.

"You're mad at me," Zay said in a quiet voice.

"I'm not mad, Zay," he replied with a deep sigh.

"Yes, you are. You're pissed because I want to wait."

He threw a burger onto the table and spun to face Zay. "Yes, I'm upset. I love you, Zay, and I want to be with you!"

"This is difficult for me, you have to understand that! I've spent a lot of time denying who I am, I think my mind still needs to catch up with the fact I don't have to hide anymore. It isn't easy for me! I don't have your confidence in things, you've been out a lot longer than I have! You need to give me time."

"I'm not sure how much time I can give," he muttered as he turned back to the table.

"So what, you want to break up?"

"No, I don't ... I just ... I don't know ... I feel like you're pulling away." He turned to Zay. "Have you been talking to Alyssa and Josh or West? Is there something I need to know?"

"Seth, stop it. I'm not going to entertain their stories. I know you and West didn't part on the best of terms, that colors his assessment of you."

"What about Alyssa and Josh?"

He shrugged. "They're listening to West, their perception of you is also colored. I can only go by what I've witnessed and you haven't done anything that makes me believe you're being dishonest with me."

Seth nodded. "I want things to be easy but I suppose that's too much to wish for. It seems as if my entire life has been one struggle after another. Our house wasn't close to as nice as this one is, it was in a crap neighborhood where you were more likely to see a drug deal go down on a corner than an ice cream truck. I swore I'd find a way out, that I wasn't going to wind up some grunt in a gang or stuck in a minimum wage job because I couldn't get my ass through school."

"Yet, you ended up with Darrel."

He snorted. "Darrel and his guys are a joke compared to the hardcore assholes I grew up around. They aren't a real gang, they're a bunch of punks who think they're hot shit."

"I wouldn't know. You got away though, you've made this life for yourself."

"Yeah, I got away, but not until I was fifteen. My parents weren't stellar. My mom drank to forget she married the wrong guy, my dad screwed any woman that would have him so he could forget he was married at all. When he wasn't in prison that is. And I was lost in the mix. It came as a shock to them when I asked to be emancipated. When I also announced I was Bi, my dad didn't take it well. I ended up in the hospital with a broken arm and cracked ribs. I guess I should have thanked him for that, it cemented my case for emancipation. This here, now, this is the best my life has been. I don't want to lose it and I don't want it to end." He pressed a quick kiss to Zay's lips. "I don't want you to realize you can do much better than me."

"Seth, you are what I want and there is no one better for me. I can't change your past, I can't make your memories of that time better, but I can give you new memories to replace them."

He smiled and kissed Zay again. "Thank you for that."

"Any time, what are old ladies for?" he asked with a grin.

Seth laughed. "Let's eat, then we can watch a movie or something."

"You could help me with my history paper."

He laughed. "Yes, or I could do that, though it sounds like a lot less fun."

"Ahh, but if we get it done quickly I might be convinced to watch that prison movie you like so much."

"Come on, why don't you like it?"

He shrugged. "A little too real I guess."

"Shawshank is an epic movie." He eyed Zay. "It's better than The Proposal."

"That is a low blow. I'd rather have romance over prison any day."

Seth sighed. "How about this, we'll watch Shawshank, then The Proposal to soften the blow."

"Okay, fine that works," Zay replied and took a seat at the table. "Let's eat and get to work on my paper."

"We have epic Friday nights, don't we? History homework, prison, and then a fake wedding."

Zay snorted. "Sounds like a Friday night in your old hood."

"That's actually not far off," he answered with a laugh.