Dark Across the Bay by Ania Ahlborn

Author:Ania Ahlborn [Ahlborn, Ania]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-06T16:00:00+00:00

LEO

After Felix’s appearance at the hospital, he and Leo didn’t remain strangers for long.

While Leo had given up his post next to Julien’s bed, it only took him a day to find himself back in that room. He had half-convinced himself that Felix would be gone by the time he got back but, surprisingly, Felix was still there, still sitting in the corner of that ugly vinyl hospital couch; present despite his attention being fixed on his phone, despite being absent for the majority of Julien’s life, despite not giving a shit until then.

Spotting Felix upon that hospital couch, Leo hesitated at Julien’s door, unsure whether to enter or vanish again. There was a chance Felix was camping out for a few days, using the free Wi-Fi. Mrs. Bellamy was nowhere to be found, and sharing the same space with Felix felt volatile, unsafe. But before Leo could back away from the door, Felix broke the tension. Glancing up from the blue glow of his cell, he gave a casual wave for Leo to come in. Leo forced an awkward smile and crossed the threshold, then shuffled to his usual chair.

“Cool nose ring,” Felix said, and for a moment Leo almost laughed. It was the type of ice breaker you’d read about in GQ or Men’s Health. Lead with a compliment. Butter them up.

“Yeah,” Leo said, unsure of how else to respond. “Thanks.”

“They let you go to school with that thing, or did you get it after graduation?”

“They let me.” Leo shrugged.

“No shit?” Felix smirked. “I don’t remember them being that lenient when I was there.” His gaze momentarily drifted back to his phone, then up to Leo again. “But that was a while ago, so…” Felix mimicked Leo’s shrug. “Times change, I guess.”

It was easy to forget the age difference between the Bellamy brothers. Felix was never there, so the generational gap wasn’t felt, but thirteen years was a big difference. It was enough time for one person to grow up while the other remained a child; for one to become a criminal while the other rushed toward a bright and hopeful future.

“What about your folks?” Felix asked, quirking an eyebrow. “They hit the roof?”

Leo frowned down at his hands, which rested in his lap. He wasn’t the type to chitchat, and he certainly wasn’t up to the task with the hiss of Julien’s ventilator acting as a soundtrack.

“Yeah,” Felix said after a moment. “I bet.” And then, “So, what happened?”

“Um, my mom…yeah, she freaked out–”

“No,” Felix cut him off, then nodded toward his brother. “To Julien,” he said, and as he waited for Leo’s response, Leo couldn’t shake the oddly expectant expression that had settled into the contours of Felix’s face. It was as though there was a correct reply. Felix was simply waiting to hear it. But Leo didn’t know the answer to that question, so he simply shook his head in the negative and looked away from Felix’s narrowed gaze.

“I don’t know,” Leo murmured. “They say

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