Crown of Blooms by R.C. Dickens

Author:R.C. Dickens [Dickens, R.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rayanna Christian
Published: 2024-05-07T22:00:00+00:00

Memories flooded in the moment Kayden opened his eyes, cementing that the previous day had, in fact, happened and hadn’t just been an anxiety dream. If you feel different in the morning… Kayden rolled tightly into a ball, closing his eyes though he knew there was little chance of falling back asleep. He knew the right thing to do, at least how to start. Stop talking to Alex entirely, pray and hope that Alex really was the source of all his sinful inclinations. But that wasn’t what had been asked of him. He rolled over and grabbed his phone. There were no new texts and so he found himself scrolling through the archives of their old conversations, the times Alex had sent him paragraphs about his dreams and aspirations, had replied to all of Kayden’s self-deprecation with a compliment and called him an idiot, reminding himself between every sentence that Alex was gay. These were the words of someone sick and immoral so why didn’t they read that way? Why were they still so warm and sweet?

If he suddenly stopped hanging out with Alex, everyone would ask questions and when he eventually caved, it would prove disastrous for the both of them. It was best to maintain the status quo until he had a plan.

That was how Kayden justified his actions as he sent a text.

‘Do you wanna work on the portrait today?’

After the first minute with no reply, Kayden rolled over and pulled the covers over his head. It was a stupid thought anyway, that Alex was waiting for his response with bated breath. He had just begun to relax back into his mattress when his phone vibrated in his hands, making him yelp as he fumbled to open the message.

‘Parents aren’t home. Can I pick you up now?’

Kayden’s body felt less heavy. He kicked off his blankets and responded ‘Ready in 10’ before tossing his phone back on his bed and rushing to get dressed.

Once he’d thrown on something clean and vaguely matching, Kayden scurried down the stairs, past his mother who turned off the vacuum when he passed by. “Someone’s awake.”

“I’m hanging out with Alex today,” Kayden mumbled, searching through the pantry for something quick to eat. When he whirled around with a granola bar in hand, Mom was standing right behind him, hands on her hips, glaring at him with her head cocked to the side.

“You askin’ or tellin’?”

Kayden scoffed. “We’ve hung out every day for weeks and I haven’t missed anything important or any of my chores.”

“Watch your tone.”

It was almost comical when his mother tried to scold him. Sure it hurt; her brand of disappointment could seep to the bone, but that was the only weapon she had at her disposal. She had to understand it was nothing compared to the man they all answered to. Maybe if she had any idea what his past twenty-four hours had been like, what his past month had been like, she’d be more sympathetic to his attitude.

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