Read Online M/M- Ripped (Boys Of Summer) by Mia Downing - Free Book Online Page B

back to the second he realized it was Erik in the water. He’d functioned on sheer rote from that moment on, because his instinct had wanted him to do everything wrong. “Why didn’t you call for help?”
     
    “Dunno.”
     
    “Why did you go in? Didn’t you see the red flags?” He hadn’t warned Erik, now that he thought of it. Everyone else at the party knew the water wasn’t safe, but he couldn’t remember telling Erik not to go.
     
    “No.” Erik struggled to sit up, but the EMT shoved him back down. “Jillian’s shovel got swept out.”
     
    Erik would do anything for his niece. “She asked you to get it?”
     
    “Yeah. Didn’t know.”
     
    “Don’t do it again,” he whispered, choked up like a freaking girl. Even Aunt Gertie hadn’t cried when he dragged Erik in. They didn’t usually get rip currents on their little beach, but with the massive storm brewing off shore, it wasn’t surprising.
     
    “Won’t.” Erik sighed and held out his hand. “Hold.”
     
    Gavin hesitated, glanced at the EMT now on the radio. What the hell. He’d almost lost Erik today. He’d be damned if he missed out on anything with him. He slipped his hand into Erik’s and squeezed. Hard.
     
    “Thought I was dead,” Erik whispered.
     
    “You and me both.” He’d never forget the pit in his stomach when Erik’s head had disappeared under the waves that last time, taking so agonizingly long to surface. So close to dying. So close to kissing Erik in a way he never, ever wanted to kiss him. “Don’t do it again.”
     
    “Won’t. Thanks,” he mumbled and drifted off to sleep again, inhaling that Colorado goodness.
     
    Gavin squeezed his hand again, taking in the pale, quiet face he loved so much. Earlier in the day, Erik’s mom had hinted he was going somewhere. Leaving. No way in hell that was happening. Not now, after almost losing for him forever. Gavin closed his eyes, concentrating on the feel of that hand in his, the skin warm and still wrinkled from the water. He loved Erik. Heart, soul, more than anything, yet the negative words in his brain swirled, reminding him he was worthless. Gavin didn’t deserve Erik’s love.
     
    Gavin shook his head. Fuck, it was hard, battling the shit in his head. He felt ripped and torn, his soul battered, yet somehow, Erik always knew how to pull those seams together and make him whole. He’d never be what Erik needed. His friend deserved better.
     
    Yet he couldn’t help think of the end of his fantasy, when Erik lay in his arms. What would he give for that ending?
     
    Gavin swallowed and brushed Erik’s hair from his face again. He’d give…anything.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Two days later, Erik sat on the picnic table under the pavilion, watching Gavin lord over the minions. It was almost the end of the day, still hotter than hell, and Gavin looked mighty fine. He’d worked up a sweat under the beating rays, his chest bare and glistening, his eyes shaded with those aviator glasses Erik liked so much.
     
    He hadn’t seen Gavin since the hospital. Gavin had called the house, left several messages saying he was thinking of Erik but didn’t stop by. He did text a few times, too, but refused to come over. Erik got it, though.
     
    Everyone had touted Gavin as a hero, and it made Gavin uncomfortable. He’d done his job and, though Erik was grateful as hell, he understood where Gavin sat on this issue without even discussing it. Saving Erik fell under the same umbrella as protecting him from jocks or whatever, and Gavin would do that in a heartbeat, no thanks ever needed. But a part of Erik wondered if Gavin punished himself for saving Erik when he should have saved his sister, too.
     
    Gavin was definitely on firm footing now, seated on his throne of white, his sharp gaze searching the relatively calm water. It was the first day Erik had been allowed out of the house, and he felt stupid spending it here, in the pavilion. Why not walk over to him? Why not just