The Christmas Throwaway by RJ Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

were none, it was time to leave. As they neared the front door, Ben stopped Zach with a touch to his arm. "I'm sorry your parents are idiots," he offered, not entirely sure how to word it, watching carefully as Zach shrugged. "Maybe they weren't as bad as you thought?"
    Maybe they could redeem themselves when they realized what they lost?

    Zach didn't know what to say. How could he
    explain? How could he even word it to make Ben
    understand that his father had literally changed the locks and disowned him, left him with just the money he had from his last birthday. How would Ben ever begin to comprehend the level of hatred in Zach's house? He stared blankly at the man. Maybe Ben was right; maybe he was over-exaggerating. Maybe, if he thought about it, there had been love, or affection, or anything apart from blind obedience, maybe, just maybe, they hadn't tried to beat his 66
    The Christmas Throwaway
    RJ Scott

    feelings out of him.
    Sighing, his head suddenly very clear, he turned his back to Ben. He removed his jacket, lifted his sweater and t-shirt, and exposed half his back, knowing what was there.
    He heard Ben's indrawn breath, the sudden intake of air that indicated shock, but he didn't drop the shirt, just let Ben look. He knew what Ben saw; he had seen it himself in mirrors — scars from the stick his father had used, crossing scars from the belt. Almost all healed, almost all—
    Ben caught Zach's hand, pulling it so the clothes dropped back in place, and then using it to turn him around to face him. Zach wouldn't look him in the eyes, shame washing his skin red that Ben had seen the evidence of sin on his body. He startled suddenly when Ben simply placed a finger under his chin and encouraged him to look up. He couldn't do it, and he shut his eyes tight. He couldn't look at Ben, didn't want to see the disgust that he had let this happen, that he was marked for his evil.
    "I could kill them for what they've done to you,"
    Ben said softly.
    Zach opened his eyes, confusion washing over him.
    Ben surely wouldn't kill, but what he saw in Ben's face was scary, really, really, damn scary. Zach tried to pull back, abruptly very uncomfortable with the intense emotion on 67
    The Christmas Throwaway
    RJ Scott

    this cop's face. "You— you can't…" he said quickly, watching as Ben's face changed from intense to soft in the space of a single heartbeat.
    "I know, but I want to hurt someone back."
    Zach felt the wall behind him, and the radiator
    touching his legs, the warmth nice against the chill of the air, and he wanted to cry. Someone was looking at him with such naked support. Someone believed him. The moment was frozen, Ben moving slowly closer, until only inches separated them, and Zach could see Ben's eyes were actually a mix of stormy gray and sapphire blue, intriguing, stunningly beautiful. He wanted Ben to kiss him,
    desperately, as much as he needed his next breath.
    Instead, Ben just pulled him in for another of his bear hugs, patting his back carefully and stepping away with a thoughtful look on his face.
    "C'mon, let's go enjoy Christmas for a couple of hours."
    Zach felt a mix of disappointment and fear, and it scared him how much he wanted to kiss Ben, and how much he didn't want to face the family for Christmas at all.
    Sighing, he trailed after Ben, back to the
    unrealistically happy household, with its sparkle and fire and its uncanny ability to make him wish for things he 68
    The Christmas Throwaway
    RJ Scott

    could never have.

    69
    The Christmas Throwaway
    RJ Scott

Chapter 6
    Zach noticeably didn't know where to start. He was faced with an array of bowls full to the brim with buttery carrots and fresh baby peas and platters with piles of turkey and bacon. Instead he sat back, waiting for others to enquire if he wanted the food, and then taking similar amounts to what they had until his plate had no plate showing and gravy was touching the edges. Ben was pleased to then see the teenager virtually inhale