Dating Texas (Discovering Me #3)

by Ann Maree Craven

  The car pulled through the Defiance Academy gates a few minutes later and he showed his ID to the guards.

  After issuing a quick thank you, he jumped out in front of Thomas Hall and looked up at the long brick building.

  He entered through the side door and hurried down the hall to his room. The sudden urge to knock came over him. It was his own room, but still, he lifted a hand and rapped his knuckles against the door.

  No answer.

  He knocked again.

  When no one came, he slid his keycard in and turned the handle. But the room was empty.

  A defeated sigh rattled in his chest as he ordered another Uber to take him back to the hotel. He’d been so sure this was their moment, that it would happen like a movie. Diego was supposed to be in the room thinking about Killian. His eyes would light up when he saw his roommate, and they’d be pulled together like some gravitational force.

  Instead of going back to the side door, Killian made his way toward the lobby of the building, knowing the car would get him out front. He had twenty minutes to wait since they had to get through security.

  He’d almost reached the lobby when Will’s voice reached him. “Take that!” He laughed.

  Another boy’s laughter joined his as Killian reached the lounge area. Will and Diego sat on separate couches with controllers in their hands. On the TV screen, their Call of Duty characters waged war. It didn’t exactly seem like Diego’s kind of game, but he grinned at the screen.

  Will noticed Killian first. “Hey, man! Diego said you weren’t around tonight.”

  Everything Killian wanted to say to Diego flew out of his head, and he just stared at him. “I…uh…”

  Diego offered him a smile. “Is Zoey awful to share a bed with? Does she kick or something?”

  It took a moment for him to realize what Diego meant. He thought Killian returned so he could sleep in his own bed. “She’s fine.” He’d been so determined, so brave, on the way over here. He was Killian James, goalie star and NHL hopeful. He faced pucks flying at his face and boys slamming him into the ice. Talking to his roommate should have been nothing.

  Yet, it was everything.

  “I…”

  “You don’t look so good, Killer.” Will gave him a concerned look. “All this cold finally getting to the Texas boy? I swear, we don’t normally get this much snow. It’s been a weird year. Don’t hold it against us.” He laughed.

  Killian didn’t.

  “My Uber should be here.” A lie. He still had ten minutes at least, but he couldn’t stand another moment in that room with the words clogging in his throat.

  We’re just roommates and friends.

  Was Diego right? Maybe the kiss really had been just that. A simple kiss.

  Without another word, he turned on his heel and pushed through the glass double doors to the outside. He put his hands on his head as the steamy breath curled in front of his face.

  The doors opened behind him, but he didn’t turn at the sound.

  “Killian.” Diego sounded out of breath.

  “I’m fine, Diego. Go back inside. It’s cold out here.”

  “No.”

  Killian turned slowly.

  Diego hugged his arms across himself. The guy hadn’t even thought to grab his coat. Snowflakes clung to his eyelashes and melted as they dropped to his cheeks. His gaze didn’t leave Killian’s. “Something is wrong. I can tell.”

  “I’m just being stupid.”

  “The Killian James I know is never stupid. This is one time I’m not going to stop asking questions. Are you okay? Did something happen with your mom? A fight? Please, just…”

  “Just what?”

  “Talk to me. We’ve barely spoken since…the garden. I think I’ve gotten to know you pretty well by now, and I can tell when something is bothering you. Is it the kiss? I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to take advantage of your loneliness. It doesn’t have to mean anything. But, Killian, I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose our friendship.”

  Killian breathed in his words, letting them soak into every corner of his mind. His body moved before he could stop it. He closed the distance between them, crashing his frozen lips to Diego’s. Every word he couldn’t say came out in that one kiss.

  I want you.

  Thank you.

  “I can’t lose you either,” he whispered against Diego’s lips.

  Warmth snaked through him as Diego threaded his arms around Killian’s back. “Killian,” he whispered, the volume fitting in the night.

  “Yeah?”

  “You realize I’m a guy, right?”

  Killian snorted. “How are you one of the only people at this school who doesn’t know I’m gay?”

  Diego’s cheeks flushed. “Oh.”

  “Yeah, oh.” He pressed his forehead against Diego’s. “Just so there’s no miscommunication this time, I want to date you, Diego Jackson.”

  Diego’s lips curled up. “We kind of skipped to the living together part already.”

  Killian kissed him again. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “Only if you kiss me again.”

  “That can be arranged.”

  Killian woke up the next morning with a smile on his face. Rory curled into his side. Sometime around midnight he’d forced Zoey to switch with her, because Diego was right. Zoey kicked.

  Rory, on the other hand, was a snuggler.

  “Merry Christmas,” Killian whispered into her hair.

  Before coming to Defiance Academy, Christmas was a day they spent without their mom. Killian would wake up and cook eggs and bacon for his sisters before the three of them spent the day in their pajamas watching movies and eating candy he’d hidden away for them.

  Rory stirred, turning her face to gaze up at him. “You’re a good snuggler, Kills.”

  He grinned. “Back atcha.” He dug his fingers into her sides and she squealed with laughter.

  A knock sounded on the door. Killian’s mom exited the bathroom, freshly showered and clothed. She pulled open the door. “Diego!” Yanking him into the room, she gave him the kind of hug Killian knew could cure anything.

  And Diego hugged her back almost as if she were his own mom.

  “Who’s here,” Zoey grumbled without opening her eyes.

  “Don’t worry about it, Zoe. It’s just my boyfriend.” He liked the way the word rolled off his tongue. When he looked around at his family, they all stared at him. Even Zoey sat up.

  “Yes!” She jumped from her bed, landing next to Killian and Rory, almost on top of them.

  As she rolled around with Rory, Killian lifted his eyes to Diego’s and grinned.

  Yep, boyfriend sounded damn good.

  20

  Diego

  “Yes!” Diego kicked back from his desk and pumped his fist in the air.

  “Wha-what’s happening?” Killian sat straight up in his bed, rubbing his eyes.

  “I’m so sorry.” Diego slapped his forehead. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “I take it something good happened? What time is it?”

  “Yes, and it’s three o’clock.” Diego couldn’t contain his grin. “I just ran my first successful simulation of the game—the first ten levels—with zero errors. Peyton’s right, we’ll have this thing in beta by spring break.”

  “That’s awesome, babe.” Killian flopped back onto his pillow.

  Diego crossed the room to his boyfriend’s bed and crept in beside him. “Snuggle me. Just for a minute.”

  “Snuggle you? What are you, five?” Killian’s arms slid around him, pulling him against his chest. Diego nestled against his shoulder, unable to remember ever being this happy. He didn’t want it to end, but everyone would be returning to campus over the next two days, and he wondered how that would affect their tentative new relationship. Neither of them wanted to be split up and given a new roommate mid-year. So, they had to keep this a secret from everyone except their closest friends.

  Diego worried how th
at might change things for them. Would Killian really want to be seen with him? He was one of the most popular guys in school even though he kept everyone at arm's length. Everyone wanted to know the hot hockey star from Texas—especially the girls. He still couldn’t believe his good fortune.

  “Stop thinking so hard,” Killian muttered in his ear.

  “Wake up, babe.” Warm kisses trailed down Diego’s cheek.

  “Ugh, what time is it?” Diego rolled over, vaguely aware that he’d fallen asleep in Killian’s bed.

  “It’s eight. Let’s go for a ride and then get breakfast.” Killian was far too chipper for Diego’s paltry five hours of sleep. And he was already up and dressed.

  “Ride?” He propped up on his elbows. “You mean of the four-legged sort? Are you nuts? That horse hates me.”

  “We’ll just take Yara out, and you can ride with me.”

  “Like last time?”

  “Yeah.”

  Diego nodded, rubbing his eyes. “Okay, that was my favorite part.”

  “Mine too.” Killian grinned, hopping up from the bed. “Get dressed. I’ll get you an energy drink.”

  Diego couldn’t help his smile. Killian James was the sweetest boyfriend ever.

  The campus was still deserted as they walked hand in hand down to the stables. That would quickly change by the afternoon. School started back up on Monday, and Diego’s intense course schedule would suck up as much of his time as hockey did for Killian.

  “You sure it’s okay for both of us to ride her?” Diego studied the mild-tempered horse. “We’re not too heavy?”

  “No, Yara is a strong young horse. She can handle our weight and then some.” Killian pulled himself up into her saddle. “Come on, Diego. I have something to show you.” He held his hand out. “I promise this day will not end with another bruise.”

  “Don’t be so sure about that.” Diego took his hand and pulled himself up in front of Killian.

  “We didn’t make it all the way to the lake last time. There’s an old chapel out there I thought you might like to see. It looks like part of the old campus.”

  “Really?” Diego perked up. “I read something about a campus chapel in an old book I found in the library. It was supposedly destroyed in a fire seventy years ago.”

  “Let’s go check it out.” Killian made a noise to urge Yara out of the stables. They cantered along the trail into the woods.

  Diego clutched the saddle horn in front of him trying to remember to sway with the horse’s movements like Killian taught him.

  “Hold on to my hands and lean into me, babe. I won’t let you fall.” Killian’s arms settled firmly around him. Diego did as he said, relaxing into Killian’s embrace.

  “That’s better.” Killian chuckled, his breath warm in his ear.

  “I’ve never even heard mention of a lake on the school grounds. How did you find it?”

  “I spent a lot of time my first year here exploring the woods and trails. Anything that got me away from the main campus and all the people. I stumbled onto it my second semester. It’s a great spot. Mostly because no one ever comes here.”

  “Not even the rowing team?”

  “I guess they prefer the river. Look through there.” Killian pointed through the trees.

  The sparkling water glinted in the sunlight. It was beautiful—and not a small lake by any means. Thin layers of ice floated on the surface, but it wasn’t cold enough for the lake to freeze solid.

  “Too bad you can’t come skate here. It’s so peaceful.”

  “Even if there was enough ice to skate on, my mother would kill me for trying it.” Killian held him tighter. “You warm enough?”

  Diego nodded. “I love your mom. She’s amazing.”

  “She’s the best. And she loves you.”

  “Does she?” That surprised Diego. Weren’t moms supposed to hate their sons’ boyfriends?

  “How can she not? And I swear my sisters like you better than me.”

  “That’s not possible, they adore you.”

  “Did you call your grandmother, Diego?”

  “I did.” He’d been putting it off all week after talking to her on Christmas day.

  “And?”

  “It went well. Grandma’s always easy to talk to.”

  “So?” Killian squeezed him around the middle.

  Diego smiled. “I have to talk to Dad first, but I’m going to spend the summer with her in Venezuela.” He was terrified of spending that much time with his mother’s family, but it was something he should have done years ago. “I know you’ll want to spend your summer with your family, but would you…come with me for the first week or two? I need a translator.” His shoulders slumped. That he couldn’t speak his mother’s language had been a sore spot for Diego most of his life—and it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Every time he tried, it just made him miss his mother more so he avoided studying.

  “I’ll teach you. Summer is months away so you’ll be able to speak for yourself in most things. But I’d love to meet your grandmother. She sounds feisty. And I’m not going to say no to a free trip to Venezuela with my boyfriend.” Diego could hear the smile in his voice, and it meant the world to him. Killian didn’t like other people paying for things like plane tickets, so it was a big deal that he agreed to go.

  “There’s the chapel.” Diego pointed down the trail. They’d circled to the far side of the lake where an overgrown gothic chapel sat among the forest. “It’s the same as the picture from the book I was telling you about.” Diego couldn’t wait to explore.

  “Someone’s been taking care of it.” Killian slid down from Yara’s back, reaching up to help Diego down. “It’s overgrown, like someone wants it to look neglected, but it’s not boarded up like the other buildings from the old campus.”

  Diego walked around the tiny chapel, snapping pictures with his phone. “Look, look, look!” Diego grabbed Killian’s hand, pointing at the stone walls around the base of the building. “There was a fire. See the stones are all black with soot.”

  Killian crouched down by the cornerstone. “This says it was built in 1894 as the heart of the Defiance Academy campus.

  “Really?” Diego crouched down beside him. “In the book on the original school, the chapel sat at the center of the other buildings.” He traced his fingertips over the cornerstone.

  “It’s like they moved it here and rebuilt it brick by brick.” Killian stood, frowning. “That’s weird.”

  Diego scrambled around to the rear of the building where vines snaked up the walls. “Oh my God. You found it, Killian.”

  “What?” Killian stood behind him.

  “The hybrid rose.” Diego pointed to the silvery-purple blooms among the vines.

  “The one you told me about in the garden?”

  “It doesn’t have thorns.” Diego ran his fingers over the vines. “It’s the secret society rose.”

  “Are you saying we just found the headquarters of the Defiance Academy secret society?” Killian stared up at the stained-galss rose window above them. The sterling rose motif shone down on them in the sunlight.

  “It’s real,” Diego breathed a sigh of satisfaction. “I’m not crazy.” He jumped up and down. “I knew it!” Diego flung his arms around Killian and kissed him.

  “What was that for?” Killian pulled away a moment later.

  “For bringing me here. They may not want me as a member, but just knowing it’s real—or was real at some point in the past—makes me so happy.”

  “Well, I want you, and that makes me happy.” Killian pulled him back into his arms.

  Diego’s stomach chose that moment to remind them he hadn’t had breakfast yet.

  “Let’s go get you some food, babe. We can come back here anytime. We’ll make it our secret spot.” His lips trailed across Diego’s briefly before Killian dragged him back to Yara’s side.

  The cafeteria had filled up with returning students while Diego and Killian were out with Yara. It still wasn
’t at full capacity, but their world would return to normal by the following day.

  “I’m kind of sad Christmas break is over. Now, I have to share you with people.” Killian sighed as they made their way through the line, grabbing a late breakfast.

  “Diego!” Will and Kenny waved them over to their table with Wylder and a few of Killian’s teammates.

  “I swear my friends like you better than me.” Killian grinned, reaching to grab Diego’s hand, and then he remembered they weren’t supposed to do that openly.

  “He’s a lot more fun than you, Killer.” Wylder patted the seat beside her. “How’s the app going, Diego?”

  “Really good. I have a working simulation, but now that school is back in session, I won’t have as much time to work on it. But most of the hard stuff is done thanks to you and Peyton.”

  “Anytime you need anything crafty done, I’m your girl. Leave the computer crap to Peyton, though.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of asking you to code anything.”

  Killian laughed and patted him on the back, scooting his chair a little closer.

  “Is this a thing?” Wylder’s eyes grew wide. “Please tell me you two finally figured it out?”

  “Yes, it’s a thing, but keep your voice down,” Diego whispered. “We’d like to stay roommates.”

  “Oh!” Wylder grinned. “I gotcha.”

  “Not like that, Wylds.” Killian shoved her.

  “Like what?” Diego asked, glancing from his boyfriend to Wylder.

  Wylder’s eyebrows danced as she made rude noises with her mouth.

  “Don’t listen to her, babe.”

  “You’re Killian James, right?” A student Diego had never seen before interrupted them.

  “Yeah, who’s asking?”

  “I just came from the headmistress’s office. She wants to see you, Diego Jackson, Will, and Kenny. Like now.”

  “What’d we do?” Will asked, his mouth full of pancakes.

  “Maybe something to do with hockey?” Kenny asked.

  “She wants to see Diego too, so that can’t be it,” Killian added. “We’d better go see what’s up.” He threw his napkin down.