Behind the Tears (Behind the Lives) Read Online Free Page A

hurt. He’d felt nothing but rage at what his stepfather had done to Ash. But as he neared his new home, his sanctuary away from Ash, the bashing his brother had inflicted upon him filtered back in, making him feel like he shouldn’t give the bastard any sympathy. But how could he not?
    Sledge removed his helmet and got off the motorbike, trying to pretend that everything was alright, that he wasn’t hurting inside. His mate didn’t need to know, Corey had enough of his own problems to contend with. Corey walked towards him, self-consciously tugging at his beanie as though the wind was going to whip it away. Due to chemotherapy, Corey rarely took it off, too embarrassed over his hair falling out.
    A smirk spread across Corey’s face. “You look like a gay dude’s wet dream in those leathers.”
    Not in the mood for Corey’s smart-mouth, Sledge flicked him the finger.
    “ Sheesh, what got stuck up your arse?”
    “An annoying li’l shit called Corey.”
    Corey laughed. “I knew you dreamt about my cock.”
    Resisting the urge to punch Corey, Sledge stalked past his mate. He headed towards the weather-beaten bungalow. After the big fight with Ash, he’d decided to flat with his twin sister and the Connor brothers. They’d found a cheap rental in Claydon backing onto the beach. It was pretty run-down, a skeleton of a place that should’ve been demolished years ago, but the view of Manukau Harbour and the smell of salt air made it worth his dole money.
    Corey followed him, singing, “Macho, macho man...” then ran in front of Sledge, his grin still firmly set in place. “Didja go to the YMCA?”
    “Stop being a cunt.”
    “Nope, I don’t have one of those. So, where ja go?”
    “None of your business.”
    Corey stopped suddenly, almost causing Sledge to bang into him, the worry in his mate’s hazel eyes replacing the humour that had been there a few seconds ago. “You better not have gone to Stella’s house again,” Corey said, sounding sulky. “You promised.”
    Sledge sidestepped him and climbed the steps to the front porch, muttering, “I didn’t, and I don’t even remember goin’ to her place, so lay offa me.” He knew it was a lame excuse, but he’d been upset over his grandmother dying and had gone to the pub by himself, wanting to get so blotto he wouldn’t remember a thing. And it played out that way, until Stella woke him up the next morning, her means of rousing him definitely memorable. He wondered why Tama thought the chick was a lousy lay, because he sure as fuck didn’t think so. Just thinking about what she’d done to him made his balls tingle, and if she hadn’t caused so much trouble for his mates, he probably would’ve hooked up with her again. Yeah, he most definitely would’ve, he liked skinny chicks—a lot.
    “You’re just like Dante—a slut,” Corey said, snapping Sledge’s attention back to him.
    “You cheeky li’l bastard, don’t you dare call Dante that—or me.”
    Corey crossed his arms over his chest and stuck his chin up, looking like his older sister when she got mad, although Corey was a much shorter and paler version of Beth. “If the condom fits, wear it.”
    “I don’t sleep with that many chicks, and if I did, so what? There’s nuthin’ wrong with sex. It’s you religious types who have a problem with it, slut-shaming people who enjoy what your so-called God gave them.”
    “I’m not religious and I have no probs with sex.”
    Sledge walked down the steps and flicked the cross on Corey’s chest. “Not religious, eh?”
    Corey looked sullen. “It’s not like I go to church anymore, they don’t like my type there. Apparently, I should burn in hell for what I am.”
    “Cos you’re a druggie?”
    “Are you naturally stupid or do ya hafta work at it?”
    Sledge closed his eyes and breathed in, then slowly exhaled. He’d rather run full pelt into a brick wall than lash out at his mate. Once calm enough, he re-opened his eyes.
    Corey’s