Worthy

Worthy: A Pride Anthology Copyright © 2023 Make Me Pretty © 2023 by Marie Ann Wren © 2023 by Ashley James Trouble © 2023 by Nyla K Off Sides © 2023 by Andi Jaxon Becoming Light © 2023 by Riley Nash Discovery © 2023 by Nicole Dykes Lost In Her © 2023 by Harleigh Beck An Unexpected Beginning © 2023 by Cora Rose All We Are © 2023 by Jessie Walker Lost & Found © 2023 by T. Ashleigh Bi The Way © 2023 by Isabel Lucero The Love Triangle Expedition © 2023 by Hayden Hall All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any format or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is the work of fiction. Name, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Cover Design: Haya In Designs Formatting: Wanderlust Formatting Worthy A Pride Anthology Marie Ann | Ashley James | Nyla K | Andi Jaxon Riley Nash | Nicole Dykes | Harleigh Beck | Cora Rose Jessie Walker | T. Ashleigh | Isabel Lucero | Hayden Hall Worthy: A Pride Anthology is a collection of original, brand-new short stories brought to you by twelve incredible authors. Each story touches on the common theme of LGBTQ+ Acceptance. The butterfly may physically appear gentle, almost fragile, but it is also a metaphor for transformation and hope. Change and new beginnings. A representation of light and triumph of the soul. A symbolism that can be of the utmost importance to those in need of something to hold on to. A reminder of your worth. Contents Make Me Pretty Wren Trouble Off Sides Becoming Light Discovery Lost in Her An Unexpected Beginning All We Are Lost & Found Bi The Way The Love Triangle Expedition Make Me Pretty Marie Ann Author’s Note Make Me Pretty contains content and themes that may be disturbing and/or triggering for some readers. Below, you will find a list of specific triggers if you wish to read them. The following contains spoilers. If you are comfortable going in completely blind, feel free to skip to the next page. In this story, there is: self harm, non-consent, dubious consent, physical/emotional abuse, child abuse, manipulation, mental health struggles, mentions of homophobia, sexual assault, rape. There are also instances of humiliation, degradation, rough sex, and abuse/violence between the two main characters. Chapter One Peris My eye twitches in time with my cock. I can’t even control it—it just happens. He’s right fucking there, near the top of the bleachers, school laptop open. His long, knobby fingers are flying over the keys surprisingly fast for such small hands. He doesn’t even look down at the court—at me. And he hasn’t since the night I pinned him against the wall, his little fucking comments finally pushing me over the edge. I really shouldn’t have touched him. But Abel knows how to get under my skin. He’s burrowed himself deep, fingering my frayed edges, pulling them taut until they snap off, one by fucking one. My eyes narrow. Why’s he even here if he’s not going to watch us practice? Watch me? I set my jaw in a tight grit, shaking off any and all thoughts of my…goddamn foster brother. I hate that term. Abel’s so much more and yet considerably less. He used to just be some fucking twink at school, always covered in bruises, and now…he lives with me. It’s fine. I’ve got everything under control. “Yo, Baxter, where the fuck’s your head?” Gabe, my best friend, yells as he launches the ball at my chest. I catch it on reflex, my fingers splayed wide over the leather. “Watch your mouth, Avalos!” Coach Johnson yells from the sidelines. I scoff and roll my eyes. “Sorry, Coach!” Gabe snickers as he jogs over to me. He slams his head against mine. It rattles my brain around, but the pain is what I need—a center point for my focus. Something other than the fucking twink invading my entire goddamn life, my every thought. “Jesus, dude. What the hell is with you?” Gabe asks, dribbling the ball between his legs, his dark, curly hair bouncing. I look down at my empty hands and blink. I wish my dick was as empty as them, but no. It’s wedged tight and uncomfortable in my waistband, so I don’t sport a fucking boner in front of my entire team. Fuck, I’m off my game. Literally. I yank on my hair, pissed the hell off. “I don’t know,” I grumble because, really, I don’t. My eyes find Abel. Again. His black hood is pulled over his white blonde hair, blocking most of his face, but even from all the way down here, I swear I can see the silver piercing at the bridge of his nose glinting. Taunting. I hate it. “That’s the foster kid, right?” Gabe asks. I nod, still unable to look away. “And he’s living with you now.” “Unfortunately,” I grit. “What’s his deal? Everyone seems to have a lot to say about him.” As if Abel senses we’re talking about him, he looks away from his screen, eyes sliding right to mine like he knows exactly where I am. The connection doesn’t last for more than a few seconds before his eyes are back on his laptop, completely and utterly indifferent, like he was just staring at a wall. I want him to fucking look at me, to feel the overwhelming frustration that consumes me every waking moment. “He exists to piss me off,” I mutter, hands tightening into fists at my sides, anger rolling off me in steamy waves. He’s kept up this attitude for the better part