Page 58 of Addiction

I fold my arms, amused by his behavior. “Why, what are your tiny biceps going to do?”

Mark is now nose-to-nose with me as he playfully growls. “I’m gonna bring you down.”

“In how many punches?” Jackson adds. “His build is twice the size of yours. He can knock you out in one hit.”

“Muff, you’re meant to be on my side here. After all the years I’ve supported you.”

“You mean all the years I’ve had to put up with you? You’ve caused me more stress than my kids.”

“Fucker.”

“Dickhead,” both Jackson and I say in unison. It has the three of us all burst out laughing, and for the first time in a long time, I finally feel like I’m back to my normal self before the alcohol had taken control of my life. The three of us always had fun, teasing and giving each other shit along with some of the other guys that are no longer with us today.

The old times had been the best, and if I hadn’t lost my way, life would have remained the same.

But life teaches us lessons, right? What’s that saying about the hardest climb? In some twisted way, maybe this is the path that the man upstairs has chosen for me because if I hadn’t fallen, I wouldn’t have this place: my very own gym and the people who surround me now. Of course, there are things that have happened in my life that I’d give anything to change. I’d love to turn back the clock and do it differently.

Wyatt.

My dad.

God knows I’d give anything to have them back.

But standing here right now, after overcoming everything I can honestly say that life is good, and I don’t want anything to change that.

I can’t let anything change that.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Wade

I failed to tell Asher that I wasn’t comfortable with the fact we had news reporters with cameras here earlier—not because I don’t think the gym needs the publicity, but because I’ve had to avoid them as best I can without it looking noticeable. This is Asher’s day and my problems are my own.

When I left my hometown, I did so without a word to anyone, leaving no form of contact details. Jonny had known where I was, but after he died, I’d never thought anything of letting my parents know where I headed next. They’d made it clear I was no longer part of the family. They’d made it obvious that they didn’t care so why should I?

It’s my mom I feel sorry for.

Despite her behavior in standing behind my father and his decision to cut me off, I had been able to see in her eyes that deep down, it was not what she’d wanted. But she’d failed to support me. She’d failed to stand her ground and protect her son, and because of that, she’s now lost us both.

My father is a powerful man with contacts in all areas of the medical profession. There’s hardly a day where I don’t hear his name mentioned, see his poster up on billboards or read articles about him in some fancy magazine.

I don’t like keeping secrets, but I’ve kept the truth of my blood relation from everyone, and I’ve wanted it to remain that way. It’s easier for me.

His deep, hearty laugh from the other end of the room has me smiling. Asher, Mark, Jackson, and Grayson have taken the opportunity to occupy the boxing ring. The group of them talk and laugh like they’ve not done it in years whilst Mark and Asher throw light-hearted punches at each other in the ring. Mark is trying desperately to bring Asher down, but his strong build is too much, and Asher soon has Twilight backing up toward the ropes with his boxing gloves covering his face. What gives me comfort is that Asher is currently in a zone where he’s forgotten everything that is going on around him. Seeing him so anxious and distressed when I walked into his office had been unbearable, and I loathe myself for not being here for him.

The traffic had been chaos and trying to get here had caused my stress levels to rise. I hate being late but knowing that I was letting Asher down was even worse.

Now, it’s like he’s forgotten everything and is at peace with himself. There is no stress. No expectations. What I have noticed throughout the day is the connection between us—the one that’s simmering; the one where I don’t know where his head is at.

He’s giving me signals that make me believe he wants more, and the question I keep asking myself is: do I give into my desires and see where this leads, or do I hold back? The last thing I want is to have him running in the wrong direction and retake that path he’s so desperate to stay away from.

“I love seeing him like this,” Nora says, coming up beside me. “So carefree.”

“Me too. He’s certainly a lot happier than earlier,” I say, sitting down on the bench as I continue to watch them in the ring.

“Grayson said he snapped at you for being late. You know it was just nerves, right?”

“Yeah, I knew he wasn’t angry with me. He was just anxious about everything else, and I was in the firing line. I know he didn’t mean it.”