"For starting all this. I shouldn't have said anything to you."
"I'm glad you did." That was the honest to God truth. Sure, he'd have carried on living his simple life, angry and pissed off at Luc forever. But he would have missed out on the raw and wonderful connection he had with Luc.
It felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs. Their connectionwastruly wonderful and the ache he’d had in his chest all week wasn’t just the product of lust; he felt so much more than that for Luc. He felt… love? It was the only name he could put to the emotion that was swelling up inside him, making him feel light and his lips curl upwards into a stupid grin. Everything made sense when he was with Luc and, at the same time, nothing made sense. Being with his stepbrother was both grounding and insane at the same time. The realisation that he could love Luc… no, that hedidlove him left him staring wide eyed at nothing, the park blurring into a hundred shades of green that swirled around him, as though he were on a merry-go-round that left him laughing and feeling slightly sick at the same time. He loved his stepbrother, but he wasn’t sure that would be enough.
“Adam? Are you okay?”
"Yeah, I just wish things were simpler,” he admitted. “I wish we could tell Mum and Dad and know they would be okay with us being together."
"Me too. Maybe they would be."
"And maybe pigs will fly." Adam inhaled, to try to curb the flash of bitterness that had surged through him.
He loved their parents; he wouldn't be able to stand it if he hurt them. But he would. Sooner or later, theywouldfind out. There was no way he and Luc could hide their affair forever.
"I've got to go," he said. "I'll let you know about next weekend, okay?"
"Yeah," Luc said. "Adam..."
"Yeah?"
Adam held his breath as Luc paused.
"Take care, okay?" Luc said eventually, his voice wavering slightly.
"Yeah, you too." Adam hung up the call and stared at his phone. Maybe one day—hopefully soon—he'd have the courage to tell Luc he thought he loved him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Luc
Luc wasn't sure how Adam had managed it, but his brother's train would be pulling in just before six. He'd known since midway through the week that Adam would be visiting and it had been hard to keep his excitement to himself. Somehow, he'd succeeded. But now that he was staring at the arrivals boards in the train station, he couldn't stand still. As soon as the train's arrival was announced over the tannoy, he headed towards the barriers that prevented people without tickets from gaining access to the platforms. It only took a couple of minutes for him to spot Adam striding towards him, with a rucksack on his back.
They embraced and kissed, their reunion far more physical than their parting.
"I've missed you," Luc breathed.
"Ditto." Adam grinned at him. "So, what was so important that I had to get here this evening?"
"You'll see." Luc threaded his fingers through Adam's. "Come on, you can leave your bag at my office until after."
"After what?"
Luc chuckled. "You'll see."
"You remember I hate surprises, right?" Adam asked, as they left the train station and started heading down the street.
"I remember, but you'll like this one, I promise. Have you eaten?"
Adam shook his head.
"There's a couple of places close to where we're going that do decent fast food."
They chatted about everything and nothing as they walked, catching up properly on the last couple of weeks. They held each other's hands the whole way and, every so often, one or the other of them would dip their head onto the other's shoulder. It felt so good to be able to act like a normal couple, without fear that someone they knew might see them. The only worry Luc had was running into Jane. Not that that was likely and he knew no one would be in the office on a Saturday. He was the only person aside from Adrianna who had a key and that was only because he always worked so late.
"So, this is where you work?" Adam asked, as they ducked inside long enough for Luc to put Adam's rucksack in his office.
He didn't even flick the lights on, so it was hard to see much, but there was a little light seeping through the blinds from the street.
