“Only a few letters to his mother that showed up with no discernible pattern. They say ‘don’t worry, I’m well.’ Nothing else.”
In a tight voice, Ash asked, “Postmarks?”
“Different states in the Northeast.” Ash could sense the man’s frustration over the phone. “I’m not giving up, sir.”
Ash sighed. It wasn’t Martinson’s fault that he wanted to throw the phone through the window or punch something or someone hard. “I know you aren’t. It isn’t your fault. Keep going. Spare no expense.”
“Yes, sir. I promise I’ll find him.”
“Thank you.” Ash clicked off and threw the phone onto the couch. “Fuck.”
“I’m sorry.” Drew squeezed his hand. “I know you’ve been looking for a long time. You’ll find him one day.”
Ash stalked around his office. “I’m beginning to wonder. Now that I know he disappeared willingly, it’s clear he doesn’t want to be found. Those are the hardest kinds of people to find.”
Drew stepped in his path, forcing him to halt his steps. “Listen, whatever happens, you don’t have to handle it alone anymore. We can work on it together.”
Exactly like he’d thought. The man was too fucking good. “So you’ll come home with me tonight?” Ash dragged Drew up against him, palming the man’s perfect, taut ass. He could feel the muscles flexing underneath his fingers. “Say yes.” He kissed Drew’s neck, his jaw, and then rested his lips at the corner of Drew’s mouth. “Please,” he murmured, watching Drew’s eyes flutter shut.
“Okay, yes, whatever you want.” Drew shifted his head, and their lips met.
Soft, sweet, and the lightest touch. Not hard or brutal, with a thrusting tongue and clashing teeth. Still somewhat uncomfortable with kissing, Ash stiffened at first, but when Drew flickered the tip of his tongue along the seam of Ash’s lips, the feeling was so electric, so erotic he opened his mouth, pressing harder to capture Drew’s tongue and swirl it together with his own.
They stood that way, kissing, learning each other’s mouths and breaths, until Drew pulled away with a look of regret. “I need to get back to the hospital.”
“Then I’m coming with you.” The smile on Drew’s face let him know he’d made the right decision. Fuck Jordan and whoever else had a problem with him and Drew. And he’d make sure to be by Drew’s side to support him as he stood up to his friends and family.
Whatever he needed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
They arrived at the hospital around lunchtime. Drew could tell his grandmother was almost back to normal, as she was giving the nurse her special recipe for apple cake, which as he knew, was the best thing in the world. He bent down and kissed her cheek.
“I see you’re feeling better. They’re moving you to a regular room in a few minutes.” He greeted the nurse, then checked his grandmother’s chart, pleased to see all her vital signs were normal. The nurse left the room, leaving him alone with Nana.
“Why can’t I go home? I feel perfectly fine.” She scowled at him.
“Because they need to observe you for one more night and I agree. So does Rachel, so you’re outvoted.” He folded his arms and scowled right back at her.
She finally relented. “Only one more night, though. I want to go home. I miss my bed and my flowers.” She peered behind him, looking over his shoulder, her face brightening. “Oh, Asher is here. I wondered if he was going to come by.”
Drew sat in the chair next to her bed so she could wave to Ash through the glass. “He was here last night too, but had to leave early this morning.”
“I hope you two put aside your differences.” She dragged her gaze away from Ash to glare at him.
Oh, Nana, you have no idea. “Um, yeah. We’re good now.” Better than good, as he remembered the feel of Ash’s cock sliding into his body and pounding into him last night. Shit, he couldn’t get a hard-on in front of his grandmother. He wasn’t going to have a conversation with her about his relationship with Ash while she lay in a hospital bed. “He was very worried about you.”
“I’m glad you two are friends again.” She pursed her lips and studied her hands.
Drew could tell she wanted to say something but held back, which was unusual for his outspoken grandmother.
“Nana, what is it? I know you want to ask me something, so go ahead and spit it out.”
Her gaze slid over him; then she turned her attention back to study her fingers. “Where’s your girlfriend? Isn’t she here?”
Drew took her hand in his, noting how thin and fragile it felt. Her pale skin showed every blue vein and reflected all the hard work she’d endured during her life. He kissed her fingertips. “We broke up.”
Her eyes opened wide. “You did? Why?”
