“That’s because you probably have a concussion, you idiot,” Drew snapped at him. “Now lie back, don’t move, and they’ll be taking you to your room shortly. You aren’t the only one who’s exhausted. We’ve been worried sick for hours, especially Luke.”
Impressed by Drew’s out-of-character behavior, Luke was even more surprised at Jordan’s easy compliance with Drew’s orders. Sometimes the quiet ones fooled you, Luke mused, giving Drew a respectful nod of thanks.
“He’ll bully you if you don’t push back, you know.” Drew hugged him as he prepared to leave. “Don’t let him tell you what to do. He thinks only he knows what’s best for everyone.” He returned to the bed where Jordan lay with his eyes closed, his breathing light but steady. “Stop giving everyone a hard time. Listen to the nurses and hopefully you’ll only be in here a day or so.” Drew bent down and kissed his cheek. “Try and rest and I’ll see you later. I love you.”
Jordan opened his eyes. “Thank you. I love you too.” He swallowed hard. “And thank Ash for me. I know he’s been out there waiting as well.”
Surprise flared in Drew’s light eyes, but he simply nodded and gave Luke’s shoulder a squeeze before leaving. Tash had left several minutes earlier when it became apparent that Jordan wasn’t seriously injured. The events of the night hit Luke all at once, and he began to fade, but he needed to reassure Jordan all would be well, and he wanted to tell him about his decision to speak with Ash.
Lucas picked up Jordan’s hand and kissed it. “I thought I’d lost you there for a moment, Prep School.”
Though he kept his eyes closed, Jordan smiled. “It would take more than a hard knock to my head to get rid of me.” He licked his lips. “Shit, my whole body hurts.”
Luke smoothed the hair off Jordan’s brow. There were a cup and pitcher on the table next to the bed, and he gave Jordan a drink of cold water. “Drink it slow.”
“Thanks. I’ve been choking all night; my throat’s been so dry.”
They sat, and after a while, Luke thought Jordan had fallen asleep. Almost dead on his feet, he rose to go home. It was nearly three in the morning. He bent to kiss Jordan on his forehead. “I love you, Jordan. Don’t ever leave me.”
To his surprise, Jordan opened his eyes and grabbed his hand. “If I have anything to say about it, I never will. Having you here with me tonight, knowing I have you to come home to, makes the ride all worth it. There was only one thought going through my mind when they were beating me.”
Luke bit his lip, unable to talk as Jordan continued.
“All I could think of was, God, don’t let Lucas find me dead. If I’m going to die, I have to be able to say good-bye, because I need to see his face one more time.” Tears fell from his eyes. “I didn’t want to die without you hearing me tell you how much I love you.” Jordan’s shaking hand clasped his. “Don’t ever doubt your place in my heart and my life.”
“I told Ash I wanted to talk to him,” Luke blurted out, unable to hold himself back any longer. “When you get out of the hospital, I want the four of us to get together.”
Jordan’s eyes glowed. “I’m proud of you. But are you sure you want Drew and me there? Don’t you want to speak alone with him after all these years?”
Unashamed of his emotions, Luke clutched Jordan’s hand. “I can’t do it alone. Please be there for me.” Luke knew he and Ash were going to hurt each other emotionally. The history between them had never really been buried, no matter how he’d tried. It remained by the surface, bubbling up every once in a while. For years he’d smothered his pain by shoveling another layer of resentment on top, but the time had come to unearth the demons and put them to rest.
Jordan patted his hand. “If you need me, I’m there for you.” His eyes slid shut, and Luke knew he’d fallen asleep almost immediately.
Luke kissed his cheek. “I’ll always need you.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“I can do this on my own. I don’t need your help.” Nothing irritated Jordan more than to have people hovering over him, thinking him weak and lacking. “It’s been over a week already. My head barely hurts anymore.” He pushed at Lucas’s hand on his elbow.
Without missing a step, Lucas tightened his hold. “Well, tough shit. You’re getting my help whether you like it or not. Not only are you still recovering from the attack, but you’re coming off the addiction treatment, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Not likely. Christ, Lucas. You’re worse than my mother.” His parents were stuck in the mountains in Switzerland due to the snow, but they’d spoken several times over the past few days. After reassuring them he was fine and having a tearful conversation about his addiction, he’d introduced them to Lucas. They’d adored Keith, and Jordan knew his mother had despaired of him ever finding someone else to spend his life with. Her tentative efforts to suggest he meet someone new had been met with angry silence and ultimately his withdrawal. When he told them about Lucas, they were overjoyed. Lucas and his parents had hit it off, and Jordan knew they were relieved he’d found someone to love.
“Your mom is cool.” Luke smirked, and Jordan rolled his eyes. “Besides she already loves me, and she hasn’t even met me yet.”
“All right, stud, let’s go downstairs before your ego inflates so much you can’t fit through the door.” Luke took Jordan’s elbow and helped him down the stairs. “You’ve kept me a prisoner in this house long enough.”
A chorus of cheers and applause greeted him. Everyone was there: Drew and Ash, Mike and Rachel, Esther and a distinguished-looking elderly gentleman, Wanda, Keith’s partner Neil, and even Dr. Springer. Tash and his sister, Valerie, rounded out the group.
But Jordan only had eyes for Sasha, who was barking and yelping, held back by Mike. Gingerly, as his ribs still twinged slightly at sudden movement, he knelt down and held out his arms. “Come here, girl. Come, sweetheart.”
Whining and wriggling across the floor, Sasha crept toward Jordan as if she knew she couldn’t fling herself on top of him. When she finally got close enough, she scooted into his arms and gave his face a thorough tongue washing. Jordan stayed there, despite the soreness in his side, giving the dog comfort. It must’ve been harrowing for her to not only find him hurt, but then to have her life flipped upside down—first staying with Mike and Rachel, and then not seeing him for the past week and a half. Lucas had insisted that Mike and Rachel could watch her better than he could, so he could concentrate not only on Jordan’s recovery from the beating, but the continuation of the treatment for Xanax withdrawal. Jordan vowed to give her some much-needed alone time with him, complete with extra treats.
Lucas took a steady hold of his elbow as he attempted to stand. The man had an uncanny ability to understand Jordan’s moves, maybe even before he knew himself what he needed. “Thanks.” He flashed Lucas a smile.
“I think you should sit down.” Keeping ahold of his arm, Lucas steered him into the large front room and settled him onto the sofa. The rest of the guests trailed after them and found seats. From his vantage point, Jordan could see past the open, glass-fronted French doors into the dining room, where a spread of food lay waiting to be consumed. There were cold cuts and salads and all types of breads and rolls. On the sideboard were the desserts, including a large chocolate cake that looked suspiciously like it came from his favorite bakery in the East Village.
“Jordan, darling.” Esther came over and kissed him, patting his cheek with tenderness. “Won’t you let me make you a plate of something? I baked you those brownies you love so much.” Her bright blue eyes shone with love, and Jordan squeezed her hand.
