Then, he finally went there.
“I’ll get over it,” he finally said. “What choice do I have?” he asked. “I will be honest, though, Elizabeth. I won’t make it much longer in the FBI. I’ve been bounced from partner-to-partner, unable to trust and believe in anyone. You know that our jobs require that we put our faith in our partner.”
She was aware.
It was why she preferred agents work with someone who really cared and had their backs. Gabe was anti that when he ruled the roost, but she saw it differently.
You needed skin in the game.
What wouldn’t you do for your wife or husband?
“Alex.”
He stopped her.
It needed to be said.
“For years, I’ve been the odd man out. I’ve been the one who never had a partner he could trust. There was Noah, and he left me alone. I know he found love, and I’m happy for him, but he was my best friend and world. He left us, and I had to adjust.”
She was aware.
Deep down, she understood.
Alex got attached, and when he did, it was like a full-blown romance for him. He’d never had sex with Noah, but he loved him like they were in a union.
They did everything else together.
Then, Lawless came to town.
And Alex lost it all. He had the one thing for Noah that Alex didn’t.
Sex.
She swore to God that if Alex was just gay, he would have married Noah. He loved him that much, and this separation, of sorts, was breaking him.
Then Corbin came into the picture, and the men clicked. She saw it happen all over again, and knew it was real to him. It was a relationship, and it was special.
Until it was done.
“I was happy again. I’m going to ask that you let me run solo,” he said.
She stopped that.
“We work dangerous cases. That could be counterproductive. You could get hurt.”
He didn’t care.
Really.
His heart hurt.
He’d been dumped again, and he didn’t understand why. They had a good partnership. They hung out, they had meals together, and they were friends. He loved being around Corbin, and the demons…they’d calmed again.
What didn’t he have to make that partnership work?
Why was he so unlovable and uncared for that no one stuck around?
“So? It’s not like anyone will miss me. Noah won’t. Corbin won’t. I certainly won’t. My whole life, I’ve been abandoned and tossed away. I fuck my way through everything and drink while doing it. I don’t feel anymore because no one cares about me. All I want is to find someone to have my back, and Corbin was it. He was my last chance.”
