No one had ever been there for him so completely before, and the realization left him rattled. He looked from Lucian and Marcus to Sterling, taking in Sterling’s profile as his heart skippedabeat.
Love.
Was that really whatitwas?
Adrian had never been in love before, but a man likeSterling…
“Despite our rocky past,” it was Marcus who spoke now, his words chosen with careful diplomacy that Adrian attributed to his profession, “I know that Sterling wouldn’t take you in if he didn’t see good in you. I hope, for his sake, that you’re telling thetruth.”
“I guess only time will tell.” Adrian tore himself away from his thoughts, but his heart fluttered for Sterling no matter how hard he tried to suppress it. He turned his focus to Lucian. “Is it okay if I text you if anything comes up withGabriel?”
“I will always be there for one of my own.” Lucian leaned against Marcus, and Marcus wrapped an arm around his shoulders. As they touched, Adrian’s mind wandered. What would it feel like if he let Sterling touch him in the same way? What would it feel like to be supported so fully by another man? Adrian had been struggling through life alone until now, and he didn’t know. “We should probably be going now. If there’s anything that comes up, letmeknow.”
“I will.” Adrian knew he didn’t deserve respect like this, and he was humbled by it. He bowed his head. “Thankyou.”
In the darkest times, facing some of the most difficult circumstances he’d ever gone up against, there was still light in the distance. Just as there were people looking to use others for their own selfish gains, there were people who stood up for what was right and what was good—even when that meant shelving old rivalries to come to the assistance of someone who’d wronged them inthepast.
Now that Adrian realized it, he understood that it was time to transition from one side to theother.
Even if he chose not to stay in Sterling’s life, and even if he left his child behind, he had Gabriel to think of. For the sake of his family, it was time that he stopped punishinghimself.
Adrian followed Sterling to the back door and saw Marcus and Lucian out. When they were gone and the door was closed and locked, Sterling smiled at him. “I’m proudofyou.”
An unwanted blush spread across Adrian’s cheeks. “Thanks.”
“I’d be more proud of you if you ate something. Chicken noodle soup? I know you’re notfeelingwell.”
The thought of salty broth with slippery noodles turned Adrian’s stomach like a tumble dryer, and he took a few urgent steps backward as his nausea climbed to new heights. He slapped a hand over his mouth and ran for the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before he wasviolentlyill.
As he heaved, hands clutching cold porcelain, Sterling rubbed his back. He had the audacity to chuckle. “So I guess that’s a no tosoup,then.”
“I swear to god, Sterling,” Adrian rasped. Just the mention of soup made him imagine the taste and the texture, and it disgusted him like it never had before. “If you mention soup onemoretime…”
“I thought when you were sick before, it was due to stress,” Sterling admitted. “I guess now we know the realculprit.”
Morning sickness. A little late, but undeniable. The thought of putting anything in his mouth was grounds for the immediate evacuation of hisstomach.
Adrian grumbled, stood on shaky legs, and made his way to the sink. He didn’t need to worry about punishing himself for previous misdoings when the little life inside of him was acting out in the wayitwas.
The water ran, circling the drain as Adrian dipped his hands into the stream and washed his face. When he felt clean enough to step away, he glared at Sterling. “I swear to god, if you ever knock me up again, we are going to have words. Thisisn’tfun.”
Sterling raised an eyebrow, mischief in his eyes. “All that I’m hearing is that I’ll have the chance to knock you up again. Are you ready to give me ananswer?”
“No,” Adriangrumbled.
But that wasn’t thetruth.
The unspoken answer, without question,wasyes.
Adrianwouldstay.
27
Sterling
Adrian started cookingdinner.
The gesture was small, but Sterling took note of it. Adrian, it turned out, was no Gabriel in the kitchen, and the burnt chicken they ate that night was dry and far toosalty.
