“Why?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. The only person who knows his deal is Grey.” Our door slides open and Grey steps into the room. “Hey. Just telling Felix what time tomorrow. How’s drunky?”
“Passed out. He’s been acting up so much lately.”
Andre gives me a look. “I’m going to bed. See you guys in the morning.” He beams.
I turn to Grey. Should I tell him? It feels wrong. “Is he okay?”
Grey grabs my hand, pulling me toward the bed. He sits on it, scrubbing his beard. “How do I explain?” he thinks. “Atlas has a lot of issues he thinks he can outrun with alcohol. He’s been through a lot of horrible things, and that pain needs to be dealt with.” He shrugs. “The problem is, he has to be ready to deal with it.”
“And he doesn’t want to?” He shakes his head. “Sounds exhausting.”
Grey thinks for a moment. “Yes and no. He’s my best friend, but I can’t solve his problems for him. I can only be here for him. He has to want to help himself.”
While that’s understandable, I wonder if Grey realizes how deep Atlas’s feeling go.
By the oblivious grin on his face right now as he looks at me, I can safely say no. Should I say something? I’m not sure. The selfish part of me doesn’t want to.
What if I tell him and he wants Atlas instead?
TWENTY SIX
Grey
“This looks crooked.” Oli turns to me and I shake my head. “It’s crooked, right?” I look at his perfectly straight tie, shaking my head.
“Looks fine, groomzilla.”
“No it doesn’t,” Oli argues, trying to fix Atlas’s straight as a fucking pin tie. Our friend is hungover as hell and hasn’t said more than two words to me. Not sure why the fuck he’s mad at me, but I’ll just let it ride. I don’t want to fight. “Something is off.”
“Oh, something is off alright,” Atlas grumbles, slapping Oli’s hand away. “I hate wearing suits.”
“Deal with it. It’s my special day.” Atlas hates wearing suits for game day. The only time he’s in one is when we have to walk to the arena, which means we all get to suffer sitting next to a nearly naked Atlas on the plane.
“Yours and Andre’s, you mean,” I remind him. Oli waves me away, inspecting his own tie in the mirror. I swear this diva. Felix walks into the room, and damn. Just damn. “I have a new appreciation for tuxes.” Damn. He looks incredibly handsome. “If that weren’t a rental, I’d rip it with my teeth.”
“Well, it is.” Oli glares.
“Like you can’t afford it,” I say. Felix smiles as I adjust his tie. I’ll seriously have to invest in a couple at home. Home. “And why are the ties magenta?”
“Andre’s mom’s favorite color,” Oli says softly. “Andre is wearing blue for my mother.” Well shit, ain’t that sweet.
I smooth out the shoulders of Felix’s tux. “God, you’re so sexy.” I lean in and kiss him.
“Stop.” He smiles with a blush, pulling back. “I’ve never worn one of these.”
“A fucking crime.” I straighten the lapels, tugging his tie a little toward me. I look back at the man adjusting Oli’s pants. “Can I get like three of these to go?”
“You just need the tie?” Oli laughs.
“Just the tie. All I need.” I give him another kiss. It feels freeing to be able to touch him like this. I’ve had to hide so much over my career.
“Can you stop? You’re making me nauseous,” Atlas grumbles.
“Be jealous.” I smile at Felix. “What?”
“Nothing.” He smiles, but it doesn’t meet his eyes.
