“Hey, come on in.”
Mike thanked her and stepped into the light hallway. Caroline came out of the living room to greet him. “Hey, Mike, what brings you here so soon?”
“Hi. Sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to see Tommy. I’ve been trying to reach him all morning, but so far there’s been no word from him.” He spoke calmly, despite the fact that his stomach was in knots and had been that way ever since his first few texts had gone unanswered.
Caroline’s brow furrowed. “Really? He’s around here somewhere.” She walked along the hall a little ways and opened a door. “Tommy? You down there? Mike is here to see you.” She turned back to Mike and smiled. “He shouldn’t be long. He and Ben haven’t been out of the house so far today.” The smile became a grin. “You know what boys are like. Give them any excuse to stay in bed.”
He returned her smile, hoping she was right and that was all it was. Only Tommy didn’t strike him as the kind of young man who’d waste a morning in bed. Lord knew, he was always awake before Mike on Sundays. Now Ben, yeah, he could believe that, based on what Tommy had shared about his roomie.
Ben appeared at the door, no trace of a smile. “Tommy doesn’t want to see you.” He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
What the fuck?“Is he all right?” Mike’s heart pounded.
Caroline scowled at her son. “Ben, you’re being rude. Apologize to Mike.”
Ben gave him a sharp look. “No, I will not apologize to Mr.Masters.” He stared at Mike unblinking.
Ohfuck.
Mike suddenly found it difficult to breathe as an invisible band tightened around his chest, cinching him in until it fucking hurt to draw breath.
Caroline became very still. “Okay, just what is going on here?” She faced Ben. “Tell me the truth, Benson.”
Ben winced but then straightened. “Tommy found out yesterday that Mike Scott is none other than Scott Masters, a porn star.” He glared at Mike. “You got any idea how much you’ve hurt him? You lied to him, formonths.”
Caroline turned slowly to regard Mike with wide eyes. “Is this true?”
Mike swallowed past the bowling ball in his throat. “Yes.” It was all he could manage in the circumstances.
Caroline pulled herself up to her full height. “Then I’d like you to leave. Now.” She seemed to be breathing more rapidly.
Mike was frozen to the spot. He wanted to argue that he hadn’t lied, he’d just… omitted some details.
“Now, Mike—or whatever your name is.” Caroline drew her mouth into a straight line and then bit her lip.
There was nothing for it but to leave.
Mike gave a slow nod and turned around to where Bethany was still standing by the front door, bright spots of color on her cheeks. She lowered her gaze when he passed her, and held open the door. Mike walked out of the house and along the driveway to his truck, resisting the urge to give a backward glance. When he climbed into the truck, he sat there clutching the steering wheel, his heart beating erratically.
What the fuck do I do now?
He couldn’t leave things like this, that was for sure. It was way too late for that. Not when he was already lost, heart, body, and soul, in love with Tommy. Walking away wasn’t an option.
Mike needed to go someplace quiet and think.
He switched on the engine and slowly pulled out of the driveway, the thoughts in his head colliding. He knew this whole fucked-up situation was his own doing. He could have been honest with Tommy from the start.
Except that probably would have been the shortest relationship in the history of short relationships.
Mike had been burned enough to know he’d wanted to put it off as long as possible. Christ, he’d planned to tell Tommy everything when they were away together. He’d told Kevin, told Jack….
Only someone had gotten there first. Probably Ben. That would account for the looks and the weird vibes Mike had been getting all through lunch. He wondered how long it had taken Ben to spill the beans once Mike had left. He had no way of knowing how Tommy felt; that was what was eating him up. Ben hadn’t shown disgust. His attitude appeared to be one of concern for Tommy, and Mike couldn’t fault him for that.
By the time Mike reached home, he was no nearer to coming up with a solution. There had to be one, because he loved Tommy and was not about to give up on the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Whatever it took, Mike was going to find a way. But at that moment? Fuck, he needed a drink.
Chapter Twenty-Five
