The only thing of value I had were my guitars, and evidently, one was missing from the stand. The other had been bashed on the floor until there was nothing left. I felt violated in the worst way.
My gaze found Michael’s as he held his hand out to me.
Looking into his eyes, I took his hand and laced our fingers together. When I got to my feet, he leaned down to whisper in my ear. “I’m not going anywhere, Adam. I’m right here.”
Cole reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. “You know you can stay with us.”
I looked from him to my He-Man.
“We can also stay at my condo. The guys are out of town on assignment.”
I nodded before turning my attention back to my best friend. He had his own personal issues to work through without adding mine to the pile. “I need to stay with him tonight. You guys go ahead. Patrick has practice tomorrow.”
Cole looked concerned, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I stood and hugged him and Patrick. They’d been the best friends a man could hope for. “Love you guys. I’ll stay with my bodyguard.”
Patrick snorted. “You mean your boyfriend? I don’t blame you. I’d want to be with Cole no matter what.”
“We’refakeboyfriends,” I reminded him, even though the words felt wrong.
“Adam, we know you too well to believe that shit. The way he looks at you is not fake. And the way you moon over him is very similar to the way this guy gets all moony-eyed over me.”
Cole laughed and tried to elbow him, but Patrick just pulled him into his arms before he realized what he was doing. I’d seen him do that a thousand times, and every time it ended with a kiss.
But not this time.
Cole pushed out of his arms and looked at me. “Call me in the morning.” The hurt in his tone of voice was unmistakable. He tried to cover it as he walked past Patrick toward the Range Rover.
“Fuck,” Patrick hissed under his breath and took off in a jog after Cole.
Michael draped his arm over my shoulder as we watched them get into the car. “Things aren’t any better, are they?”
“No, and it worries the fuck out of me. They’ve been together since we were kids. I can’t imagine one without the other.”
He squeezed me into his side a little more. “They’ll be okay, babe. Just give them some time.”
I wasn’t so sure they would be and it scared the shit out of me, because I knew what they meant to each other. But one thing life had taught me was that love wasn’t always enough.
“Let’s get this over with.”
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “Let’s go. Then we can go home.”
As we walked from room to room, my eyes drifted around at the destruction that had been left behind. I pointed out a few things, but the worst had been my guitars. Thank god I had another one at Cole’s house. It was hard to fathom her doing this when she knew what they meant to me.
I took a step closer to the window and peered out. There was a never a good time to realize your mother didn’t give a fuck about you, and probably never had. It brought all my doubts about everything in my life back to the surface. Even the man by my side. It would only be a matter of time before he tired of the drama. Of me.
And then where would I be?
* * *
The following morning,I woke up with Michael wrapped around me. We’d crashed on top of the covers without undressing. I’d tossed and turned until he stretched his big arm over me and pulled me to him, my back against his chest.
When I stirred, he tightened his hold, making me smile. I could get used to having this with him, and that kinda scared the fuck out of me. And after last night, I had no idea how long this would last. He could say all the right words, but when it came down to it, no one ever stayed.
Still, the child inside me that craved to belong to someone couldn’t help but wonder what a life with him would look like. I knew it was dangerous to my heart, but I liked the idea of waking up in his arms where I felt safe and loved.
My eyes flew open.
