I motioned in his direction, and he must have sensed it. He looked up from whatever had been occupying his attention. Our eyes connected, and it felt like a current passed between us. The intensity of his gaze was almost too much to bear as he confidently strode toward me. I couldn’t look away.
Cooper's laughter was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye. “Oh, wow. I see what everyone has been talking about. And I’m really happy you’ve found the right person, Adam.”
His voice was laced with joy for me. He was such a genuine person, and it had been one of the reasons I was so drawn to him.
“Me too,” Foster muttered as he held out his hand to me. “I should have figured my shit out earlier for Cooper, but you helped me see it. And I guess I owe you for that.”
I shook his hand as Michael looped an arm around my shoulders and planted a kiss on the top of my head.
The heaviness and dread lifted as Michael shook hands with Greg and spoke to Cooper. He’d been right all along about how this could be good for me. It just made me love him even more.
Cooper smiled. “So, one question. The song—"
I put my hand up. “Sorry about that. But I should be thanking you. It’s the reason for all of this.”
Greg snorted with amusement. “Glad I could make that happen for you.”
Cooper gave him a playful elbow jab, making us all laugh.
“Babe,” he whined at his husband. “Watch those sharp elbows. I’m fragile.”
Cooper rolled his eyes and shook his head before turning his attention back to me. “I’m glad we did this, Adam. I can’t tell you how much better I feel. I hate drama.”
A chuckle escaped my lips, and I felt a lightness enter my chest.
“Yeah, I know. But we’re all good, right?”
Coop smiled. “We’re good. So tell me about the tour. Fallen Angel is still our favorite band.”
We all laughed and spent the rest of the evening putting past hurts where they belonged. It felt good to move on with Michael beside me.
When we left the bar, Michael threw his arm over my shoulder. Leaning into me, I hung onto him just as tightly.
“I have some news for you. GQ is changing the tour plan. You’re holding on to the Director of Security for Fallen Angel.”
I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to him. “Do not toy with me, He-Man. Are you serious? Tell me you’re serious, because if you’re joking, I’m gonna…uhhh…well. I'll…I’ll…fuck. I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll come up with something.”
Michael threw his head back and laughed. “I’m not kidding, babe. It just so happens that, according to Dreamboat, Greer Rowan has contacted Jesse for some personal security and requested someone who enjoys extreme sports. He needs someone who can keep up with him.”
This was getting better by the minute. “Daredevil? He wants Daredevil?”
Michael grinned at me. “Got it in one. And it's the perfect assignment for our grumpy friend. Maybe this will make him happy.”
“I’ve just become the biggest Pirates fan on the planet!”
Michael laughed and pulled me closer. “Come on, babe. Let’s go home. I want to teach you some football lingo, like what holding is and what constitutes an illegal use of hands.”
I shivered at his dirty innuendo. “That sounds like edging. Take me home, big guy.”
He-Man’s laughter was what I wanted to hear for the rest of my life.
CHAPTER28
MICHAEL
Everything had falleninto place for us after our holiday in California. Our relationship had only gotten better, and Adam talked to his dad at least once a day. Every time his dad’s name lit up his screen, it made him smile.
As he’d predicted, Jayden blew up his phone at least ten times a day with a stupid joke or just to say hello to his new cousin. Erin and Abigail texted him a couple times a week and wanted him to come back to Long Beach when he could. They wanted to teach him how to surf.
