“That’s still a lie,” Allen said. “That’s you hiding things from me.”
Rick stared at him for a long time, then finally nodded. “Okay.”
Allen lifted a third finger. “If I stay, I stay for real.” Rick’s eyes flicked down to Allen’s mouth, then back up. Allen forced himself to say it anyway. “That means you don’t get to keep parts of this from me. You don’t get to decide what I can handle. If you want me here, I’m here for all of it. The good and the bad.”
Rick exhaled. “You want to be in it.”
“I don’t want any of it,” Allen snapped, then forced himself to calm down. “But I won’t be stupid. I won’t pretend and then act shocked when it gets worse.”
Rick watched him, then nodded again. “Okay.”
Allen’s stomach dropped. He’d expected a fight. He’d expected Rick to push back, to bargain, to twist it somehow, but he didn’t. “Okay,” Allen repeated.
Rick stepped closer and stopped just in front of him. “That’s what I want,” Rick said. “Something real with you.” Rick tilted his head. “Is that why you came back?”
Allen’s throat tightened. “You didn’t give me a choice.”
Rick’s mouth curved slightly. “You could’ve blocked me.”
Allen stared at him, and Rick held his eyes until Allen looked away. Rick touched Allen’s jaw softly, like he’d done before. Allen held still and let him, because this was the part that made everything worse. His body still wanted Rick.
Rick leaned in and kissed him softly. Allen didn’t respond at first, then he slowly closed his eyes and kissed him back. He moaned when Rick licked across his lips, then gasped when Rick’s tongue slipped inside to tangle with his own.
When Rick pulled away, he rested his forehead against Allen’s. “I missed you,” he said.
Allen’s throat burned. “You shouldn’t.”
Rick’s hand tightened at his jaw. “I’m here with you because I want to be.”
“Okay.” Allen sighed and let Rick kiss him again.
Rick pulled back, and his eyes searched his face. “Okay,” he repeated.
Allen nodded. Rick kissed him again, then stepped back and opened the takeout bag like they were a normal couple having dinner. Allen stood there, watching him move around his kitchen like Rick belonged in it.
A notification buzzed on Allen’s phone on the counter. Allen’s stomach dropped before he looked. He picked it up with stiff fingers and saw the news alert. Another update about the hit-and-run. Police were asking for witnesses. CCTV. A blurred image of a car. A plea for anyone with information to come forward.
“What is it?” Rick asked.
Allen held the phone up. “They’re asking for witnesses.”
Rick’s expression didn’t change. He stepped closer and looked at the screen. “It’s fine,” Rick said.
“It’s not fine,” Allen snapped.
Rick’s eyes flicked to Allen’s. “It is. They don’t have anything.”
Allen swallowed. “How do you know?”
Rick didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. Allen stared at the news alert again, the phone shaking in his hands.
Rick’s voice stayed low. “Allen.”
Allen looked at him.
Rick held his gaze. “Don’t do this to yourself.”
Allen’s laugh came out more like a choked sob. “Don’t do what?”
