“Yes, but I know how tonothurt someone seriously too,” Xander said distractedly. His eyes were narrowed on where Ryan was now pressed into my side before flicking up to my face. I didn’t know what he saw there. Was it my terror that Ryan would realise and move away? The fact that I was holding my breath, like the mere rise and fall of my chest might alert him to our closeness?
Whatever it was, it had Xander smiling softly. “I think Dominic and I are going to get on great.”
I inclined my head. I had to talk now. It’d be weird if I didn’t. “I think so too.”
“Max, on the other hand.” Xander whistled. “Fair warning, I won’t be holding back with him.”
I pictured it and chuckled. “Can I be there when you’re introduced?”
Ryan whipped his head around to stare at me. “So you can stop it happening?”
“No, Shadow, so I can watch.”
Xander barked out a laugh. “Yeah, I was right. We’re going to get on like a house on fire.”
“But it’s Max,” Ryan whispered, searching my face. “You always defend him.”
I turned to face him, giving in to the temptation to cup his cheeks, just as he had with me earlier. “Not when it comes to you, Shadow. I hurt you, and I deserved to be punched. Max also hurt you and, worse, he hasn’t apologised yet. So yeah, he definitely fucking deserves it. If he doesn’t reach out soon, he’ll have me lining up behind Xander for a crack at him myself.”
“Men,” Ryan huffed, pulling out from under my arm.My heart ached until I realised he wasn’t moving away for any negative reason, but just to pick up the soup. “So fucking dramatic, honestly. How women got the reputation as the emotional sex is beyond me.”
I smiled indulgently as I watched him walk from the room. “Do you think he’s forgotten he’s a man too?”
I turned back, expecting to see Xander grinning along with me. But all traces of joviality were gone. His gaze was ruthless as he took a step closer to me and dropped his voice low. “I mean it, man. Hurt Ryan again and I’ll fucking end you. Got it?”
If he thought I’d be pissed off by his threats, he was wrong. I was thrilled that Ryan had such a friend in his corner. He deserved it more than anyone. “Got it. I’m not going to tell you again that I won’t though. I’ll prove it by being here every day for him.”
Xander glared at me darkly. “Make sure you do that.”
I cocked my head, wondering what Ryan had told him to have him pulling his punch earlier. I didn’t believe for a second that it was just because I’d cared for him while he’d been sick. “It’s more likely that I’m going to be the one getting hurt at the end of this.”
“And I won’t lose a wink of sleep over it.” Xander’s lip curled back in a sneer. “It’ll be no less than you deserve.”
“I agree.”
Ryan wandered back into the room and Xander casually drew back a step. The easy grin he gave Ryan had my eyes narrowing. The guy slipped between personas faster than I did. It made me wonder if Ryan had ever seen the other side of him.
At least that wasn’t the case with me. Ry had seen me at my best and worst. There was no fear that I might reveal a part of myself he couldn’t stand. I already knew he wasbarely tolerating my presence. It was a relief, in a way, to know I was already at rock bottom.
Only path on from here was up.
“Go and get set up in the spare room,” Ryan said to Xander, jutting his chin in that direction. “You know where it is.”
Xander pouted. “Aren’t you going to help me with my luggage? You call this service?”
Ryan gave him a flat stare. “I call this ‘me doing you a favour by letting you crash rent-free in my place as long as needed.’”
“Git,” Xander muttered, bending to pick up his backpack. I grabbed his case, flushing as both he and Ryan turned to stare at me.
“What?” I grunted.
Xander’s eyes briefly flashed over me. “He does have all those gorgeous muscles. We might as well put them to good use.”
Ryan’s face darkened. He reached out and pinched Xander’s side. From how Xander winced, he hadn’t held back. “Keep checking him out and you’ll be sleeping on the fucking sofa.”
I turned away before either of them could see the smile on my lips. The smile that only widened at Xander’s drawled response. “Don’t worry, Ryan. I know the mythical and majestic Dominic is all yours.”
There was a smacking noise from behind me that had me biting back a laugh. Yeah, Xander and I were going to be great friends.
