Pain flickered over his face. “I missed you.”
He reached across the table, but I cleared my throat as I tucked my hands into my lap. “Maybe we can be friends. I’d like that.”
His hand stopped on the table as he stared at where mine had disappeared. “I don’t want to be your friend, Shadow.”
“Bit harsh,” I said feebly, trying to ease the tension. “I’m a fantastic friend.”
“I’m sure you are.” He looked up at my face. “But I want more than that, Ry. I always will.”
“I can’t give you more. This is all I have right now, Dom. It’s this or nothing.”
He thought about it for a second before shaking his head. “No.”
“What do you mean no?”
Dom shrugged, utterly calm. “I mean no. I don’t accept that.”
As fast as that, I was annoyed again. “You know I’m my own person, right? You can’t dictate how I feel.”
“I can’t,” he agreed, stretching his legs out under the table until his feet brushed against mine. “But seeing as you’re still in love with me, I don’t need to. I just need to wait until you wake up and realise it.”
“I’m leaving.” I got to my feet. “I’m not getting into this again, Dom. I don’t have the energy.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry, Shadow, I have enough stamina for both of us.”
15
Ryan
My evening with Dom was weighing on my mind as I walked into the bar I’d agreed to meet Max at. I was slightly late; not due to anything running over, but because I hadn’t been sure if I was going to show up.
I’d spent the last ten minutes pacing up and down a nearby alleyway, debating all the pros and cons of going through with this. Ultimately, it all boiled down to one thing.
Dominic had been brave and given Frank a chance.
I could do the same with Max.
You’re not the boy he once knew,I reminded myself as I pushed through the crowd.He can’t intimidate you now. You’re worth ten of him.
I wished I could believe it. But as I spotted him at a table in the back, I felt like that insecure kid again, chasing after Max and Dom. Praying that they might notice me.
Max was turning a glass around in his hands. When I drew nearer, his head snapped up. He hastily got to his feet and rounded the table. “You came.”
I nodded curtly. “Said I would.”
Max gave me a sad smile. “Wouldn’t have blamed you if you didn’t.”
He jerked forward like he was going to offer me a hug, but caught himself with a wince at the last moment. As my lips twitched, he gave me a rueful smile and rubbed the back of his neck. “Fuck, I’m terrible at this. Sorry. I’ve imagined it a million times, but now it’s here…”
There was something so vulnerable in that statement that it had me feeling something I’d never thought I would for Max.
Pity.
“Let’s sit down,” I said. “Looks like you’ve got the drinks in.”
“Remembered you like whisky now,” Max said, retaking his seat as I did the same. “At least, that’s what you were drinking at your stag do.”
I picked up the glass and took a sip. “Surprised you noticed.”
