Chapter 15 - Boundaries #2
Dear William,
I just met Kyle, our downstairs neighbor! He kindly invited me over for dinner tonight, so I won’t be home when you return.
I wish you a wonderful evening.
Warmest regards,
Adathan S Eden
William stopped in front of number five, his fist itching to knock. It was clear to him why Kyle had invited Adathan over, and it had nothing to do with kindness. William regretted not having warned Adathan about this douchebag.
He leaned closer to the door and listened, but their conversation was too muffled for him to make out.
All he could discern was Adathan’s bright laugh—and the distinct smell of pizza from the Italian restaurant down the block.
Adathan was either having the time of his life, or pretending to, and William had no way of knowing which it was.
Maybe he could make up a reason to speak with him, just to make sure he was all right . . .
No.
William stepped away from the door before he did something stupid. Adathan was a free man—free to hang out with whoever he wanted to. Even free to become a cam boy if he so pleased.
William shook that image from his mind, his heart squeezing with worry as he climbed the stairs to the fourth floor.
He wished he could tell Adathan to be careful.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust him, but men like Kyle were notorious manipulators.
With his angelic looks and his willingness to please, Adathan could land him a fortune.
As soon as William got his first paycheck from the raise, he was going to get Adathan a phone. It was clear now that Adathan had no intention of staying cooped up at home—which was a good thing.
But the laptop didn’t fit into his pocket.
William let out a sigh as he reached his apartment.
He spotted the drawing Adathan had left on the dining table—a stunning praying mantis perched atop a blooming orchid. William admired the intricate details and vivid colors, glad he’d thought to give Adathan his art supplies. It was absolutely gorgeous.
He read the note at the bottom.
I made some mac and cheese for you. It’s in the refrigerator. I hope you like it!
William perked up. There was no better way to end a workweek than with an ungodly amount of cheese. And a beer.
He dropped his backpack on a chair and took out the two beers he’d bought for tonight—the same they’d drunk at the hotel. He opened the nunchuck-wielding beaver one, and stored the tricycle-riding polar bear in the fridge for Adathan.
William’s phone buzzed as he took a swig. He grabbed it from his pocket and read the text Oliver had sent him.
? Oliver: Have you seen this? [Magnate Hector Leclerc Under Investigation for Sanctions Evasion and Tax Fraud]
William’s jaw dropped. He tapped the link, but his stupid phone chose that moment to shut down. Fucking battery barely lasted nine hours now.
He put down his beer and plugged in his phone on the counter before rushing to the sofa, grabbing Adathan’s laptop from the coffee table on the way.
His pulse quickened as he unlocked it. Could there truly be justice in this world? Would Richard and his family finally get what they had coming? It was hard to believe, but William’s nonsensical week was evidence that anything could happen.
He froze, taking in the last webpage Adathan had visited.
How to Stop Loving Someone Who Doesn’t Love You Back
His smile fell. His heart sank. His stomach knotted.
Against his better judgment, William moved the cursor to the three dots in the top right corner. He clicked. He selected History.
A massive list of articles appeared.
Six Signs You Might Be Smothering Your Partner
How to Respect Other People’s Boundaries
Four Ways to Give Someone Space Without Losing Them
The Ultimate Guide to Being a Good Friend
Are You Needy? – How to Overcome Emotional Dependency
It went on and on, stretching from ten o’clock the night before—right after William had gone to bed—through the small hours of the morning and into the day that followed. Adathan had spent all night reading about relationships and boundaries.
William’s heart sank further when he reached Adathan’s history from two days ago. It only contained a handful of web searches: wildlife photography, easy five-ingredient recipes, and how to care for a zamioculcas zamiifolia plant.
What happened?
William winced. He knew exactly what had happened. Oliver must have talked to him about boundaries.
Shit.
And now Adathan was having dinner with the douchebag downstairs, just to give William space.
William set down the laptop on the coffee table and darted toward the door, not bothering to put on his shoes. He rushed down the stairs, hesitating for a split second before knocking.
He had just long enough to realize he didn’t know what he was going to say before the door opened.
A shirtless man with absurdly defined abs and spiky hair cracked the door open, his gray sweatpants hanging so low they left nothing to the imagination. He made a show of looking William up and down with pure disinterest before saying, “Yeah?”
“Is Adathan here?” William asked, doing his best to sound friendly. He didn’t want to cause trouble—he just wanted to make sure Adathan really wanted to be here. That was all.
“Why?”
William clenched his fists at his sides.
Kyle smelled of alcohol, and judging by his dilated pupils and twitching jaw, it wasn’t the only substance in his bloodstream.
An alarm went off in William’s chest. He tried to look into Kyle’s apartment, but the asshole straightened to hide the view, lifting his chin defiantly.
“I’m here to get him,” William said, struggling to keep his voice relaxed.
Kyle sneered. “Who are you—his dad?”
Hot anger erupted in William’s chest. He took a step forward and stared the man down, ignoring the fact that Kyle could knock him out with one punch.
He gritted his teeth, his own jaw twitching with repressed fury.
Adathan was too good for this world. Too good for these vultures who had no qualms exploiting others for their personal gain.
The words burst out of him before he registered them: “I’m his boyfriend.”
“Hey, relax, man,” Kyle said, lifting his hands in surrender. “We were just hanging out.” He took a step back and opened the door wide. “Adathan, your boyfriend wants you home.”
William’s heart skipped a beat at his blunder.
Fuck.
His gaze met Adathan’s, whose face showed no sign of surprise. For a moment, William clung to the hope that Adathan didn’t understand the word, but of course he did. After all the articles he’d read about relationships, there was no way he didn’t.
Adathan stood up from the black leather couch and made his way toward the door, looking far more relaxed than William felt. Two glasses of red wine sat on the coffee table, alongside a pizza box and two plates. From the look of it, they’d just started eating.
William ignored the guilt poking at his heart. He didn’t care whether he was ruining Adathan’s evening—he wanted him out of this apartment.
And away from Kyle.
Adathan bent down to put on his loafers. Kyle crossed his arms, staring at William with a smirk that made his fists itch.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Adathan told Kyle with a smile.
“Anytime.”
Adathan gave Kyle a hug. He gave him a fucking hug.
And it hit William.
Adathan hadn’t hugged him once since they’d come back from Oliver’s place yesterday. In fact, he’d been uncharacteristically distant, which William had chalked up to him needing space after a full day of socializing.
But no. It was clear now. It had been deliberate.
An awkward silence followed William and Adathan as they made their way to the fourth floor. Adathan was still smiling, but his gaze was unfocused. Empty.
As William’s nerves settled, regret flooded him. What the hell had he done?
He’d invaded Adathan’s privacy the first chance he had. Then he’d let his emotions take control, and he’d acted like a possessive asshole—and not even because he’d been afraid for Adathan’s safety. His motive had been entirely selfish.
Adathan had only been part of William’s life for six days, and yet, the thought of losing him was unbearable.
But William wasn’t allowed to feel this way. Adathan deserved to be with someone he chose, not the person he’d been conditioned to believe he loved. Who was William to decide Kyle wasn’t good enough for him?
“Should I have asked permission?”
Adathan’s words shook William back to the present. “No, no,” he said, closing the door to their apartment. “Of course not. I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have come to get you. I just . . .”
He just what? What the hell could he say now to justify his behavior?
Adathan cocked his head, his smile stirring painful warmth in William’s chest. “You wanted my company?”
William ran his fingers through his hair. “Y-yeah,” he said, even though it made him feel all sorts of confused, and guilty, and vulnerable.
Because he couldn’t say no.
But most importantly, because it was the truth.