Chapter Nine
Even though he was headed for the hospital, there was still a part of Court that wondered if this was a game. He honestly didn’t put anything past his dad. On the flip side of things, there were so many ways his dad could turn up dead. Overdose. Car crash while high. Finally getting his comeuppance with the wrong person he had crossed. He didn’t know what to expect. Court didn’t know why he cared. The closer he got to the room, the less he wanted to go. Maybe he was coldhearted. Possibly, he had finally been completely used up. No matter the reason, his initial worry and terror were gone, leaving behind an odd ambivalence. He was here, though. Court might as well find out why.
The last thing he expected, even though he didn’t know why, was to find his father sitting up in bed, looking relatively fine. His gray-tinged blond hair stood in every direction and his eye was black. Otherwise, his mom looked worse than him from all the crying.
“This is bad?” Even Court heard the incredulous note in his voice.
His mother wailed. “Look at his legs,” she demanded between obnoxious cries. “Look what they did to him. How is he supposed to work like that?”
His dad’s legs were both tightly wrapped, as if possibly broken. He looked guilty, which only furthered Court’s annoyance. They hadn’t let Heath come back with him to the room since he wasn’t family. Court wished like hell he was there. He had a bad feeling he would need Heath to stop him from pouncing. His eye twitched. Then a cold calm settled over him.
“Well, I imagine he was too high at the time to have felt any of this.” He held his dad’s stare. “So, which debt got you into this?”
His dad looked away.
Court realized he felt nothing except tired. “It seems it’s time for you to sell the house. You’ve got nothing else, and I’m done. Honestly, I’m surprised you lasted this long.” He heard how cold he sounded. There was no regret or sadness in him. These weren’t the same people who raised him. They had let money change them into strangers.
“You can’t leave us without a house. Call Portland. He’ll do anything for a night with you. He’s always taken care of you in the past.”
Court felt sick. Of all the insults and insinuations that had been flung his way over the past few years, he honestly had never felt like a whore. He knew his boundaries, even if no one else saw them. But in that moment, Court realized something so monumental, it broke him. His parents thought he whored for them, and they were fine as long as they got everything they wanted. Court didn’t speak. He simply walked away. His mom’s high-pitched wails followed him, but he didn’t truly hear a thing. All he wanted was to get back to where love lived. His heart shattered and then hardened with every step. For the first time, he fully realized his parents were gone. All he had in this world was Heath. The man who Court had spent his life stuck between loving and hating was the only person who gave a single fuck about him. Court would pour everything into him.
Heath looked worried when he spotted Court. He stood. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m done.” He took Heath’s hand and headed for the door. Thankfully, Heath didn’t ask questions. He simply followed Court’s lead.
Inside the car, Heath didn’t start it right away. He stared at nothing for a minute before finally meeting Court’s stare. “I’m sorry.”
A sad smile tugged at Court’s lips. “Me too, but I’ll be okay.”
Heath kissed his hand. “Damn right.”
For a moment, they simply stared at each other. Court didn’t know what to do or say. It was just them now. All it had taken was one night to show them they were all they needed, but Court didn’t know how to put into words the way Heath had saved him. He didn’t know how to express the way he felt—deep in his soul—that he had always wanted Heath, because they were meant for each other.
But once again, Heath ended up being the one with the words. “Do you remember the night we played spin the bottle?”
A loud snort burst from Court. “Vividly.”
“Good.” Heath bit his bottom lip, looking slightly guilty. “I called you over to play with us.”
Court smiled. “I recall.”
“I stopped that bottle on you on the sly.”
Court couldn’t help but laugh. “You did not.”
“I did.”
For a second, Court floundered. He wanted to call bullshit again, but he hadn’t been joking. Court recalled every second of that night with crystal clarity. His brain locked on the moment that bottle landed on him. Court had watched that bottle spin with a desperation of his entire life riding on the outcome. Damn. Heath had stopped it. It had been sly. If Court hadn’t been watching so intently, he would have missed it. At the time, he had merely thought Heath had dropped the cigarette he had been handing to his friend, but the drop had been exact, stopping the bottle on Court.
His gaze snapped to Heath.
A wry smile touched Heath’s lips. “I wasn’t oblivious. Like I said, you went by a different name back then, and obviously, you looked completely different, but I saw you. No one else stared at me the way you did. You always had so much heat in your eyes. It was a horny teen's dream. Why do you think I blew so fast the moment you touched me? I knew you’d burn me to the ground, but I was a shithead, and you were nobody. I didn’t know how to get you alone without…”
“Humiliating yourself,” Court finished for him.
Heath winced. “Like I said, I was a shithead.”
“You actually weren’t.”
Heath looked confused as fuck.
Court didn’t make him ask. “It was never your athleticism or popularity that caught my eye. You were nice. I know you don’t remember, but I recall every tiny detail. You used to position your body in the locker room so the other guys didn’t look my way and make fun of my weight while changing for gym. You always included people who never got included in anything. I noticed all those things. In fact, I suppose that was one of the biggest reasons I was crushed by the cruelty. In my head, I’d built you up to be this amazing guy. It was a hard drop from the pedestal I had built for you. Funnily enough, it turns out you really are amazing. Life is funny.” It was absolutely crazy to him that Heath had wanted him before Court changed himself to unrecognizable from his fat days.
“We were one hundred percent meant to be. All this other shit is terrible, but we’ve always had each other, even when we didn’t realize it. Just because we went our separate ways for a while and I forgot about those days, everything looks so clear now. It was always us.”
“Thank god.” Court had never meant anything more. Without Heath, he had no idea where he would be right then, but he knew it would be terrible.
Heath leaned across the car and stole a kiss. “I love you. Do you trust me to make everything better?”
Court couldn’t help but smile. “Always.”
“Good.” Heath settled back and started the car. “Close your eyes. Get some rest. I’ve got you.”
Court did as told. He knew Heath had him. They always had each other.
They had to move on with their lives. There was too much drama. It felt like they couldn’t simply be a happy couple without some over-the-top bullshit. Heath needed to put his foot down. It seemed as if he had been calling in every favor he had since they started dating. Court was worth it. Heath grabbed his phone and texted Noir before pulling from the parking lot. Since the hospital hadn’t let him go back with Court, Heath had reached out to Noir. He knew if anyone had heard the gossip, it was him. Heath hadn’t been wrong. Drue’s debts had come calling. Apparently, that was exactly what Court needed to finally fully walk away. Unfortunately, he didn’t think walking away guaranteed Court would be safely left out of the equation if Drue didn’t find a way to pay. That meant Heath had to once and for all solidify Court’s position in the community. He would no longer be Drue Langley’s son. Court would be Heath Overton’s husband. That mattered more than because of money and stature. Heath was best friends with Prince Noir. There were some people no one dared fuck with. Noir was at the absolute top of that list.
Heath drove on autopilot while plotting the best he could with very little time. Tonight, they needed sleep. Court had left his phone with Heath while he visited his father. Heath had used the opportunity to block all Court’s family contacts. So at least they should have a phone call-free night. They needed more than that. Court looked mentally and physically exhausted. Heath wasn’t far behind him.
He pulled into a circular drive and put the car in park.
Court’s eyes shot open. He blinked at their surroundings as a royal guard opened his door. “Where are we?”
“Prince Noir’s,” Heath answered as he climbed from the car and passed his keys to a different guard. They would know better than him how to keep his vehicle protected overnight. He took Court’s hand and headed for the door. Noir waited for them. Court looked half dead but still awed. Even though they ran in the same circles, Heath doubted Noir had ever spoken to Court. One of them or not, Court would be beneath him.
Thankfully, Noir didn’t look as cold as he could be tonight. He focused on Heath. “You made it faster than I expected.”
Heath chuckled. “I’m fucking exhausted.”
Noir’s light green gaze shifted Court’s way. “You look tired too. I’ve had a room opened for you. You have nothing to worry about here.”
Even though Court was visibly confused, he still managed a sweet smile. “Thank you.”
Noir nodded. “I’ll leave you to it. Ajax will show you the way.”
“Thank you.”
Noir gave him a quick hug. “Of course. You’d do the same for me.”
Noir’s huge, long-time guard led the way through Noir’s enormous estate. Only because Heath had been there countless times did he know his way around.
Court didn’t speak until they were alone in a guest room. “I take it we’re staying the night.”
Heath flashed Court a smile before turning back the covers on the cozy-looking bed. He patted the mattress. “Not only will no one bother us for the rest of the night, Noir’s guards are some of the best in the world. You’re completely safe here.”
Court didn’t move. “You think I’m not safe?”
Heath didn’t respond.
Court’s shoulders fell. He took off his shoes and walked to the bed, looking defeated.
Heath stopped him before he could climb beneath the covers and helped him strip. “This is just for a couple of days, at most. Honestly, I’m hoping it’s just for tonight. It depends on you.” He paused in stealing Court’s clothes to hold his stare. “It depends on how quickly you’re willing to marry me.”
For a moment, Court merely looked stunned before his expression turned sad. “I never wanted you to be forced to marry me. You don’t deserve this.”
Irritation flared inside him. “Are you being serious right now?” He angrily divested Court of the remainder of his clothes. “After everything we’ve talked about. Every confession. You still think I don’t want to marry you?” His gaze snapped to Court’s with every bit of rage he felt. “You’re a fucking idiot.”
To his surprise, Court smiled. He cupped Heath’s face. “But I’m your idiot.” Court kissed his nose. “I’m ready to get married whenever you are. Nothing would make me happier.”
Heath’s shoulders relaxed. He realized his exhaustion made him a bit touchy. “Sorry.” He turned sheepish. “I love you. Can we please get some sleep?”
Court kissed him and dutifully climbed into bed. Heath stripped before turning off the lights and joining him. As Court molded against him, finding his usual sleeping position, Heath realized he was smiling. Somehow, it had been the best and worst night of his life. He had lost a lot and gained even more. A win was a win. He would take it.