Chapter Six
Adryan
Adryan sat back in his chair, nursing his beer and ignoring his phone. The thing beeped every other minute, and it was beginning to frustrate him. Madden didn’t need him that much. The man just wanted to piss Adryan off and he was doing a damn good job of it.
Shane sighed as he placed his phone on the table and picked his own beer up, taking a sip.
Adryan watched him, a small smile on his face.
He understood why some of the staff called him Dr. McSteamy.
Shane was damn good looking. Tall and toned, with dark stubble along his jaw.
Blue-eyed with short spiky brown hair, his slow easy smile had many of the nursing staff sighing.
Adryan had become immune to Shane’s looks years ago, but he could still appreciate his good looks.
‘So, Madden.’
Sipping his beer, Adryan shrugged. ‘Yep. Madden.’ His phone beeped just as he mentioned Madden’s name, like it was mocking him.
‘He’s changed since I last saw him.’
‘We’ve all changed since then.’ Adryan placed his glass on the table and ran his finger through the condensation on the side. He didn’t want to talk about Madden, not when he had to come to terms with finding Madden both attractive and annoying. ‘Michael concerns me.’
Grunting, Shane shook his head, staring off into the distance. ‘He’s drinking more.’
‘He always liked to drink, but yeah. John dying, then Madden returning.’ Adryan licked his lips, remembering how Madden had looked in the small bathroom in his hotel room. How Adryan had remained professional when Madden stood virtually naked in front of him and…
‘He needs professional help.’
His phone rang and Adryan let it go to voicemail. ‘You gonna be the one to tell him?’ Adryan watched Shane wince. ‘Yeah, me either. We both know how he’ll react.’
‘Then what do we do? We can’t leave him to carry on drinking. We both know where that ends.’
Adryan spread his hands wide. ‘So what? You know he’ll start a fight.
It’s what he does every time we so much as mention his drinking.
We never manage to get into an actual conversation with him because he kicks off and we have to drop the subject.
The only thing that might slow his drinking down is a health scare. ’
‘I’m not sure if he would stop even then,’ Shane muttered. ‘He always liked a drink.’
‘It’s gotten much worse since his injury. I thought when he married and had kids, he’d sort himself out, but here we are.’
‘Watching him drink himself to death.’
‘He’s not quite there yet.’ Adryan pursed his lips. Not yet, but at some point, he would be. That’s if he didn’t have an accident. ‘You know I pulled him over the other day?’
‘You did?’ Shane narrowed his eyes. ‘He was driving under the influence?’ Adryan nodded. ‘Fuck.’ Shane leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head. ‘Fuck.’ Dropping his hands, he shook his head. ‘What can we do?’
‘If he won’t sort himself out for Susan and the kids, what the fuck can we do?
’ Adryan watched a drop of moisture roll down the side of his glass, then glanced up when he heard the distant sound of thunder rolling across the sky.
‘We could ask Madden…’ Wincing, he ran a hand over his face, catching the look of disbelief on Shane’s face. ‘I know. Forget it.’
‘You must be desperate if you’re suggesting Madden just to avoid doing it yourself.’
‘Not seeing you sign up for it.’ Adryan arched an eyebrow at Shane, who had the grace to flush and glance away. ‘Neither of us wants to approach the subject with him, but we both know we have to. He’s our friend, and he needs us whether he wants us or not.’
Both men fell silent, and Adryan exhaled heavily.
‘Did you ever think we’d be sitting here discussing this? I knew he liked a drink, but I never thought it would get to the point where we thought he needed talking to.’
Adryan looked up at Shane, who had spoken. ‘No,’ he murmured.
‘Susan said he’s getting worse,’ Shane added.
Adryan didn’t respond. They both knew Michael’s drinking had grown worse, but there was little they could do about it. Talking to him ended up with them arguing and Michael threatening them and Susan and the kids then had to deal with his temper. It wasn’t fair to them.
Another rumble of thunder rolled across the sky, and the dark clouds appeared closer.
Adryan smiled slightly, remembering the time he, Shane and Michael had gone out fishing and been caught in a storm.
Madden had appeared at some point - Adryan couldn’t remember why - and the four of them had walked home in the pouring rain.
Michael had been poking Madden, swearing at him and calling him an assfucker.
Madden had come out only a month earlier and now, Michael picked on him relentlessly.
Which really wasn’t that different from before Madden had told them he was gay.
Shane had told Michael to knock it off, and that had resulted in the two of them shouting and swearing at each other.
Adryan had watched Madden and noticed him.
Noticed him more than his friend’s younger brother.
The T-shirt he wore was soaked and sticking to his skin.
It was then Adryan noticed Madden wasn’t as skinny as he used to be.
‘What?’ Madden muttered, catching Adryan’s eyes on him.
‘Are you okay?’ Adryan refused to acknowledge the heat on his cheeks.
Madden shrugged. ‘I’m used to it.’
‘Maybe you shouldn’t have said anything.’
Madden glared at him. ‘I shouldn’t have to hide who I am.’
‘No, but it would have been easier if you’d waited until you’d left.’
Sneering, Madden shook his head. ‘Easier for who? I would have to deal with this whether I kept quiet or not. He hates me and I hate him. I can’t wait to leave this bumfuck town.’
‘Madden, don’t be like that,’ Adryan spoke quietly, aware of Shane and Michael shouting behind them. The situation sounded like Adryan might have to jump in and separate them.
Madden glanced at Michael and Shane. ‘There’s nothing for me here.’ Staring back at Adryan, he added, ‘What reason do I have to stay? To be bullied by all of you?’ Madden nodded toward Michael and Shane.
‘I’m not like that.’ Even as Adryan said the words, he knew them to be nothing but lies. When Michael started on Madden, he joined in because he didn’t want Michael to figure out he was like Madden. Gay.
‘Really,’ Madden had scoffed.
‘I say we do rock, paper, scissors to decide who speaks to Michael.’ Adryan came back to the present when Shane spoke.
‘Only because you win every time we do. I say coin flip.’
Adryan’s phone beeped again, and he ground his teeth together.
What did Madden want this time? Was he struggling to stand?
Pour himself a drink? Jack off? Adryan fidgeted in his chair, thinking about Madden naked.
He knew what he looked like, had touched his skin, and had struggled to keep his dick under control.
Seeing Madden virtually naked had shaken Adryan. His tanned skin, dark stubble on his jaw, strong arms, abs that made Adryan drool, and his thighs and ass. Adryan wanted his hands on Madden’s ass, wanted to pull them apart and—
‘Hey! Adryan! You there?’
‘Where else would I be?’ Adryan swallowed, pushing thoughts of Madden and his delectable body to one side.
‘I said heads.’
Leaning forward, Adryan put his elbows on the table and looked at Shane. ‘I’m dealing with the factory for my parents, and now I’m helping Madden—’
‘Perfect! You’re in contact with Madden, so ask him.’
‘Yeah. I can see him jumping for joy and agreeing to talk to Michael or spend any time around him. He’s only here because of the crash and he can’t drive right now. As soon as he can leave, we won’t see him again. He hates Michael, and the feeling is more than mutual. We both know this.’
‘I don’t want to speak to him about it. There I said it. I don’t want to deal with it. I’ve been dealing with his shit for years.’
‘We’ve been dealing with his shit for years.’ Adryan’s phone rang, and he grabbed it, answering the call with a snapped, ‘What?’
‘I need help.’
‘Now?’ Shane grinned at him, nodding enthusiastically. Just perfect. Just fucking perfect. ‘I’m on my way.’ Adryan hung up without giving Madden the chance to reply. He picked up his beer and gulped it down then stood. ‘Fine. I’ll mention it to Madden and that’s it.’
Shane clapped his hands together, then waved him off. ‘Go on then. Let me know what Madden says.’
‘We both know how he’s going to react. You can deal with the fallout.’
Adryan stepped out of the elevator and stomped along the hallway to Madden’s hotel room.
Banging on the door, he stood, hands on hips, waiting for Madden to open the door.
He tapped his foot as the seconds ticked by, becoming more frustrated with Madden and his unending demands on Adryan and his time.
When the door eventually opened, Adryan didn’t wait for an invitation to enter.
He pushed right past Madden and stormed inside.
‘What is so urgent that you had to call eleven times and leave twenty-three text messages? You couldn’t simply tell me instead of demanding I come here?
’ Adryan spun around and stopped talking when he saw Madden’s bare chest. ‘Oh.’
Madden rolled his eyes. ‘You’re a paramedic. You’ve seen plenty of chests before unless you’re scared you might like it.’
Adryan snorted. It was either that or he admitted that yes, he did like seeing Madden without a shirt on. He’d prefer less clothing actually, but he wasn’t ready to say that and he knew for a fact Madden wasn’t ready to hear it.
‘What do you need so desperately that I had to drop everything and come over?’
‘I don’t need you,’ Madden snapped.
‘Really?’ Adryan folded his arms across his chest, staring at Madden. ‘So you just wanted to see me. I’m flattered, but I was out and having fun. Now I’m here and not having fun.’
‘Sorry to cockblock you.’ Madden sneered as he looked Adryan up and down. ‘Guess you need all the attention you can get.’
Adryan took a deep breath in and counted to ten. He was not going to say anything that would make this situation worse. He needed Madden’s help, or rather, Mark did. ‘How can I help?’ he muttered through gritted teeth.
Smirking, Madden picked up a sheet of paper and held it out. ‘I need these items. Go get them for me.’
That was it. Fuck the factory and fuck Madden. ‘You know what? Fuck you. Get them yourself.’
Adryan spun on his heel and took two steps before he heard Madden speak. ‘I’ve set up an appointment with the factory owners.’
Adryan stopped and slowly turned to face Madden. ‘What?’
Madden continued to smirk and held the sheet of paper out. ‘I made the appointment for your father to meet the owners. Now, get me what I need.’
Adryan stared at Madden, eyes wide. ‘You actually managed to make them come? We’ve been trying for months and got nowhere. How did you do it?’
Madden shook the sheet of paper. ‘I made a couple of calls.’ He shrugged nonchalantly. ‘It was nothing.’
The imperial way he spoke grated on Adryan and he flattened his lips, his eyes narrowing. ‘Look, Maddy, stop with the attitude.’
‘The name is Madden. No one calls me Maddy or Mad anymore.’
‘That’s because you’ve surrounded yourself with people who say yes to everything. I’m not one of them.’
‘No, you’re the one who stood by and laughed as Michael beat the shit out of me.
I really should thank you for that, because now I have this body instead of the scrawny one I used to have.
’ The muscles in Madden’s arms tightened and relaxed, and Adryan licked his lips as he watched.
His eyes darted away, and he ignored the look Madden gave him.
‘You’re right. I stood there and did nothing, and for that, I’m sorry.’
‘Wow. I should mark this down in my calendar. Adryan apologized for being a selfish cunt.’
‘Madden,’ Adryan snapped. Madden laughed, but there was no humor in the sound.
He shook his head and turned away, giving Adryan the opportunity to watch the way the muscles that ran along Madden’s back moved.
Madden was right. Adryan had stood back and laughed when Michael had hurt him.
The anger drained out of him. ‘I should have apologized a long time ago.’
‘It doesn’t matter now.’ The words were faint, but they still held a hint of pain that pulled at Adryan.
‘Michael was my friend, and we were kids then.’ He saw Madden tense, the shoulders held rigid. ‘That doesn’t excuse it. I know I was wrong and I’m sorry. I should have done something back then.’
Madden was quiet for a few seconds, then said, ‘The meeting has been scheduled for Friday next week. Let Mark know.’ He paused and cleared his throat. ‘I would be grateful if you could get those items for me.’
Adryan’s mouth fell open. Madden was trying to be nice? At that exact moment, Madden’s phone rang and he picked it up. A second later, his face hardened and Adryan knew who was calling.