Chapter One
Justin Ashton sat alone at a table in the dimly lit club, watching his friends dance and have fun.
Henry was on his third dance partner and looked like he couldn’t be happier.
Next to him, Maddox and his boyfriend Emmanuel cuddled close, swaying to the music.
He should have been having a great time, too, but he wasn’t.
What he was, was burned out. Work had really picked up lately and they’d been incredibly busy.
He didn’t mind though; he loved his job at S he wanted what they had.
In the six months that they’d been dating, he’d never seen his best friend happier or more relaxed.
He almost never stressed out anymore. Justin knew that was because he had Emmanuel to go home to, to help him unwind.
He needed that, needed someone to share his life with, not just his bed.
“You look like you’re having a great time,” Maddox said teasingly upon looking him over.
“I’m good.” Justin thanked the waitress for his beer then took a long drink.
“Hey, cutie.” A man came over to them. “Wanna dance?”
Justin turned to look at him. He was of medium height and trim with golden-blond hair pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. He was cute, in a boy-next-door kind of way, which Justin was usually really into. “Thanks, but I’m kind of just hanging out with my friends tonight.”
“Too bad,” the guy said in a flirty voice. “I’ll be around if you change your mind.” He walked away, looking over his shoulder to wink at Justin.
“You okay, Justin?” Maddox questioned. “Normally you’d be all over that offer. He’s totally your type.”
“Yeah, well.” Justin shrugged. “I guess I’m just having an off night.” He looked at his friends. Maddox had his arm around Emmanuel’s waist, holding him close to his side.
“I need a break,” Henry said exaggeratedly, flouncing down into an empty chair and fanning himself. “This was a great idea, Justin. I’m having a blast. How about you guys?”
“There’s something wrong with Justin,” Maddox spoke up. “See the guy at the bar in the red shirt with the ponytail?”
Henry turned to look. “Yeah. And?”
“Justin turned him down,” Maddox answered.
“Why? He’s totally your type.” Henry looked quizzically at Justin. “Are you sick or something?”
Justin rolled his eyes. “Just because I don’t feel like fucking some random guy tonight doesn’t mean that something is wrong.”
“Of course it does,” Henry insisted. “So, tell us what it is.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” Justin shrugged, again looking over at Maddox and Emmanuel.
He shook his head. He couldn’t have that.
He had way too much baggage for anyone to want more than sex from him.
Five years ago, his stepfather, Aiden, was involved in a horrible car accident that claimed his life.
Justin had dropped out of college and given up everything to come home and take care of his mother and young sisters.
And who was going to want a guy with three kids that lived with his mother?
Emmanuel leaned over and whispered something in Maddox’s ear. Maddox smiled and nodded. “Would you dance with me?” Emmanuel asked Justin.
“Sure.” Justin grabbed Emmanuel’s hand and led him to the floor. “Thanks for saving me from twenty questions.”
“Can I ask you one?” Emmanuel looked worried and Justin wondered why. He nodded and Emmanuel continued, “Have I done something wrong?”
“What? No.” Justin was quick to assure him. While Emmanuel had gotten a lot better and gained a ton of self-confidence, Justin knew that he still struggled with the trauma inflicted on him by his ex-boyfriend. “Why would you think that?”
“You keep staring at me, and you don’t seem happy,” Emmanuel answered quietly. Justin noticed that his body was a little tense and he seemed anxious.
“I’m not upset with you, Emmanuel.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Do you want to know the truth?” Justin sighed. “I’m jealous.”
“Of what?” Emmanuel wondered.
“You and Maddox. Of what you have,” Justin answered. “I want that. I don’t want it all to be about sex anymore.”
“You want to fall in love,” Emmanuel said softly.
“Yeah, but it’s not going to happen,” Justin said sadly.
“You shouldn’t give up. You just haven’t met the right person yet,” Emmanuel offered his opinion.
“I don’t think it’s in the cards for me, man.”
“You never know,” Emmanuel told him. “Sometimes it happens when you least expect it.” The song ended. “Thanks for the dance,” Emmanuel said as they headed back to the table.
“I think that’s it for me, guys,” Justin told his friends before they could further inquire about his odd mood. He didn’t feel like talking about it, so he’d leave it to Emmanuel to fill them in.
“What? Why?” Henry pouted.
“I’m wiped out. Later.” Justin walked away without another word.
The insistent ringing of the phone woke William Harper from his deep sleep.
He groaned and looked at the time; five thirty in the morning.
What the hell could be so important at this time of day?
He’d had a very late night with his man and hadn’t gotten home until around three.
He tried to ignore it, but it just wouldn’t stop.
William made a frustrated noise and grabbed the phone.
Scarlett Ivy, his best friend, and the advice columnist at the paper he worked for. He hit the answer button.
“This better be important,” he said grumpily.
“Oh, it is.” She sounded a tad pissed off. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” she demanded.
“Tell you what?” He yawned.
“Get your ass out of bed and to your computer. The Sun broke the story this morning.”
“What story?”
“You’ll see,” she told him.
“Fine. I’m going.” He stretched then grabbed his laptop off the nightstand, pulling up the tabloid. And there he was, splashed across the front page with his arms around his famous boyfriend. “Damn. We weren’t ready to go public yet.”
“You better read the article,” she advised, her voice sympathetic.
“‘Baseball superstar Sebastian Evans was seen at a downtown New York apartment building cuddling up to a man who was identified as William Harper, the sports reporter for the Herald,’” he read. “Dammit, Sebastian is not going to be happy about this.”
“Keep reading, love.” She sounded sad.
“Okay.” He continued, “‘When reached out for a comment, Evans stated he was just escorting the very drunk reporter home. He claims Harper got completely wasted during the interview and he didn’t feel comfortable leaving him to helplessly fend for himself. So, he did what any decent human being would do and got him a cab and made sure he got home. Once there, according to the newly engaged Evans, Harper hit on him, but he turned him down, saying that he could never hurt his fiancé Mark that way.’ What the hell?
” The hurt William felt down to his bones must have been evident in his voice, but he continued reading anyway.
“‘We reached out to the Herald, but they declined to comment. Harper was also unavailable for comment.’ How the hell could he do this to me?” William was outraged.
“I had no idea he had a boyfriend or that they were engaged. I thought the secrecy was just because he just didn’t want to make it a big thing in the press. ”
“I’m sorry, sweets, but it gets worse,” Scarlett told him.
“My heart just got ripped out. How much worse can it get?” William asked with a groan.
She let out a sigh before answering. “Well, there’s paparazzi outside your building and the office, and Martha wants to see you ASAP.”
“Fuck!” He blew out a hard breath. “What the hell am I going to do?” he said, more to himself than his friend.
“Hope your building has a back exit,” she offered.
“I park in the garage, and the only access to it is through the building. But what am I going to do once I get to work?” William grumbled.
“Looks like it’s a baseball cap and dark glasses,” Scarlett suggested. “I’d tell you to hide out inside until this dies down, but you really need to get your ass up here.”
“I’m on my way.” He hung up and covered his face with his hands.
How could Sebastian do this to him? The bastard was in a serious relationship.
Just last night, he had been telling William that he couldn’t live without him and that he loved him.
Suddenly he felt very sick and had to race to the bathroom.