Chapter Eight
Adryan
Adryan pushed Shane off his lap and stood, rigid, staring at Michael. Everyone stared. Susan grabbed the kids and glared at him as she tried to comfort Lily who stood crying next to her. Adryan went to say something but Susan beat him to it.
‘You! You bastard. Doing this on Lily’s birthday. You need to sort yourself out, or we’re gone for good. I’m tired of dealing with you.’ Picking Lily up, Susan took little Mike’s hand and left.
Adryan glanced at Shane and then at Michael and saw the signs of an imminent eruption. Shane shook his head, sighed heavily, and grimaced when Michael began shouting. ‘Get the fuck out! All of you. Grab your kids and fuck off! I don’t want to see any of you fuckers in my house.’
Wincing, Adryan watched shocked parents grab their kids and disappear.
Even the white horse Lily had loved was gone, the owner throwing hard looks in Michael’s direction.
Within minutes, the yard stood empty except for the three of them.
Michael picked up a bottle of beer and threw it, before kicking over one of the lawn chairs.
Adryan watched, keeping well out of range.
He knew full well what Michael could do on a rampage and didn’t want to be on the end of a beating.
Exhaling heavily, he nudged Shane. ‘We should leave him to it.’
‘Yeah. Shit, A. This is fucked up. He needs help or he’s gonna lose Susan and the kids.’
‘Like he’s going to listen to us.’ Adryan nodded toward the house.
‘Let’s go while he’s distracted throwing shit.
’ Adryan jogged across the yard and into the house, then outside, noticing all the cars had gone.
The horse was being led into the horse trailer and Adryan considered speaking to the owner, but shook his head.
He didn’t wait around to see if Shane had followed. He wanted away. He wasn’t prepared to hang around in case Michael took his anger out on him. He’d done that enough times over the years and he was through.
‘Hold up.’ Shane caught up and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Shit. He completely lost it.’
‘Did you see how much beer he had? It was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan.’ Adryan strode down the path toward his car. Once he reached it, he put his hand on the roof, and faced Shane. ‘What the fuck was that in there?’
Shane shrugged, glancing away as he shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. ‘What’re you talking about? You saw what I did. Michael causing problems again.’
‘Not that, and you know exactly what I’m talking about. Hanging all over me like we’re dating or something. Why were you doing that?’
‘Ah come on, A. You had to have seen the looks Maddy gave you.’ Shane smirked. ‘Every time I got too close to you, his face got all twitchy.’
‘Twitchy? What are you talking about?’ Adryan put his hands on his hips, his foot tapping on the ground. Shane wasn’t making any sense. Madden pulling faces over how close they stood? Madden knew how close he and Shane were, so it wouldn’t have bothered him at all. What bullshit was Shane on?
‘You’re telling me you didn’t see the looks he shot us whenever we stood together?
’ Adryan shook his head. Shane had to have imagined it because there was no way in hell Madden was attracted to him.
Hell, Madden could barely stand to be in the same room as Adryan.
Madden having the hots for him actually made Adryan laugh.
Though it would have been nice because Madden had definitely filled out since he’d left, and Adryan had noticed.
Shane shook his head at him. ‘You must walk around with your eyes shut. No wonder you’re single.
Maddy hated us being close together, so I had to tease him a little.
’ Shane gave a half shrug as he spoke. ‘It was fun too, watching him glare at us. I could practically see the steam emerging from his ears, then Michael decided to end everyone’s fun. ’
Adryan looked back at the house. ‘I hope Susan and the kids are okay.’
‘They’re better off out of there.’
‘Yeah.’ Adryan rubbed a hand over his jaw, but Shane’s words kept circling back. ‘So he didn’t like me being close to you? You think he finds you attractive?’
Shane chuckled. ‘I know he does. I mean who could resist me?’ Shane waved a hand over his body.
Adryan knew all about that body having been to many gym sessions with Shane and he had worked hard to get in shape.
What Adryan hadn’t expected was the shot of jealousy he felt.
He glanced away from Shane, his jaw hardening, and it took a few deep breaths for the feeling to disappear.
‘I don’t think it was me he’s interested in. ’
Adryan shot Shane a look. ‘What?’ Shane thought Madden found him attractive? Now he didn’t feel like he wanted to punch Shane for what he did earlier. The thought of Madden finding Adryan attractive made him want to smile.
‘Maddy looked at you, Ry. He watched you and whenever I went near you and threw my arm over you, oohh the little green-eyed devil appeared. So much fun to watch.’ Shane rocked on his feet, grinning wide.
‘You thought it was fun to wind him up? After everything we put him through as a kid, you thought that would be a good thing to do?’ Now, that did piss Adryan off.
He didn’t want Madden to think he and Shane were involved.
Glancing away, Adryan furrowed his brow.
Did he want to try something with Madden?
He wouldn’t be staying for long. Licking his lips, he stared at Michael’s house, wincing when he heard something smashing inside. ‘He’s still going.’
‘Yeah but at least Susan and the kids are gone.’
‘Think she’ll go back?’ To the house or to Michael? At that point, Adryan wasn’t certain about the answer to either of those questions.
‘Maybe. Maybe not.’ Shane hissed when something else broke inside the house. ‘He’s going to lose her at some point if he doesn’t get help. I like Susan. Thought she’d help settle his ass down, but he’s only getting worse.’
‘We’re no closer to getting him help, unfortunately, and it’s not like he’s in any state to listen,’ Adryan murmured.
Everyone who knew Michael knew he needed help.
Several had tried to get him that much needed help but had been met with abuse and outright refusal.
Both he and Shane had tried many times, and it was only when Michael had threatened to fight them that they’d backed off.
Sure, they made the odd comment because he was their friend and more for Susan and the kids’ sake, but now…
‘Why are you two fuckers still here? Need a bedroom to suck each other’s dicks?’
‘And I’m out of here.’ Shane flipped Michael off and stormed away.
Adryan shook his head and got in his car, locking the door behind him.
He watched Michael for a few seconds, then started the ignition and drove away.
All he wanted was to go home and relax, but there was someone he needed to speak to first. If he would even talk to Adryan.
Madden flung the hotel door open, took one look at Adryan, then slammed it shut. Adryan exhaled heavily and knocked again. ‘Open up, Madden. We need to talk.’
The door flung open again, and Madden jabbed Adryan in the chest. ‘We don’t need to do anything.
Get fucked.’ He went to shut the door, but Adryan shoved his foot in the gap, wincing when the door hit it.
Madden opened it and kicked at Adryan’s foot but he used the opportunity to push his way inside Madden’s hotel room.
‘Get out.’ Madden pointed at the open door. ‘Get the fuck out of my room.’
‘No.’ Adryan walked over to the bed and sat on the edge, watching Madden warily. Madden hadn’t moved. He still stood, holding the door open with his foot, his finger pointing into the hallway. ‘Shut the door and we can talk.’
‘What about? How you stood there while Michael, my brother, beat me up for being gay? How you did nothing? Sorry I got that wrong. You stood and laughed, and occasionally joined in and the whole time you were gay too. You fucker. You hid who you were and bullied me.’ Madden moved the door he still held in his hand. ‘Get out.’
‘We need to talk about this.’
‘We are so far beyond talking.’ Madden moved his arms, grimaced, then gritted his teeth. Adryan winced, knowing Madden had hurt his arm. ‘Leave. Now.’
‘We should talk—’
‘We have fuck all to talk about!’ Madden shouted.
‘Do you want everyone in this hotel to know your business?’ Adryan knew Madden enough to know he wouldn’t want his private life out there for people to talk about. He was right. Madden slammed the door shut and stomped over to where Adryan sat. ‘Let’s talk, Madden.’
‘Get out now. We have absolutely nothing to talk about. You stood there and did nothing. You hid behind me to avoid Michael beating the shit out of you. When did you come out? When you felt safe and knew Michael couldn’t hurt you?
Must have been so nice to know he couldn’t touch you.
Nice to go home to a safe place. Nice to know your family didn’t detest the sight of you and couldn’t wait for you to leave.
I bet they had a fucking party when I packed up and left.
Did you go, Adryan? Poor Michael with a fag for a brother while behind his back, you were dropping to your knees to suck some cock.
’ Madden jabbed his finger in Adryan’s face. ‘Get the fuck out of my room.’
Adryan glanced away. ‘Madden. It wasn’t easy with Michael—’
‘I know!’ Madden screamed. ‘I know what it was like living there. You knew what I went through and did nothing.’
‘I can’t change what happened, Madden,’ Adryan whispered, raising his eyes to Madden’s stormy green eyes.
‘I’m sorry, and you’re right. I hid my sexuality.
More so when I saw how Michael treated you.
I didn’t want to face that, so I said nothing.
I dated girls, did what I had to, but it was a lie and I hated it.
I came out not long after you’d left and Michael didn’t talk to me for a long time after. ’
‘Oh, boo fucking hoo. Poor Adryan. I feel so sorry for you. Did Michael scream abuse at you? Did he beat the shit out of you? Did he push you down the stairs?’ Madden moved closer, so their faces were inches apart.
Adryan inhaled, staring up at Madden, seeing the hardness in his features, hate and anger pulling them tight.
‘No, he didn’t. I had that. I had the hate and the bruises. Not you.’
‘I’m sorry.’ What could he say? Madden wasn’t saying anything that hadn’t happened.
Michael and John had made Madden’s life a misery and Adryan had done very little to change that.
‘I should have done more, but I was a kid myself.’ Running a hand over his face, Adryan dropped his eyes.
‘It was easier to stand back and do nothing than to face Michael.’
‘I think I hate you,’ Madden murmured. Straightening, he turned away, shoulders slumped. ‘You need to leave.’
‘Can we talk about this?’ Adryan’s chest tightened. He didn’t want to leave. He wanted to talk about this. He wanted to sort things out between them. ‘I’m gay and I should have told you.’
‘You know what? It doesn’t matter. Once I’m well enough to leave, I’m gone. We’ll never see each other again.’
That hurt. That comment actually made Adryan gasp. ‘Madden—’
‘I have asked you to leave, so get out.’ Madden grabbed Adryan’s arm and tugged.
Adryan stood and let Madden push him to the front door, stopping when they reached it.
Madden snarled and pushed him again, but Adryan spun them around and pushed Madden up against the wall by the door. ‘Get off me,’ Madden growled.
‘No. I’m not leaving until we’ve sorted this out.
’ It was time to put this to bed. ‘I can’t change what happened then.
We were kids, and I fucked up because I was scared.
Yeah, me. I was scared of how my family would react after seeing how yours did.
It took me a long time to come out to my parents, and I was lucky they accepted me.
I wish you had that too, but you didn’t and there is nothing I can do to change that. ’
‘Like you care,’ Madden spat. ‘Hiding behind the excuse that Michael wouldn’t like you.
At least you could go home and escape him.
I couldn’t.’ Madden pushed at Adryan but he refused to move.
‘Get the fuck away from me.’ Madden’s eyes widened, and he muttered, ‘Or do you want more? Two gay men in a hotel room all alone? Think I’ll be an easy lay, because I used to like you when I was a kid and didn’t know any better?
Want my ass? Want me to bend over and let you fuck me? ’
Adryan narrowed his eyes and growled, ‘Screw you,’ and slammed his lips over Madden’s, capturing his reply.
Madden tensed beneath him, his body rigid, then slowly relaxed.
Adryan licked across the seam of Madden’s lips, then sighed when Madden let him inside.
Their tongues touched, tasted, tangled together, and Adryan moaned, rubbing his body against Madden’s.
Madden was hard and Adryan ground their hips together, causing Madden to groan.
Pulling at Madden’s shirt, Adryan slid his hand underneath, his fingers sliding over warm skin. Both men moaned when Adryan’s fingers rubbed one of Madden’s nipples. Madden arched into Adryan’s touch, biting Adryan’s lip, dragging a moan from him. Adryan needed more. Kissing wasn’t enough.
Pulling Madden away from the wall, Adryan shuffled them over to the bed as he tried to undo the buttons on Madden’s shirt, desperate to touch more skin. Madden moaned and kissed across Adryan’s jaw—
Loud booming laughter from outside had Madden breaking away and staring wide-eyed at Adryan. Adryan stepped back, eyes dropping to Madden’s kiss-swollen lips. ‘Madden.’