Chapter Sixteen
Adryan
Adryan slept like shit. He spent the night tossing and turning, getting up to go to the bathroom or to get a drink, then lying in bed staring at the ceiling.
His date with Maddy hadn’t gone the way he had hoped.
Not by a long shot. Who the hell had a helicopter that they could use whenever they wanted?
A penthouse suite with expensive furniture and decor and, don’t forget whiskey?
Madden did.
Their worlds were so far apart. Adryan had somehow avoided thinking about it while in Troham. The town they both grew up in was vastly different from where Maddy lived and worked now, and it left Adryan wondering what the hell he had to offer Maddy.
Sitting at the table in the nice—expensive—Mexican restaurant, people constantly interrupting to speak to Maddy and practically ignoring him had left Adryan feeling almost worthless.
He’d seen the glances cast his way, a few appreciative, most curious, and more than enough dismissive.
Of course they would. One look at him and anyone would be able to see he didn’t belong there. Adryan had felt it too.
As soon as the meal finished and Maddy suggested going back to his place, Adryan had found the escape he needed. The place probably cost more to buy than what everyone in Troham earned in a year.
Rushing downstairs and stepping outside had created conflicting emotions inside. One had been to rush back inside, but the stronger one was to escape, so when Maddy’s driver said he would drive him home, Adryan had readily agreed.
Adryan had high hopes for the evening as well.
A nice meal, talking, anticipation building as the night wore on.
The thought of them both naked, hot and sweaty, the smell of sex thick in the air, and then it all disappeared.
Didn’t help that Maddy looked fucking gorgeous in his shirt and pants with his hair longer than he normally wore it.
Adryan’s fingers had itched to touch it, to feel its silky softness as it slid between them.
But nope. That wasn’t to happen. His dreams for their evening had vanished as soon as he’d realized what was happening.
Maybe they weren’t meant to be. They may have started off in the same place, but they were continents apart now, and drifting farther away.
They had a mutual sexual attraction and were hot as hell in bed together, but was that enough?
Adryan wasn’t so sure. Sighing heavily, he grabbed his bag.
He’d been on shift and somehow managed to get through it without endangering himself or anyone else.
He needed to sleep, but he had to talk to Maddy first.
Once he reached home, he dropped his bag by the door and pulled his phone out, searching and finding Maddy’s number. With his finger paused over the call button, Adryan bit his lip then pressed it. As it rang, he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of beer from the fridge.
‘Ry.’
Adryan licked his lips. ‘Hey, Maddy.’
‘You made it back safely.’
‘I did. You should thank your driver for me.’ Nibbling on his bottom lip, Adryan asked, ‘Are you heading back?’
‘Not right now. I’ll collect my things in a day or so. I have some business to attend to here.’
‘I see.’
‘I have to go.’
Adryan stared at his phone as the screen dimmed. ‘He hung up on me. He really hung up on me.’ Adryan shook his head and dropped his phone on the sofa, then took a large mouthful of beer. Dropping onto the sofa next to his phone, he picked it back up and called Shane.
‘Ry! Up for a drink later? I’m meeting Michael at the bar.’
Adryan paused. Michael and alcohol? He wasn’t sure if he could handle that after his evening with Maddy, then a shift at work. ‘You’re taking him to a bar?’
‘Like I could stop him. At least this way I can keep an eye on him.’
Adryan shook his head. Shane had a point. ‘How is he?’
‘Same as usual, but apparently he’s slowed down the drinking.’
‘According to who? Susan? Things okay between them?’ It pained Adryan to realize he didn’t know what had been happening recently, but at the same time he’d needed to be away from all the drama that was Michael’s life.
Focusing on Maddy and the ongoing issue with the factory had helped, and it had been a useful excuse when he needed one.
‘She says they are, but you know what they’re like.
One minute they’re all over each other and the next you’d think they were getting a divorce.
She’s stuck with him far longer than…’ Shane trailed off.
‘He doesn’t deserve her, but he’s our friend.
We grew up together. I just want him to sort his life out. ’
‘You and me both, but what’s the saying? You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink? We’ve done all we can to help him with his alcohol addiction.’ Adryan wiped a hand over his face. ‘Let me grab a shower and I’ll meet you guys in an hour or so.’
He hung up and exhaled heavily as he slumped back on the sofa.
He wanted an early night and to figure out what he was going to do about Maddy.
Could he walk away just when they were starting something?
Their lives were heading in different directions.
They lived in different places, in different worlds.
Should he try to talk to Maddy and find out what he wanted or should he let it go now Maddy had left Troham?
Standing, Adryan headed to the bathroom. He’d try and figure it out later. Now he had to prepare for a night out with Shane and Michael and hope Michael had actually stopped drinking as much as he usually did.
???
Adryan arrived at their local bar and spotted Shane and Michael at a table in the corner.
Their usual spot. Whenever they came here for a drink they always sat there.
It was a good spot to people-watch while catching up.
As Adryan approached, he noticed four empty glasses and glanced at Shane who gave him a one shoulder shrug. It was going to be one of those nights.
Michael already had a glassy-eyed look to him and Adryan wondered how many he’d had before arriving at the bar.
‘Hey.’ Sitting, he glanced at Shane then took a good look at Michael.
He looked half-drunk already and Adryan decided to have one soda then leave.
He wasn’t in the mood to deal with a wasted Michael.
Not after the day he’d had and the fact he missed Maddy even though he’d seen him the night before.
Pulling his phone free, he sent a message to Maddy. In the bar with Shane and Michael.
Maddy responded quickly. You really do like to torture yourself.
Guess I do. I seem to have a thing for the Price brothers.
When there was no response, Adryan put his phone on the table. ‘Going to get a drink. Back in a minute.’
‘Grab me another beer,’ Michael shouted as Adryan walked away.
Waving over his shoulder, Adryan blew out his breath and stood at the bar, waiting to be served.
He should have stayed at home and avoided Michael, but that was the last thing he wanted to do when he had Maddy on his mind.
He needed the distraction, but Michael wasn’t the kind of distraction he needed.
Maybe he could talk to Shane when Michael left and ask his opinion on what was happening between him and Maddy. Or lack of.
Rubbing his face, Adryan leaned on the bar and smiled when he placed his order.
One beer and one soda. He had the early shift, so wanted to keep a clear head and be able to deal with Michael.
Once he had his drinks and paid for them, he went back to their table and placed Michael’s beer in front of him.
Michael glanced at Adryan’s drink and snorted.
Speaking before Michael could say something, Adryan said, ‘On the early shift tomorrow, so need a clear head.’
‘Yeah, I forgot what a weak-wristed limp bitch you are.’ Michael grinned and drank half his beer before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘Bent over for any man recently?’
‘Maddy actually.’
The words were out before Adryan could stop them. Michael’s shock quickly morphed into anger, and Adryan closed his eyes, counting down from ten. The outburst would be epic, and he had no one to blame but himself.
‘You and Maddy? I can see you two together.’ Shane slapped Adryan on the back and Adryan’s eyes popped open. ‘Nice. He always had a thing for you when we were younger.’
‘Madden? You and Madden fucked?’ Michael muttered, his eyes narrowing. ‘You fucked my brother?’
‘Your brother, Madden. You know, gay, like Adryan.’
‘He’s my brother! How could you—’
‘Don’t worry. It’s more than likely over. Not like Maddy is going to move back here, is he? And I won’t be leaving Troham. At least he tried to help with the factory.’
‘Any news about how the meeting went?’
Shaking his head, Adryan answered Shane. ‘Not yet. Too early to know. I think we need to give it a few days.’ He wasn’t going to mention what he and Maddy had discussed the night before. They didn’t need to know that the likelihood they had succeeded was slim to none.
‘I hope we get some good news. We could do with the factory remaining open. If it closes, Troham will be in some deep trouble. Too many of our residents are employed there.’
‘You and Maddy?’
‘Get over it, Mike. Two gay men who just happen to look the way they do, spending time alone together? Something was going to happen and Maddy has always had the hots for our Ry.’
‘He’s my brother. How could you fuck him?’
‘Oh, he’s your brother now, is he?’ Shane sneered at Michael, and Adryan slowly pushed his chair away.
Things were about to become tense. ‘Forgot all about that when he was growing up, didn’t you?
Remember all the times you kicked the shit out of him for being gay, or did you forget?
Remember that time you pushed him down the stairs and your old man was laughing his ass off? Or the time—’
‘Fuck you, Shane,’ Michael bellowed and stood, his chair falling to the floor behind him. Silence descended around the bar and Adryan stilled. ‘That gay bastard’s my brother, so I can do what the fuck I want to him.’
Shane slowly stood and placed his hands on the table, leaning toward Michael.
‘We all know what you did to him. You and your old man. Made his life a living hell until he left. You hit him, pushed him, tormented him. There’s a reason he never came back after he left and that reason is you and John.
He only came back to make sure John was dead and buried and I’m certain the only other time he’d come back was to make sure you were dead too, which you will be with the way you’re drinking. ’
‘Fuck you, Shane. Bet you want to fuck Maddy too. Both of you gang-banging the cocksucker.’
Adryan heard the low mutters around them. ‘Michael. Keep it down. People are watching.’
‘Like I give a fuck about those fuckers hearing what I’ve got to say. I should have left this shitty town when I could.’ Michael stormed around the table, grabbing Adryan by his shirt and getting in his face. ‘You fucked my brother.’
Adryan grabbed Michael’s wrist and pried him off. ‘Don’t put your hands on me ever again, Mike.’
‘Or what? Gonna drop to your knees and suck me off.’ Michael grabbed his zipper and tried to pull it down. ‘Come on then. On your knees, bitch.’
Adryan glanced at Shane, shook his head, and walked out. He could hear Michael screaming his name, but he ignored him. Outside he went to his vehicle and got in, staring at the door to the bar, before driving away. He should have kept his fucking mouth shut, but he had to say something. Fuck.
Pulling over, Adryan called Maddy. As soon as he answered, he said, ‘Michael knows about us and is pissed.’
‘And how would he know, Adryan? Did someone happen to tell him we slept together?’
‘I’m sorry I said something.’
‘Doesn’t matter.’
Maddy hung up and Adryan closed his eyes. If he could redo the last couple of days, he would, but he couldn’t. His tentative relationship with Maddy was going nowhere and now his friendship with Mike could be potentially over. ‘Great. Just fucking great.’