by April Kelley
“Well, I wanted to rip his fingers off his hands for doing it. I threatened him. Told him not to touch you again.”
Sydney chuckled. “You probably made him piss himself.”
“Maybe. Then you moved your G-string up so he could give you a dollar. God, I turned into a green monster when you did that.”
Sydney stopped breathing for a couple seconds, afraid he’d heard wrong. Then he let it out and waited.
“I’ve never been jealous like that before.”
“Don’t say anything else.”
“Why?”
Sydney tried to pull back again, but Max held him firm. “Let me go. Now.”
Max did immediately, which Sydney didn’t expect. Sydney took a step back and narrowed his eyes at Max. “You might be good at telling other guys what they want to hear so you can get in their pants, but that shit doesn’t work with me.”
Max’s lips thinned out and a hardness entered his eyes. “I’ve never lied to you.”
“Oh, I don’t think you’re lying. I think you mean every word, but you’re not making promises, either. You and I both know that. So take your pretty words and shove them up your ass, Max, because I don’t want them until they mean something.”
Max shut his truck door and started toward the hospital’s main entrance.
Sydney followed behind him.
“I meant what I said.”
“Maybe, but you have an agenda.”
Max turned. “It was to tell you why I’m helping you, not to get in your pants.”
God, Sydney wanted to believe that more than anything.
Sydney didn’t miss the look the nurse behind the counter gave them when Max asked for his dad’s room. Max was a beautiful man, so the slight blush on the woman’s face wasn’t surprising. “It’s three doors down on the left. Mr. Shaw will be moved to the psych ward in a few minutes. The psych ward has strict visiting hours, but for now, you can visit him for as long as you’d like. I can let you know when the psych ward’s hours are.”
Sydney watched as Max tapped on the counter as if the nurse’s words irritated him for some unknown reason. “I know what they are. This isn’t my first rodeo.”
The nurse gave them both a sympathetic look. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
Sydney was the one that smiled at her and said a quick, “Thank you.”
Sydney put an arm around Max’s waist and guided him in the direction she’d indicated. He let his arm fall away when Max rapped his knuckles on the open door and entered the room. Sydney followed behind him. The man in the bed farthest from the door looked so much like Max no one would mistake them for not being family. They had the same brown eyes and that same smile, although the dad didn’t have the sparkle in his eyes that Max had or the same build. Adam Shaw was a much thinner version of his son. He looked as if he’d skipped more than a few meals in the past couple months, actually.
Max took hold of Sydney’s hand and tugged. “This is my friend, Sydney. Sydney, this is my dad, Adam.”
“You look like brothers,” Sydney blurted out, because that was the one thing that kept going through his mind the most.
Adam smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He didn’t say anything.
“Dad was a teenager when I was born,” Max muttered without looking away from Adam. “Dad. What are you doing?”
Tears gathered in Adam’s eyes. “I can’t live without him, Maxie.”
Max let Sydney go and took his dad’s hand. It was then that he saw the bandages on Adam’s arm. Blood, which seeped through in one long vertical line on the inside of his wrist, marred the white cloth material.
They stayed like that, letting the silence surround them for a few minutes. Sydney looked around and saw a chair against the wall to his left. He went over and picked it up, carrying it to Max. He urged Max to sit down, and when he did, Max muttered, “Thank you, baby.” Sydney was sure Max had no idea what endearment he’d used. The way he focused on Adam, Sydney doubted Max was even aware he’d said anything at all.
Adam’s eyes widened and he looked at Sydney, though. Sydney just smiled and went over to the only other chair in their section of the room, sitting down, letting the two men have some semblance of privacy.
“When did you stop taking your meds?” Max asked.
“They don’t work. I feel like a zombie.”
“Have you been going to the therapy appointments?”
Adam looked away. Sydney might not know the man, but even he knew the man hadn’t been going. “It’s hard for me to leave the house,” he whispered.
“Dad.” Max sighed and lay his forehead against their joined hands. “You need to stay in here for a while.” His voice could barely be heard from his position.
Apparently, Adam heard Max because he said, “I know, son.”
Max lifted his head and seemed to study Adam for long minutes. Sydney wondered if it was to see how far he should push Adam with his next words. “Garrett wouldn’t want you to do this, dad. You know that. He’d stand here and ask you what you think you’re doing.”
Twin tears fell from Adam’s eyes, but he let out a watery chuckle. “He would ask that.”
Max smiled. “Yeah, and he’d probably have his arms crossed at his chest in one of his favorite flannel shirts, which he wore because—and I quote—why mess with comfort.”
The tears fell even more.
Max sobered. “He loved you, Dad.”
“I know.”
“And I love you.”
“I love you too, son.”
“So will you try this time? Please.”
Adam nodded.
“After you get out of here, we need to talk about you coming to the Lakehouse to live with me. You need family. Just for a little while, until you’re feeling better.”
“We’ll talk about it after I get out of here.”
“How long did the doctors say you had to be in this time?”
“You know they don’t tell me crap.”
“Probably until the meds kick in.”
Adam sighed but didn’t say anything.
Max stood. “I’ll be right back. Just gonna go find the doctor.” Max walked to Sydney and knelt in front of him. “Will you stay here with him?” Max whispered.
Sydney sat up and ran a hand through Max’s hair. “Of course.”
Max nodded, but he didn’t get up. Instead, he studied Sydney for long seconds. “Thanks for putting our argument on the backburner for now.”
Sydney smiled. “Don’t remind me.”
“Right. Everything is perfect. Personally, I want to argue because making up is so much fun.”
“How would you know? You’ve never been in a relationship a day in your life.”
“True, but a few of the guys at home are in relationships, and they told me it was fun. I’d like to find out if they’re right.”
“So now we’re in a relationship?” The second Max stiffened, Sydney took his hand away and sat back. “Right. That’s what I thought.”
Max opened his mouth to speak, but Sydney shook his head. “Just go talk to the doctor, Max.” Max tried to speak again, but Sydney gave him a hard stare. Max turned after that and left the room.
The second he did, the silence between Sydney and Adam stretched out and things became instantly uncomfortable when Adam just stared at him. It was that same studying look Max sometimes got. Sydney looked over at him and gave him a blank stare.
“Max has never introduced me to anyone before.”
Sydney looked away. “We’re just friends.”
“No. He likes you.”
“No offense, but Max likes me until right after we fuck. Then he’ll drop me like a bad habit. Guys like him always do.”
Adam shook his head. “He looks at you the same way Garrett looked at me. Max is a lot like him.” Adam smiled. “Not sure how that happened. Probably all that time Max followed Garrett around li
ke he was god himself. Max might not like the fact that he’s falling for you, but he’ll accept it eventually. And when he does you won’t be able to shake him even if you try.”
“How did you and Garrett meet?”
Adam let out a watery laugh. “In a bar. I told you, my son is a lot like him. I went with friends and was dancing. Garrett came on to me, wanted me to go into the back room.”
Sydney smiled. “Did you go?”
“Oh, yeah. I couldn’t resist Garrett for one second. We talked afterward and I gave him my number. I thought for sure he wouldn’t call, but he did the very next day.”
Sydney could tell the memory was a good one. Adam lost that wrinkle in his brow and some of the light came back into his eyes. “Max told me he was a shithead to Garrett the first time they met.”
Adam chuckled. “Yeah. He was twelve or thirteen, I think. At that point, he was probably used to it just being him and I. I don’t really know why he acted the way he did, but he told Garrett in no uncertain terms that he was not Garrett’s kid and he didn’t want to be his friend either.”
Sydney’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s honesty.”
“Yeah, Max has always been that way. I think the turning point was when Garrett told him they were family and that didn’t have to mean Garrett was Max’s parent or his friend. Max hung on every word Garrett said after that day. I’m sure that’s why he’s so close to his teammates. Garrett did that, not Max’s mother and I.” Adam couldn’t keep the tears back again. “He was my emotional stability, and now that he’s gone I just can’t seem to find my balance.”
Sydney didn’t understand how that felt and didn’t know what to say to make it better. He just said the first thing that came to his mind. “When I was... I think nine or ten years old... I lived in a foster home. It was this middle-aged couple that had five other foster kids and then two of their own. I think they were probably a little overwhelmed and didn’t really have the time to deal with all my delinquent crap. I mean at that point I was busted for shoplifting four times. I also had an assault charge on a boy in the last home I was in. Of course, that boy was trying to sell a younger kid drugs, but the charge was still there in black and white. I think they just saw the record, ya know, and reacted to it.
“Anyway, the guy immediately took a dislike to me. He hit me whenever I even just looked at him wrong. One of the other bigger boys had finally had enough. He was getting ready to age out of the program, and I think he just didn’t care anymore at that point. We called him Boston. I’m not sure why. Probably because he’d kick our ass if we didn’t call him that. He grabbed the foster dad’s shirt and just hit him. Over and over, as if that man was every bad thing that had ever happened to him. No charges were pressed because Boston had a lot of shit on the guy and would roll over on him if he did. That was the last time I ever saw that foster home. Boston took me out immediately and dropped me off at my social worker’s house. He told her next time she puts me in a home, it better not be one that abuses me.” Sydney looked at Adam then. “He gave me his phone number and told me to call him at least once a week. If I didn’t, he’d find me. Every time I dialed the phone and heard his voice I immediately knew at least one person on this planet cared, ya know. Even if he was the only one, at least I had that.”
“What happened?” The question came from Max, who stood in the doorway watching Sydney.
Sydney looked over at him. “Wrong place at the wrong time. He was at some party when someone drove by spraying bullets. He was shot in the chest.”
Adam wiggled his fingers, asking Sydney to come to him. Sydney stood up and went to his bedside. He took Adam’s hand and held it.
“My son better get his head out of his ass and make you happy.”
Sydney chuckled. “It’s not like that between us, but thanks anyway.”
Max walked over to the bed then, and put his arm around Sydney’s waist. “It looks like you’ll be in here a few weeks. Long enough to get you stabilized on the medications, and then you’ll come home with me. Okay, Dad?”
Adam just looked at Max and studied him carefully. The expression on Adam’s face was so close to the one Max always got, Sydney would have laughed if the situation had allowed for it. He just said, “Max is more like you than you think.”
Chapter Seven
Max decided to drive home to the Lakehouse. His father was safe in the psych ward and wouldn’t be a danger to himself as long as he was in there. Just knowing that made Max feel a little better. He felt like it was one problem he could say was fixed, even if the fix probably was temporary. He would go back tomorrow to visit his dad.
Max smiled when his dad put both him and Sydney on the visitors list. Sydney didn’t know it yet, but he’d just gained a person that cared about him. Well, two people that cared about him, because Max also did.
Max looked over at Sydney, who had his eyes closed and the back of his head resting against the seat. Max knew he wasn’t asleep, though. No way would Sydney let his guard down that much. He might say he trusted Max, and he did, enough to allow him to help fight off Mize, but he didn’t trust him with anything else. Max already knew he’d have to prove himself.
The problem was Max didn’t know what he wanted. He wasn’t ready to make any promises, and that fact pissed Sydney off. He wouldn’t rush his feelings.
Max put the car in park and turned in the seat to watch Sydney pretend to sleep.
“Stop staring.” The way Sydney’s lips turned up in the slightest way told of his amusement.
Max wasn’t in a teasing mood, so he decided to go with the direct approach. “It’s movie night in an hour. Want to watch with me?”
Sydney opened his eyes, turning his head to look at Max. “You’re asking me to watch a movie.”
“No. I’m asking if I can hold you while I pretend I can actually focus on some mindless entertainment. I can’t focus on anything, not after I just left my dad in the loony ward. Again.”
Sydney’s brows furrowed, as if Max’s words upset him somehow. He nodded his head and got out of the truck immediately. Max did the same, pocketing his keys even as Sydney came around to his side of the vehicle and waited. Max instantly took his hand, lacing their fingers together as they walked into the kitchen.
Max was not surprised when he saw Reggie making popcorn. The little guy was always in the kitchen. Germ sat on the counter for about two seconds until he saw Sydney’s face and recognition hit. Germ had been the one who brought Sydney’s situation to light in the first place, and he was geeky enough with a computer to look Sydney up easily, so he had seen more than one photo.
Max watched as Germ moved in front of Reggie. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“He’s harmless,” Max said, trying to calm Germ down. As it was, Germ’s body vibrated with tension.
Max saw Reggie peek past Germ. Sydney sneered at Germ and was just about ready to say something snarky, but Max put a hand over his mouth. “Sydney’s not gonna hurt anyone.”
He felt Sydney nip at the palm of his hand with his teeth and pulled it away suddenly. “Ow.” Max scowled and rubbed his hand against his pants leg.
“Then don’t do that.”
Reggie giggled, which made Sydney wink at him and smile. “I’m Sydney. The popcorn smells amazing. We’ve been at the hospital all day and fuck boy here didn’t feed me. So... yeah. It smells amazing.”
Reggie started to move around Germ and succeeded in doing so only because he held up a hand to Germ, effectively cutting off any attempts he might have made at trying to stop him. “He’s hungry, Jeremy.” Reggie smiled at Sydney. “I could make you something. A sandwich?”
“Really? That would be great.” Sydney let go of Max’s hand and sat at the island.
Germ stood there for a full minute with his mouth open and then all hell broke loose. Germ leaped over the counter and went for Sydney’s throat. In the process, Sydney fell off the stool and was on his back, Germ on t
op of him. Max grabbed Germ around the waist, pulling him off Sydney. He practically threw Germ and went right to Sydney.
His head clouded when he saw the red marks on Sydney’s neck. Max lifted him off the ground, pulling him up, and immediately pushed Sydney behind him.
Germ started toward Max, intent on getting to Sydney. Max’s head was about ready to explode, he was so angry. “Don’t fucking ever touch him again.”
Germ stopped, looking startled. “That’s Sydney Marshall, Max.”
“I know who he is. I know everything I need to know. I also know he didn’t fight back. You left marks on him, not the other way around.” More people filed into the room, hearing the commotion. Max turned to them, noting Justin standing there. “Anyone even looks at him wrong and so help me... from now on if you want me on this team, you got him, too.”
Justin raised an eyebrow at him but didn’t do or say anything else for several long seconds. Max knew whatever Justin said next could very likely get him kicked off the team. Either he’d accept Max’s demand that Sydney be on the team, or he’d kick him out, in which case Max would leave the house and the team right along with him.
And then it hit him like a ton of bricks on the head. He hadn’t been thinking about his words when they came flowing out his mouth, but now that he waited for Justin to either make or break him, he had a chance to think.
Oh, shit. What had he just done?
He felt Sydney’s hand on his back. It was an innocent touch, meant to comfort, but it solidified Max resolve. Max’s gaze hardened again and he looked at Justin.
“Well, Sydney, welcome to the team,” Justin said, and Max wanted to sigh in relief. Instead, he just nodded his understanding of what had just taken place.
Of course, Sydney couldn’t keep his big mouth shut. “I’m not on your team. I won’t take orders from you or anyone else.”
“He’ll be working with you for the unforeseeable future,” Justin said as if Sydney had never spoken.
“And one more thing.” Sydney moved around Max and started in Germ’s direction. Max wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him back. “I wasn’t gonna hit him. I was just gonna get in his face a little.”
