Page 100 of Necessary Time

I grabbed him and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a hug. We’d never been overly affectionate friends, another reason the kiss had caught me so off-guard, but it was so nice to have him back I couldn’t stop myself.

“I’m sorry, Wes,” he said, clapping his hand against my shoulder blade.

“It’s in the past,” I said. “Can you forgive me for how I acted about it?”

“Yeah. Of course, dude. Any day of the week, I’d forgive you.”

He gave me a good squeeze, then stepped away with a quick glance up at my apartment building.

“You probably need to get back up there,” he said. “Save your man and all that.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I don’t think he needs saving, but it’s definitely a conversation I can’t run from.”

“Right?” David picked up his shoes and socks, starting back toward the street. “Look how well that worked out for you before? I flew all the way across the country when you tried to run away from me.”

“Clearly I’m stuck with you forever,” I said, following after him.

“Of course you are. You’re my best friend.”

The ride in the elevator back to my floor was worse than the ride down, but not because of things between David and me. The worry about what waited for me inside between my brother and my boyfriend had me debating the merits of jumping off the balcony instead of facing it.

But David was right.

I was old enough to stop running from my problems.

I dropped my shoes and socks inside the door and pointed David toward the kitchen so he could get a drink, then I went in search of Hendrix and Colin.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Colin

I watchedthe front door until Wesley and David were well out of sight, only then did I turn my attention back to Hendrix and Miles.

“You’re kidding me,” Miles said, voice soft and shocked. He blinked slowly, gauging Hendrix’s reaction before turning on Grayson. “Did you know?”

Grayson’s shoulders slumped and he poured back another healthy swallow of his whiskey.

“I didn’tnotknow.”

“And you didn’t think to say anything?” Hendrix asked.

“I thought to say plenty of things,” Grayson said. “The only thing I do more often than say things is think them.”

“And yet.”

“And yet you didn’t ask.” Grayson shrugged, giving Miles a tight smile. “But I never lied about it either.”

“Are you seriously standing here right now telling me that he’s sleeping with my little brother? And that you knew about it?” Hendrix arched a brow, fury bright in his eyes.

“I really don’t know what they get up to behind closed doors.” Grayson raised his hands in surrender, taking a step back.

“I’m right here,” I interjected, angling myself between Grayson and Hendrix. “You and I can talk about this on our own. It doesn’t involve Grayson.”

“Sure doesn’t. You can use the playroom if you want some privacy.”

“The what?”

Miles chuckled, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “You’ll see. It’s honestly quite a relief that you haven’t yet.”