Page 47 of This Time Around
“I know Andy better than you think, Milo,” he said softly. Then his eyes widened when he realized how that sounded. “Not in the biblical sense.”
“You mean naked?” I clarified. “I know that. Andy already told me, and he wouldn’t lie to me.”
“You’re right about that. He wouldn’t lie.”
“Can I ask why you’re concerned about my relationship with Andy?”
“I’m afraid that stress from a relationship with you could cause him setbacks.”
“Ouch,” I said, rubbing my hand over my chest to alleviate the sting of his words. It would’ve been less painful if he twisted my nut sack. “Andy’s happiness and sobriety are my top concerns.” I wished like hell that his blunt words hadn’t caused tears to well in my eyes and doubt to infiltrate my mind. Bad for Andy? Was that true?
“The past two years have been harder on him than you realize, Milo. In fact, I wasn’t aware that the two of you had reconnected and was extremely worried when Andy missed the weekly meeting and didn’t even call to check in with me. That is something that has never happened in the two years that I’ve known him, Milo.”
“Things are good between us now. We’ve talked things through and—”
“Yes, it’s all new and exciting again. But what happens if it doesn’t work out between you? I don’t want Andy to tumble into that dark hole like he did the last time you quit on him.”
“Excuse me,” I said angrily. “You know nothing about me or my past with Andy. You’ve heard one side of the story and feel like you know it all.”
“What’s your side then, Milo? You didn’t just dump him at the first sign of trouble?”
“It’s not that simple, Oliver, and let’s not forget that I was sixteen years old. Quite frankly, I don’t owe you an explanation. I appreciate that you’re Andy’s sponsor, and I do believe you want what is best for him. You and I will have to disagree thatyou’rewhat’s best for him and call it a day. I won’t give him up, Ollie.”
“Even if that’s in his best interest?”
I looked over to our lane and saw Andy chatting, smiling, and laughing with his friends. He must’ve felt my gaze on his because he looked my way. That smile on his face turned from happy to delirious in a blink of an eye.
I blew him a kiss then turned back to Ollie who had watched the exchange. “If I thought for a second that I was a danger to Andy’s sobriety, I would walk away. That is not the case. I love him, Ollie. I’ve always loved him. I admit I was young, brash, and brokenhearted when things didn’t work out between us fourteen years ago when we werekids,but I’m a grown-ass man now who’s head over heels for Andy Mason. This time around is very different. So, you can either get on board and support us, or continue deluding yourself that Andy will belong to you someday. If you can’t be objective in your sponsorship, then you need to refer him to someone else. It’s my belief thatyourrelationship with him is potentially the unhealthy one.”
Ollie didn’t have a chance to respond because the pitcher of soda was slid in front of me.
“Sorry for the delay, fellas,” the guy behind the counter said. “Your food will be right out.”
I took the pitcher and left Ollie standing at the counter. I had nothing else to say, and there was nothing I wanted to hear out of his mouth, except an apology. I could see that he hadn’t reached that point, and there was no reason for me to hang around. I returned to the only man who’d held my heart, the same one who smiled happily when I stopped in front of him.
“I love you too, Andy.”
I didn’t say it because I felt threatened by Ollie. I said it because it was the absolute truth, and I wanted to prove that we were done with childish games. Teasing was one thing, but toying with emotions was another.
“Now, let’s whip some more ass.”
“You have a lot of explaining to do,” I told Milo as soon as we were alone in my truck after winning the rematch. “DidTuckerteach you how to bowl like that?”
“Do you really want me to answer that question?” Milo countered.
“I wouldn’t have asked it otherwise.”
“Lots of people ask questions they either don’t really want the answer to or when they already know the answer. Then there’s you who falls into both camps.”
“Do not,” I countered, but he was right. I didn’t really want to hear that Tucker was the one who taught Milo how to improve his aim, but knew he was the most likely culprit. Did Tuck press his body tight against Milo’s and move with him as he went through the motions? Did that lead to other things when Milo felt the proof of how much Tucker wanted him?
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Milo groaned. “I can see that bowling porn is playing in your head right now. I assure you that the reality is a lot less sexier than what you’re thinking.” Milo released a dramatic sigh then crooked his finger so I would lean over the console and meet him halfway for a kiss. “I was going to tell you that I fucked the entire bowling team at Blissville High just to get pointers in case this day ever came, but we’re past playing games…with each other.”
“That’s right. I’m a mature adult who can handle it.”
“Yes, Tucker was the one who helped me improve my bowling game. Little did he know that it was just another way that I tried to stay connected to you. I never really let you go, Andy. No matter where I was, or who I was with, you were always there.”
“That must’ve been a crowded bed,” I replied dryly. “Sorry, that was a dickhead thing to say.”