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I didn’t know what to say. Arguing I’d manage on my own was futile. “If this is because of Derrick and his outbursts, I’ll be fine. I planned on barring him from the complex, anyway. I also thought about talking to his manager. Maybe he needs rehab again.”

Pope gave me a droll stare. “He’s not your problem anymore. He keeps dragging you back in. Not the other way around.”

Humiliation swamped me. “I know.”

“Then let me help you. Better to put up a wall than to allow him to have access to you.” Pope took my hand. “Let me make those calls for you.”

“But what if people ask questions?”

“Let them,” he said. “It’s obvious you have your friends and fans, and he has his. One of these days, he’s going to do something so outrageous, nothing you do will fix the problem.”

Pope had a point. A big one. “I don’t...”

“We’re both atoning for things we did as teenagers, Thier.

We’re starting fresh from here on out. I heard you that night.

Heard the anguish and the pain I caused you.

How I made you doubt yourself. The loneliness I caused.

I never meant for that to happen. I wish I could go back and fix everything. ”

“But you can’t,” I mumbled, unable to look at him.

“No, but I can be here now in whatever capacity you want me,” he answered.

That wasn’t fair. It was like throwing a giant cow carcass in front of a pride of hungry lions and telling them to feast. Not only would they fight with each other, they’d probably gorge themselves until they bloated and died. I didn’t want Pope to become my pride of lions. “You can’t do that.”

“My choice,” he said, pressing his forehead to mine while we sat there waiting. His lips brushed across mine and a shock of surprise and arousal jerked through me, leaving this languid stupid-silliness in its wake. “I can do whatever I want.”

This time when he kissed me, Pope settled in, coaxing me to open for him.

I gave over, uncaring of those around us.

A sense of relief with a hint of worry stayed at the forefront of my mind while I relished the way he commanded my mouth.

When he eased back, I opened my eyes and found him grinning like a fool.

He shouldn’t be so damn smug.

“You’re not giving me options,” I said.

“You’ve had plenty,” he answered. “You’re allowed to sit this one out.”

Once we arrived at the apartment complex, Pope took care of making sure Derrick couldn’t get in, permanently, then helped me get to my home.

He unlocked the door before grabbing our food and my bag and brought them inside.

He then returned to my side as though I couldn’t maneuver on my own.

Still, I had to give him props for helping me over the threshold.

It was kind of nice having someone who cared.

“Thanks.” The place was spotless and the crawly sensation of someone being there before our arrival prickled at the base of my neck. I even had a vase of winter flowers on my kitchen island. Not a usual occurrence.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Pope called out, as he walked toward my bedroom, “Lily-Mae brought in a cleaning service for you. She said something about her turn to pay back the favor. Or whatever.”

“Well, at least I wasn’t robbed by someone who also did laundry as a side job.”

Pope laughed.

I smirked when he came back carrying a pillow. “I thought you’d like this to prop your leg up.”

“Thanks.” I followed him over to the large sectional couch with the built-in lounger I’d bought when I first moved in. “You’ve gotten pretty cozy with Lily-Mae, haven’t you?” I teased while he helped me with my shoes then eased my leg into position.

He shrugged. “She’s a good person. Too fucking nice for her own good, though. Feel like anyone would walk all over her if they got half the chance.”

Summed up Lily-Mae in a tight little package.

Way too kind. Super sweet to the point she still made my teeth ache, and one of the best human beings I’d ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Honestly, if I hadn’t had her in my life for the last twenty years, I didn’t think I’d have made it.

She made all the bad days good ones. Plus, because of her, I’d met all kinds of cool people.

“Yeah,” I replied. “Rick has told her the same. She doesn’t care.”

Pope joined me a moment later carrying our to-go boxes with our meals from Flame . “Nice of Mack to comp our food.”

I nodded and pointed to the remote on the table not far from where I sat. “Find a game.”

“You really want to watch hockey while you’re laid up?” Pope glanced at me.

“Sure, why not?” I shrugged. “What else is there?”

“Scary movie marathon?” He cocked a brow. In a split second, I went back in time to when everything was easy between us. When we hid under covers and made blanket forts. Where junk food was our main source of sustenance, and everything was so much simpler.

“Yeah,” I said, “I like your idea better.”

He put his food down and closed all the curtains better, giving my living room a shadowed darkness even though it was a little after two in the afternoon then rejoined me.

For the first thirty minutes we ate and laughed at the silliness of the movie he’d chosen to watch.

At some point he brought my medication to me, since it was time to dose me up. After that, time got a little fuzzy.

I opened my eyes as I sank into my bed while Pope stood over me.

I glanced at the clock on the bedside table and cursed under my breath.

It was well after ten. Exhaustion marred his features, cutting deep lines around his eyes and mouth.

Either I’d been so happy to be out of the hospital or too absorbed in the moment I hadn’t noticed the purple and black smudges under his eyes from lack of sleep.

Before I could second guess my actions, I grabbed his hand. “Stay here. With me.”

“I planned on it,” he said, pointing to the room across the hall. “I called dibs already.”

“No,” I shook my head, “stay here.” I patted the bed beside me. “I don’t want you to leave. Just like old times.”

He stared at me and when he didn’t immediately answer, I feared he’d say no. Instead, he said, “Are you sure?”

“More than I have been in a long time. No more running. Either of us.”

He exhaled. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.”

I yawned then mumbled sleepily, “If you think we’re having sex tonight, you’re sorely mistaken. I don’t even have the gumption to keep my eyes open, let alone send the needed blood supply to my dick.”

He snorted out a laugh as he crossed the room to the door. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to take advantage of the infirmed.”

I gasped, feigning indignation. “How rude. I’m not infirmed.”

“No, you’re just as busy as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.” Pope grinned before stepping out of the room.

Asshole . I tugged the blankets over me, not caring if I wore the same sweats I came home in.

I didn’t want to move, until my bladder reminded me it’d been hours since I last relieved myself.

The minute I started thinking about it, it was as if a timer went off inside of me counting down how much time I had left before tragedy struck. “Uh... We have a situation.”

Pope was back in a flash. Worry creasing his brow as he threw his pillow on the bed. “What’s up? Something happen?”

“I need to pee.”

“Right. Pee.” He glanced left then right. “Hang on. I left your crutches in the living room.” He started for the door. “We should get you puppy pads just in case.”

“Asshole,” I said, knowing if I started laughing, I’d piss myself.

“We’d get you potty trained in no time,” he stated when he returned with said crutches. “Now, what do you need me to do?”

“Stand there and look pretty.”

“Can do.”

I rolled my eyes. After I got the crutches under me—I was old hat at this part—I started for my master bathroom and flicked on the light.

Shit. “Okay so I kind of lied. I might need you to stand over here and look pretty. This was the hard part last time too.” I had a separate “room” for the toilet and at least before everything had gone to shit the last time, I had Derrick to keep me balanced.

“I’m guessing we’re about to get real intimate rather quickly,” he said, coming up behind me.

“Yeah,” I muttered. “I don’t need you to hold my dick or anything, just help me stay balanced so I don’t piss all over the floor.”

He exhaled. “I’m telling you; puppy pads are in your future.”

I snickered as we stepped into the space. “I know I keep saying it but, thank you. Again.”

“You keep that pee in the bowl, and that’ll be thanks enough.” Pope braced me with his hands on my hips as I relieved my bladder. “Damn, where’d you keep all that? In your camel hump?”

I tried, unsuccessfully, not to laugh. “Look, they pumped me full of so much shit, I’m surprised my eyeballs aren’t floating still.”

“I’m just saying,” he began as I finished, “if you did that in front of a racehorse, you’d humiliate them.”

“God, you’re still so fucking cheesy,” I said, flushing the toilet. “Come on, I need to wash my hands.”

He stopped me then, kissing me for the third time unprompted.

His touch was comforting, guiding me backward by the hips until my back touched the wall.

Everything about the moment was gentle, almost delicate.

From the way he held me there, to the unhurried way he explored my mouth and the languid sighs that filled his chest. When he stepped back a small, smug smile tugged his mouth.

“Maybe you were right,” he said. “It was never about gay or straight. It was always about finding you and figuring this out for myself. Or maybe, on some level, deep down I’ve always known I was meant for you.”

My heart quickened. I didn’t want to get my hopes up only to have them dashed again. Yet, I also couldn’t deny the connection building between us. “Like I said, Pope. This has always been your journey. I’ll be right here when you find your way to me.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I like the sound of that.”