Alec swallowed against the knot in his chest and smoothed his fingers over Dylan’s scar.
“I used to get so pissed at Rick,” Dylan said. “Some asshole would heckle him, calling him a cocksucker or whatever, and Rick never did a thing. He wasn’t a big guy, so it wasn’t like I expected him to fight physically. But he wouldn’t say a word. Just forced a smile and kept on walking.”
Alec’s lips curled up at the ends. “I’m guessing you responded for him.”
“Hell yeah,” he said. “Angry teen pissed at the world? Let me at ’em.” Alec felt Dylan grin against his skin. “Rick used to say the only reason we were friends was because it gave me an excuse to kick the shit out of people if they got rough with him.”
Alec smiled. Picturing Dylan as a cocky adolescent spoiling for a fight came easy.
“Eventually I figured out Rick was on to something,” Dylan said. “He always claimed people hated being ignored more.” He shrugged before going on. “I dunno. Maybe he was right. Me, I was just happy for the excuse to vent my frustrations.”
Vent my frustrations.
Asking about those frustrations weighed heavily on Alec’s mind. But before he could take the risk and question Dylan about his childhood, Dylan went on.
“Rick was so happy the day we finally scraped together enough money for the first and last month’s rent for an apartment. The place was a dump, a real shithole.”
Dylan let out a laugh. “Rick was always trying to brighten the place up, using stuff he found, posters and junk to tack up on the walls. As if covering the holes somehow made the place more appealing.”
Alec could practically hear the roll of Dylan’s eyes. All traces of sarcasm disappeared as he continued.
“But it felt so fucking good to have a place to just be,” Dylan said. “People used to think we were boyfriends. But, hell, I was so happy to have a roof over my head I didn’t care.”
Which explained a lot about Dylan’s willingness to pretend to be with Alec at Noah’s party. If Dylan had had any qualms about being seen as gay, the concerns had been exorcised out of his system long ago.
“We were just starting to get our feet on the ground,” Dylan said. “Noah had come into our lives, and Rick was happy, ya know? But then he started getting sicker.”
Nothing Alec could say would make the words any easier, so he simply waited for Dylan to go on.
“If we’d had the money, could have afforded to take Rick to a doctor sooner, he might still be around today. That’s what sucks so much.”
Dylan lifted his head to look at Alec again. “That’s why I think what you and Tyler are doing is so friggin’ awesome. I wish we’d looked for a place like your clinic when Rick first got sick.”
In Dylan’s gaze, Alec saw admiration, respect, and enough regret to load a landfill.
“It’s not your fault,” Alec said.
“I know. It wasn’t his fault either. Rick wasn’t stupid.” Dylan tucked his head underneath Alec’s chin. “He was careful. He knew the risks. But, in the beginning, when he was really hurting for cash, he’d let a guy fuck him bareback because the money was good.”
Christ.
Alec closed his eyes, his chest aching.
Dylan cleared his throat. “Today would have been his thirtieth birthday.” Though delivered matter-of-factly, sadness infused the spaces between the words. “Fuck, man,” he went on wearily. “I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”
Alec tightened his grip on Dylan’s back. “I’m sorry—”
Rolling on top of Alec, Dylan stretched that hard body between Alec’s thighs and buried his fingers in Alec’s hair, his voice rough. “No more talking.”
As if to ensure Alec followed through, Dylan took Alec’s mouth in a kiss that clearly signaled the beginning of more.
Chapter Ten
Monday after work, Alec rode the elevator up to Noah’s condo, eyes gritty from a lack of sleep. He clutched his latte gratefully. After spending the week since the poker run either at work or in bed with Dylan, Alec needed the end-of-the-day caffeine infusion. Especially in light of what he’d have to endure before he could meet Dylan back at home for takeout.
His phone beeped, and Alec glanced at the text.
I’m on the way to your place with Kung Pao chicken, wonton soup, and a sex swing.
Alec’s chuckle got lost in the sound of the elevator doors sliding open. But, as he headed up the hallway leading to Noah’s condo, the smile slipped from his face.