Page 66 of Working Out West

And I couldn’t help but think that Adrik might be that one for me.

He’d stuck with me when I was cruel and mean. He’d stuck by my side since that day, and it wasn’t him wanting to fix me. He was patiently waiting, willing to be a part of this fucked-up situation and to be there for me when I finally found myself. Found peace.

He cared before the attack.

He wanted me when I’d wanted him, right from the start.

Why else would a man have someone watched? It wasn’t that he didn’t trust me. He was watching over me.

I had completely fallen for Adrik Mikhaillova, and knowing this, I reverted into a young schoolboy with his first crush. I fumbled and bumbled around him, stuffing up my words and actions.

It was lucky I knew Adrik found me amusing… well, if his lip twitches and smirks were anything to go by.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever understand what Adrik saw in me, but it must be something special, because he slept at my side every night. He read or would talk when I wasn’t in the mood, even when I’d been a prick and ignored him.

Though, it was always hard to ignore Adrik.

My psychiatrist always got this small smile on his lips when I spoke of Adrik, especially when I explained how stubborn and annoying he was because he wouldn’t leave me alone. I was sure he found everything Adrik did cute.

Like when I told the psychiatrist I had been in a mood and wanted to be left alone, and Adrik didn’t listen because he’d heard my stomach growling and thought it was a good idea to have a picnic in my bed where he got crumbs everywhere.

Then again, after I’d discussed it and now thought of it, I did find it cute also.

Adrik got my heart racing, palms sweating, blood pumping, and my dick thickening.

Still, I wasn’t ready for the next move. I still had doubts and fears to work through.

A knock sounded on the front door. Dimitri, who sat in the living room with Country, Tech, State, and his woman, Courtney, called, “I will get it.”

Wreck glared down at Adrik for some reason. Of course, Adrik reciprocated it with a sinister smirk. I didn't understand their hate for one another, but Lucas told me not to worry about it. Kylo had also mentioned it was just their way of measuring who had the biggest dick. I wasn’t sure who had won, since they ignored each other most of the time.

“Adrik,” Dimitri said, coming into the dining room.

“Da?”

“It is your parents.”

Oh shit.

My stomach dropped to my feet, and I gulped. Adrik had told me about them. Said they’d stuck around to meet me before they went back to Russia, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to see them, because they knew what had happened.

Paling, I stood. “I’m… um, going for a walk.”

Shit, the front door was through the living room. My bedroom was through the living room.

“Now?” Lucas said, shock evident in his tone.

“Ah, sure.” I nodded. At least I could go out the back door.

“But your back,” Lucas tried.

“It’s better.” And it was. The ache was always there, but from what Lucas told me, the burn, that fucking burn, had scabbed over. The cuts were also healing, so I didn’t see why a walk would be bad.

“West,” Adrik started.

I couldn’t look at him. Shame had my stomach twisting. “Sorry,” I whispered.

“Son?”

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