Page 62 of The Hang Up

My face was definitely red now. I could feel the heat, and it wasn’t from the oven. I stared at my cake that was ready to go in, afraid of what he would say next. I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t.

“Brock, I know why you were obsessed with my dad. Still are obsessed—trying to get me to reconnect with him. It’s obvious.”

“It is?” I turned to face him. He didn’t look angry.

“No reason to be embarrassed. You didn’t know your dad, so you latched onto mine. It’s fine.”

“It is?”

“Sure. I don’t mind sharing.”

I practically choked on my tongue, but Sean barely noticed. The ice water felt good on my throat, and I held the glass to my face to cool it off.

“Back to my story. Dad told you to speak up for what you wanted. And not to be embarrassed. Own it. If you like Adam Wainwright, be confident in your choices because they’re yours.”

“That’s good advice.”

“So why don’t you take it?”

“Sean, it’s—”

“Complicated? Yeah, I get that. But if you really like this guy, own it. Even if people object…and if this guy is married, I will fucking object, but so what? It’s your choice.”

I pulled Sean into a hug, trying not to cry.

He hugged me back. “I’m here for you, okay?”

I nodded into his shoulder, unable to pull away. Would he be so understanding if he knew it was his dad? No. No way. It would be another betrayal. And I wasn’t sure what to do. I loved both of these men but in different ways. And I didn’t want to give either of them up.

Stepping back, I thought about my next move. I needed to talk to Joshua. Apologize for being so fucking needy.

“Here you are,” Ben said, wrapping Sean in his arms in a sweet and sickening way. “There’s only a few of us left, so we’re going to play games.”

“Ben—” The warning was clear in his voice.

“Don’t worry, babe. I’m totally cool. Do you want to play, Brock?”

“Maybe in a minute…I need to do something first.”

Sean gave me a knowing smile. “One day. One day, you’re going to let me meet this man who’s done the impossible. The thing that other men have tried to do and failed.”

“Do I even want to know?”

Sean laughed. “You have a half-finished whatever this was going to be.”

I glanced at the mess. Lemon peelings everywhere. The cake pan was still on the stove. And all I could think about was finding Joshua.

“Dude, admit it. This is the only man who has ever distracted you from cooking.”

I gave him a look that clearly said he was an idiot because admitting he was right was not happening. Shoving the cake in the oven, I turned on the timer and rushed out of the kitchen.

I caught Joshua in the hallway. “Do you have a minute?”

“No, can’t. Sorry. They’re on a mission to play games, and I think they’re watching to make sure we don’t duck out,” he said and waved over at Matthew, who was indeed watching us.

“Fine. This will have to do.” I glanced around and shook my head. “I’m sorry, Joshua. I was being an idiot.”

“I should be the one saying that. When I get heated, I say the wrong things and—”

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