Page 58 of Misconduct Zone

“Dude, you’re like a viral meme. Where have you been?” He hands over his phone, and there’s a GIF of me almost falling and Lars catching me with my Halloween costume belly and the shirt declaring me Lars’s property. “I can’t believe he hasn’t called you yet.”

I pull out my phone, still in silent mode, and scroll. Along with Lars, Finn, and Patrik there are also missed calls from my sponsor and Ari Dimon.

I’m so fucking screwed.

Mr. Dimon boards the plane and beckons me to his executive lounge. He sits and motions for me to do the same in the seat across from him. Back here, the seats face each other.

“Finn has explained his role in the costume and has offered his resignation.” He steeples his fingers.

“No! He told me not to wear it in public, and I never thought about pictures on the way to the car. It’s my fault.” Shit. No wonder Finn hates me right now.

“I’m concerned that in the middle of a potential scandal, he couldn’t reach you, which means he can’t do his job.” He raises an eyebrow, as if expecting me to challenge his statement.

“Again, that was my fault.” I scramble for part of the truth. “I got some potentially bad news, and I needed to be alone to process it, so I turned my phone off and stayed at a hotel.” Words tumble out, and his eyes narrow, about to call bullshit. “My family isn’t supportive of my sobriety, and I’ve been leaningon Lars so much that I kinda needed to do this on my own. I didn’t know about the picture, or I would’ve responded immediately. I just took a day to refocus my priorities, and it was the wrong fucking day. Sir,” I add because I should not swear in the presence of my boss.

Mr. Dimon flashes a smile before he schools his features. “I don’t like surprises, and if I find out you’re lying to me, you will be in violation of the code of conduct for your contract. I count on you to be available if needed. Full transparency, your sexuality or partner of choice is not my concern. My concern is your dedication to this team and the people who keep it running.”

“Sir, please don’t make Finn pay for my mistakes.” I can’t imagine this job without his snarky and knowledgeable input.

He nods sharply. “Is there anything I can do to help with your family situation?”

I blink at his unexpected offer. “No, but thank you. This is something I need to handle on my own.”

I have to make this right with Lars so I pass my seat and intend to ask Patrik to switch with me. They don’t see me from behind with their heads tilted together.

Lars’s voice is low and devastated. “I thought we felt the same, but he’s unbothered I was out of my mind, sick with worry. Dylon lives on emotion and always cares about other people. How do I deal with his indifference? I wonder if I matter at all.”

His palpable agony stops my heart. Any lingering anger and frustration evaporate. A pillar of sobriety is responsibility. Although I didn’t intend to hurt him, I did. Addiction is inherently selfish, and that’s what I was yesterday.

He doesn’t sound like a man who wants to break things off.

I.

Fucked.

Up.

“Mr. Felix, please take your seat for takeoff.” A flight attendant gently ushers me to my seat, away from Lars.

The next time I approach Lars, he’s sleeping and Patrik scowls at me. “Ve didn’t sleep all night. Talk later,” he says, not interested in my excuses.

I should have listened when he needed to talk, but my insecurities and fear led me to run away.

Slumping in my seat, I wait until after takeoff to text my sponsor and tell her I’m safe and ask if we can make time to talk when I land in Germany. I don’t wait for a response and turn my phone off. I read the text I sent Lars from the hotel, and it’s a jumble of words that do not make any sense and I understand his overreaction was valid. Complete fuckup, party of one.

It’s chaos at the airport and hotel. With everyone fucking running their mouths about our meme, there’s no time to talk to Lars privately.

Once we have our room assignments, I knock on Lars’s door. The need to plea for forgiveness claws at my throat, but first I have to apologize. I knock again, checking my phone so I don’t look like a complete asshole.

Benz exits his room, dressed to go out. “Hey, Lars left. Come with us since we’ll all be jetlagged, we might as well…” He stops himself with a look of horror on his face. Obviously, they’re going drinking.

“Nah, thanks for the offer. Have fun.” My room is down the hall and around the corner. Lars hasn’t left me behind in over a year. Even before I moved in, we were close and did everything together. Every once in a while, he’d want to stay in, needing some solitude so I’d go out with the guys without him, but never, not ever, the other way around.

This can’t be the end.

Chapter 30

Lars

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