Page 21 of Back to You
“Don’t listen to me.I have no idea what Ronan went through, and while I was here for you, I know that watching you from the sidelines isn’t the same.The two of you went through hell, and I’m glad that your father’s dead since it was his fault, but you deserve to be happy now.No matter how long it’s going to take, you deserve to have your mate back.”
Vincent wasn’t going to cry.He couldn’t afford to when he was supposed to leave the house soon.It was hard to resist the urge, though.Peter always knew what to do or say.He was always there for Vincent, even though he had his own life to deal with.It made Vincent wish there was more he could do for Peter, but until Peter was willing to change something, Vincent could only be there for him when he needed a shoulder to cry on.Unfortunately, that was happening way too often these days.Peter needed to dump his asshole boyfriend, but for some reason, he was unwilling to do that.
Maybe once Vincent and Ronan were back together, they could talk about Peter and find a way to drag him out of that relationship.It wasn’t doing him any good.If anything, it was doing him damage.Lou didn’t deserve someone like Peter.Hell, he didn’t deserve anyone.He was an asshole and should be on his own.
“You’re okay?”Vincent asked.
Peter frowned.“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I know things have been dicey with Lou lately.”
“I don’t want you to worry about that.”
“How am I supposed not to worry about it?You’re my best friend, and I can see that you’re not happy.”
“I don’t need to be happy right now.You do.”
“Well, I’d be happier if you were.”
Peter sighed.“I’ll be fine.We’re working things out.”
Vincent was sure that was a lie, but then, it would be just like Peter to lie about it.He wanted Vincent to focus on Ronan and their relationship, and he knew that telling him about Lou would distract Vincent.Maybe that was what Vincent needed.Hell, maybe that was what heandRonan needed.Now that they’d reunited, it was like Vincent couldn’t think of anything or anyone else but his mate, and it didn’t feel like a good thing.It would be too easy for Vincent to get hurt again if he made Ronan the center of his universe the way he had when they were together the first time.
But today wasn’t the right time to push Peter.It was clear that he wouldn’t allow it, and it would only make it worse.
Vincent turned back to Peter.“Okay, so what do I wear?”
Peter’s answering smile was easy.“Not those jeans.They make your ass look flat.”
“Why do we care about that?Ronan has seen my ass in and out of jeans several times.”
“Hey, you just found each other again after years apart.He doesn’t know what you look like under your clothes anymore.He’s going to have to relearn that.”
Just like Vincent would have to relearn Ronan’s body.
It made him feel like the first time they’d been together.He was nervous and excited, terrified of not being good enough and of losing Ronan again, happy to know that he hadn’t done anything that had pushed Ronan to leave, and pissed with his father.It was a mix of emotions that felt too large to deal with, but what choice did Vincent have?
Fulton had hurt both Vincent and Ronan, but he wasn’t there for Vincent to yell at him for it.In a way, it was a good thing.It wouldn’t do Vincent any good to focus on everything he and Ronan had lost.He couldn’t allow his father to win.Fulton had wanted Ronan and Vincent to be apart, and he’d succeeded for too long.Vincent wouldn’t allow him to continue doing so.He was unwilling to give Fulton that, especially now that he was gone forever.
Vincent hoped that his father could see him from where he was in hell.He hoped Fulton knew that Vincent and Ronan had found each other again.Living with resentment probably wasn’t good, but Vincent could be smug if it was a byproduct of him being with Ronan and knowing how Fulton would have reacted to that.
He would’ve been furious, and the thought of that put a smile on Vincent’s face.
“You look kind of scary right now,” Peter said.
“You don’t have to worry about that.It’s not you I’m thinking about.”
Peter nodded.“You’re thinking about your father.”
“Do you know how angry he would’ve been if he’d known about this?”
Peter’s smile reflected Vincent’s.“Oh, I know.That’s why you and Ronan deserve a second chance.You were pulled apart for years, and even though Fulton isn’t here to see you together, we both know how he would’ve taken it.I can imagine his face.Beyond that, though, you and Ronan are mates.You deserve that kind of happiness.You shouldhavethat kind of happiness.”
Vincent reached over to take Peter’s hand.“So do you.”
“Maybe I’ll find it eventually.For now, we should focus on you.”He sucked in a breath and turned to Vincent’s closet.“What do you want Ronan to think when he first sees you?”
“I want him to remember what we had.”What they would have in the future would be different, but those memories didn’t hurt as much anymore now that Vincent knew that Ronan hadn’t abandoned him.Hewantedto remember the times in which they’d been happy.
