Page 63 of Besties
“Cool. Nico and I have been together six years. My dad adores him and tells me I chose wisely with him. When the three of us are together, Dad always comments on how happy we are when we’re together.” He sniffled, then tears leaked from the corners of his eyes. “I need my dad. I’m not ready to hear he’s never coming home.”
I wanted to give him platitudes. Tell him we’d bring his father back hell or high water, but the truth was, I couldn’t.
“We’re going to do our best,” I told him, giving the only promise I could make.
“But why? If he hurt your company, why would you take the risk of helping him?”
That wasn’t even a question I needed to entertain. “Richie…. Mr. Ryland? He gave me a chance when I hit bottom. Or thought I had. The sad thing about landing at what you think is the bottom is finding out there’s always further to fall.
“Still, he found me at my worst, and he cared enough to help. He’s been building me up ever since, and he believes in your father.” I didn’t know if that was still true, though. “He’s willing to go to the mat for him, because your dad was always there for the company. Whatever happened wasn’t without reason. We just need to find out what it was.”
The door opened and a tall, buff man with dark eyes and harsh, razor-cut jet-black hair swept into the room. In his hand was a pizza box. His gaze snapped to Jeff, who scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “What’s going on here?” he demanded, rushing to Jeff’s side and scooping him into a hug, all the while keeping an eye on me. “Are you okay, baby?”
Ah, Nico. Jeff nodded. “Nico, this is Max Henry. He’s from the company that dad works for.”
I didn’t correct him and tell him his father had been fired. Of course, depending on how this played out, it was entirely possible Dennis might come back. I wasn’t going to make any promises, though.
“Why are you here?” Nico asked bluntly, his flinty eyes locked on me. “If you came to make him cry, I’ll—”
“No. No, he didn’t. He’s been really great, I promise.”
Nico stroked a finger over Jeff’s cheek, and Jeff gave Nico his weight. “You sure you’re okay? Need me to help you to bed? I’m happy to read to you until you fall asleep, if you want.”
“No, I’m okay. Thank you for asking, though.”
Nico leaned in and gave Jeff a slow, lingering kiss, like he was staking his claim and letting me know it. He didn’t have to worry. Any fool could see the two were in love. Even if they weren’t, Jeff wasn’t my big, burly man whose arms held the world back and let me find myself again. He wasn’t the one who could pin me down in bed, but still make me feel like I could fly. Wasn’t the one I loved with my whole fucking heart.
That was Richie. Would only ever be Richie. He might not realize what he’d done, but Richie Ryland was now stuck with me.
“Listen, I’m going to go. I have a meeting with Mr. Ryland in an hour.” I stood. “Jeff, thank you for your time and I very much appreciate you meeting with me.”
He nodded, then sank deeper into Nico’s embrace. I understood now. Nico had been the one holding Jeff together. Without him, Jeff would have crumbled into tiny little particles and never gotten back together. Nico was trying his damnedest to save Jeff, much in the way Richie saved me.
“Don’t leave. Tell me why you came,” Nico insisted.
“Please tell him what you told me,” Jeff pleaded.
I sat back down, and we talked for another thirty minutes or so, with me repeating the same things I’d told Jeff. Nico watched me intently, like he was trying to decide if I was telling the truth. When we’d finished talking, Nico got up.
“Let me walk you out,” he croaked, his voice gruff. “Will you be okay for a few minutes, baby?” he asked Jeff, as he rubbed slow circles over his back.
Jeff nodded, then started to stand, but Nico pressed him back down to the couch.
“Rest for a bit. I’ll be right back to feed you. I got that pizza you like. Afterward, you can take a nap while I clean up. Okay?”
“Not really hungry, but I am pretty tired.” Jeff said softly.
He stroked his fingers over Jeff’s cheek, and I could see the pain in his eyes. I understood it. That feeling in the pit of your stomach where someone you love is hurting and you don’t know how to fix it. “I know, but you’ve got to eat something. Do it for me, okay?”
A hesitant dip of the chin. “Okay.”
Nico led me to the door, but his eyes remained locked on Jeff.
“I’m sorry I disturbed him.”
He finally faced me and his shoulders slumped. “No, don’t be. He needed to hear that his father had people looking out for him.” He peered at me, pain and uncertainty on his face. Finally he blew out a breath and leaned in close. “Dennis is okay,” he whispered. “He knows they’re looking for him, so he’s trying to keep it away from Jeff.”
The news rocked me. Dennis Kramer, the guy who was at the center of this maelstrom, was alive.
