Terrence Reed

"No one's home," Michael said, reaching over to nudge me.

I rolled my eyes in response. "Adam will be home after practice."

Michael leg brushed against mine. "How's the ankle?"

I glanced down at my ankle, which had been braced in an air cast. "It sucks."

"At least you secured the Vandy offer."

I just shook my head in response. "Why are you sucking up to me, Michael?"

He wiggled his eyebrows in response. "I'd love to be sucking up to you."

I let out a loud groan as Michael just laughed in response.

"Never say those to words to me again."

"That was pretty bad," Michael agreed, still laughing. "Even for me."

I glanced toward the clock. "What time do you have to pick up Lucas?"

"Not for another thirty minutes."

Plenty of time.

"Are you going to lay me out on the couch?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or carry me up the stairs?"

"You can't crutch?"

"Being an asshole doesn't get your dick sucked."

Michael's cheeks flushed red, and this time I had to laugh.

Michael had no problem making sly jokes, but outright comments always made him blush.

"Okay, okay," Michael conceded. "Couch it is."

"Always the romantic."

~*~

I stared at my phone in hand, my heart pounding in my chest.

I can't believe I told Adam.

While I was as gay as they come, Michael had always been closeted. He referred to himself as straight with male tendencies and although that made me laugh, I always respected his wishes.

I can't believe I just outed him. To Adam of all people.

My hand hovered over my phone. I knew it was right to call Michael, to admit to my mistakes.

But I couldn't bear the thought of hurting Michael anymore than I already had.

~*~

"We can't do this anymore," I said, quietly. "Michael, are you hearing me?"

Michael didn't move, his head in his hands.

"You need time to heal," I continued. "And I need time to... think."

He still didn't move.

"Michael, I'm sorry."

I rested my hand on his back, trying to control the tears welling up in my eyes.

"Mike."

Michael let out a small sob. "Fuck you, Terrence. Just go."

"Mike, I'm-"

"Go."

I stood up, wiping my tears. "I'll always care about you."

Michael finally looked up at me, tears flowing down his cheeks. "It's not like I was gay anyways. I'll be fine on my own." He reached up, wiping away a tear. "I always am. So just get the hell out."

~*~

Michael had never forgiven me.

And I realized now that while I was pouring all of my energy into helping Adam, there was nobody there to support Michael.

Michael never had time to properly grieve. Especially not with the parade of men in and out of his window.

The ones that only I seemed to notice.

I pressed Michael's name, pressing my phone to my ear.

"Terrence?" Michael's voice answered. "What's wrong with Adam?"

My eyes slipped closed. "Hey, Michael."

"Hey?"

Silence lapsed between us, as I tried to find the words to say.

Tried to figure out how to Michael that it wasn't Adam's screw-up this time, but my own.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" Michael asked. "If not, I'm kind of-"

"I need to talk to you," I said, interrupting what I'm sure would be Michael's blow-off speech.

The only way Michael knew how to deal with situations is by ignoring them.

"Jesus Christ, not you too," Michael muttered. "Look, I'm not sure what Adam told you, but I'm still trying to recover from that emotional trauma, I don't need yours too."

"I talked to Adam," I said. "And I said some things I shouldn't have."

Michael cleared his throat. "Yeah... I guess I did too."

I'm sure mine is worse. I just didn't know how to tell him.

"Terrence, I don't know Adam told you but-" He let out a long sigh. "I'm sorry. I never meant to tell him everything I did. It was just... I just needed to talk about everything."

Wait. "Talk about what?"

Michael cleared his throat. "I told Adam, okay? I told him about us. I don't know if he really heard me, he was pretty distraught. But, I told him."

Holy shit. "So you told Adam about us? The day that..."

"Yes."

I felt my heart begin to pound in my chest as I realized what that meant.

Michael had told Adam everything and hadn't even had the audacity to call me.

"And you didn't think to tell me?" I demanded, rising to my feet.

"I've been a bit busy, Terrence!" Michael said, his voice rising as well. "My brother just showed up on my doorstep at 7 AM and I outed myself to him while he sobbed on my bedroom floor about our dead brother. I'm sorry you weren't the first thing on my mind."

Michael always had a fascinating way of making the situation about anything but his wrongdoings.

"Funny how you were the first thing on mine."

I was met by silence.

"I was calling to tell you that I told Adam," I said, my voice falling quiet. "I obviously didn't know you already had, but I think you were right in that it didn't sink in. He bolted."

"Bolted where?"

I wish I had that answer. "He turned his phone off."

"Jesus Christ," Michael breathed, and I heard his voice catch. "I'm tired of fucking this up."

I hated that I recognized that voice, Michael's broken voice. I hated that it was something I'd become so familiar with.

I eased down onto the edge of my bed, letting out a long sigh. "You're not fucking anything up, Mike."

I could hear Michael crying on the other side of the line.

"We never talked about it," I continued. "About any of it."

"I don't want to talk about it, Terrence," Michael said.

But I did. "Michael, I never meant to-"

"Please," Michael interrupted, his voice breaking. "Just call me when you find Adam, okay?"

"Mike."

The line clicked dead.

I let my head fall back, my eyes slipping shut.

Fuck.

So what did you guys think about the chapter? Some juicy info was dropped. Was anyone surprised by anything?

I can't believe I updated two weeks in a row. Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you guys.

Let's see if we can keep this ball rolling. I'm just as hopeful as you guys are.

Teaser: Sarah is ready for a night in to crack down on her studies... until an unexpected QB shows up at her door.

This book is still updating. Weekly, monthly, whenever it is, we're still here.