But he’d felt a glimmer of it when he was slamming Gabriel into that wall.

He pulled the ice bag away from his face and set it on the table. “I’m sorry that he—that he—”

“It’s not your fault.” Adam touched his cheek, and his hand was warm. Nick shut his eyes and leaned into the contact. He felt the pain, but it was worth it.

He opened his eyes. “Then I’m sorry for what I did. Last night.”

Adam nodded and withdrew his hand, reaching for the ice pack again. “I am, too.” He glanced up, and the slightest bit of rueful humor slid into his voice. “In fact, I was trying to apologize to you fifteen minutes ago. I didn’t realize that when you said identical twin, you weren’t kidding about the identical part.”

Nick frowned. “Only on the outside.” Then he remembered the whole reason for the apology, and he looked away, ashamed. “Usually.”

“No, what you did was nothing like what he did.” Adam caught his eye and held it. “Don’t get me wrong. What you did was not okay.”

“I know.”

“I know you know. That’s why I’m sitting here.”

“How did you know I’d be here?”

Adam picked up Nick’s hand and held the ice against his knuckles. He looked sheepish. “I didn’t. I came here to avoid you. I figured you usually go to the Starbucks down the road.” He paused, then rubbed at the back of his neck. “I needed to grab a cup of coffee on the way to my parents’, because I told them I’d stop by tonight. Then I saw you—well, your brother—sitting there, and I . . . ah, well, I couldn’t go another minute without talking to you.”

Nick studied him. The lighting was dim, but . . . “You’re blushing!”

Adam looked away. “Yeah, yeah.”

“But you wouldn’t respond to my texts!”

“Well, I couldn’t let you think you got off that easy.”

“Oh, I get it. So you’ve been torturing me.” But Nick smiled.

“Absolutely. And torturing myself at the same time.” Adam slid his phone out of his pocket and snapped a picture.

“Oh, good,” said Nick. “This is a moment I want a record of.”

“You don’t smile enough. That makes them meaningful.” He paused, then turned the phone around so Nick could see. His voice lost any humor. “I should send this to your brother.”

Nick glanced at it. A bruise was already forming on his cheek, more obvious because of the flash in the darkness.