But when he pressed the button on the car door clicker, Adam’s voice stopped him.

“Nick. Stop. Wait.”

Nick turned. Adam was jogging across the stretch of pavement to catch up with him.

Nick wasn’t sure what he expected. A kiss, a plea to stay, a hug, for god’s sake.

But Adam stopped and said, “Why didn’t you tell me the truth about Tyler?”

Nick frowned. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Quinn told me that when you were younger, Tyler used to beat the crap out of you. That Gabriel used to stop him.”

Oh.

Nick leaned against the car and memorized the asphalt. “I didn’t lie to you. Tyler is an asshole.” But he couldn’t say it with the vitriol he usually saved for Tyler Morgan.

Adam didn’t say anything.

Nick glanced up, then quickly away, feeling the weight of Adam’s eyes, knowing he needed to offer more of an answer. “I never told you because I was embarrassed.” Another hesitation. “And because I didn’t want to diminish what had happened to you.”

“I wish I’d known.” Adam hesitated. “And what happens to you doesn’t diminish anything that happens to me.”

“It’s fine. It’s not a big deal.”

Adam moved closer, and Nick froze. “It is a big deal. All of this is a big deal. If you’re in danger—if someone is threatening you—” He broke off and swore. “Damn it, Nick. If this is going to work, you have to trust me to care about you back.”

If this is going to work. Nick stared at him.

But Adam still looked agitated. “You made it sound like—I thought it was some stupid family rivalry. I yelled at you at the studio, and I would have—I should have told him to get the hell out of there.” He put his hands on Nick’s face, warm and strong and secure.

But then he shook his head. “I’m so pissed that you thought you had to sit there with him.”

Nick put his hands over Adam’s and held them there. “No. I’m glad I had to sit there with him. Because I finally got the chance to tell him off.”

Honestly, now that they’d come to this point, Nick wondered why he hadn’t said something to Tyler years ago.

No, he knew why. Because he’d never met anyone who made him feel like he had a right to what he wanted, not just what everyone else expected.

“Besides,” Nick said. “You were right. People do have different capacities for failure.”

“And triumph,” said Adam. Then he leaned forward and kissed him.

He drew back before too long, but not far. His voice was soft. “Can you stay?”

Nick wanted nothing more.

But he shook his head. “Michael will have a panic attack if I’m not home soon. Too much is up in the air.”