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Adaain, his jaw clenched now

Nick wanted to touch him, to offer some comfort He wasn’t sure Adam would accept it His brothers sure wouldn’t, and he wasn’t exactly rolling in experience with couys

"So we’re in his apartment," Adam said, his voice very low,

"and he’s practically naked, and he begs me to take care of him

He’s hot and sweet and nice, and I’m into him, so I do And we lie there for like thirty seconds, and I’ I’ve finally found soet the fk out of his apartht? Like, what the hell But clearly I wasn’t h, because he punched me in the stomach and slaht He wasn’t sure where he’d thought this story was going, but--that wasn’t it

Adam looked up He met Nick’s eyes and quickly looked away, asha you this I’m sorry I’ll shut up"

Nick reached out and touched his cheek, bringing his face back around Adam’s eyes closed and his breath shuddered, but he didn’t pull away

"Don’t shut up," Nick said softly "Talk Tell ers away frorip on his hand "It happened too fast He was on his knees apologizing, co me before I even knehat hitlike that had ever happened before And you knohat’s really insane? I believed hienuinely sorry

And when he asked ht, I went He eet, he was char happened

"So here I’ the shit out ofmy parents warned me about, and I couldn’t tell the to reinforce what they wanted And the worst part is that I started to believe I deserved it Or that it was norh Like aggression is just part of the package or so Besides--as I supposed to do? Co me up? Do you knohat that sounds like?"

Nick knew exactly what that sounded like "You’re not weak," he said

"Oh, I was This went on for a long time I never kneould set him off Some days he onderful, and I’d think it was all in my head He would cry and tell me hoanted so badly to be better Other days he wasterrifying I told him I didn’t want to see him anymore, and he said he’d tell everyone that I was sexually harassing him, that I was some kind of deviant, that I shouldn’t be allowed to ith kids I loved my job I didn’t knohat to do" Ada "He was smart, too He kne to hit where it wouldn’t show I’d be too sore to dance, but there wouldn’t be a mark on o to the hospital He said he’d tell them I had HIV I don’t--I’ve never--IMy dad would have found out, and I couldn’t--"

He broke off His hand was tight on Nick’s He took a long breath, steadying hio After that, I was scared to tell anyone anything For three months Then he was offered a job somewhere else, and he moved That was it I didn’t even solve my own proble Adaain "I’o I’ve never told anyone" But his voice was still heavy He brushed Nick’s hand away and started to put some distance between theht hiently, so Adam could move if he really wanted to "I won’t hurt you"

When Ada his jaw and put his forehead against his temple The waitress could probably see them, but he couldn’t make himself care, not now

"I understand noon’t hurt you"

Adah "You asked earlier about boyfriends? None, since hio to anyone’s place I never bring anyone back to mine"

Nick drew back so he could look into Adam’s eyes "Except me"

"Except you" Ada to fall for you?"

Nick shook his head

"On the beach, ere rescuing Quinn That one guy was going to hit ot in front of hi so brave in my life Especially not for me"

"I’all over you in a restaurant I’d say that’s pretty brave"

Nick s all overup with all that I’m inin awe of you" Nick felt heat crawl up his cheeks again, but he couldn’t offer anything less than honesty now Not after that "You’ve got your whole life together You knohat you want, and you’re even e letters that I’uys who don’t know I’mah"

"Say it," said Aday"

"See? Brave"

"I’ainst Nick’s He pulled away before too long

"Thanks for listening," he said quietly

"Thanks for tellingelse?"

Nick started The older waitress was there beside the table

He hadn’t heard her approach Worse--he hadn’t felt her approach Would she say so himself from Adam His voice wouldn’t work and his face felt like his cheeks were going to burn clean off

"No, thanks," Adam said He sounded amused

She ripped a piece of paper from her pad and set it on the table "You two are just the cutest ever"

Nick froze She didn’t care They’d been head to head at this table, and she hadn’t batted an eye

Ada for a tip"

"Here’s a tip," she said "Don’t flirt with oldin your ar in this scenario?" said Nick

"I don’t know," Adahed and left them with the check

"She didn’t care," said Nick softly "I know it’s stupid, but I thought--"