Page 10 of See My Words

Scott gave a bark of laughter. “Ugh. Don’t make me laugh, Ry. It hurts.” He lifted Rylan’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it before letting him go. “Go ahead and move your stuff in,” he went on gruffly. “But I get to kick you out anytime I want.”

“Deal.” Rylan grinned at him before pushing off the bed. “You need anything before I head over to my place?”

“No.” Scott’s gaze sharpened. “You doing okay on money, Rylan? Got everything covered? Rent?”

This time it was Rylan who couldn’t meet his eyes. “Things have been tight for a while. I’ll manage.”

Scott snorted. “Yeah, and with you here having to babysit my ass, you’re not out working on your project or at the club. Hand me my wallet.”

Rylan lifted his hands as if warding off a blow. “No!” he exclaimed, backing toward the doorway. “I don’t—” He gasped when Scott swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. “What the fuck, Scott? Get back in bed!”

“You won’t hand it to me, so I’ll get it myself.” Scott hobbled toward the dresser, grabbed up his wallet, and opened it. “Here.” He extended several large bills toward Rylan, who shook his head wildly.

“I won’t take your money. Fuck that!”

“Listen.” Scott’s voice was implacable. “If I have to swallow my pride, it’s only fair you do the same. You’re helping me, so I’m helping you.” His face softened before filling with anguish. “Besides, I owe you. For what I—what I stole.”

Rylan gaped at him for a second before taking two steps toward Scott to grasp his wrist and press his hand against his chest. The bills crinkled between them as Scott made a fist, resting it over Rylan’s heart.

“You really think that if you’d just asked me for that money, I wouldn’t have given it to you anyway?”

Scott couldn’t hold his gaze. “If I’d asked, you’d have given me the shirt off your back, Ry.” His voice was so faint Rylan had to strain to hear it.

“Damn right,” he said, tapping on the back of Scott’s fist for emphasis. “I never begrudged you that money. It’s the fact you didn’t trust me enough to ask me for it, to talk to me about what you were going through that night that hurt me.”

Rylan pried the bills gently from Scott’s hand, holding his eyes as he slipped them into his own pocket. “But I’ve realized something, that trust works both ways. So I’ll tell you right now that yes, I do need this, because I’ve been really scared about how I’m going to get by until Corey pays me. Thank you.”

Scott cupped his cheek with trembling fingers. “You’re welcome.”

Rylan turned his face and nuzzled Scott’s palm before sliding his arm around his waist and helping him back to bed.

“I’ll be back in an hour, and then it’ll be time to leave for your appointment. Okay?”

Scott’s eyes were already closed, but he lifted his hand in good-bye, so Rylan slipped out of the room, scooping up the keys and his phone before heading for the front door. When he got to the lobby, he noticed a tall, muscular blond man arguing with George, the concierge. Rylan winced. Lance or Timothy or whatever the hell his name was hadn’t wasted any time coming here to try to defend himself.

“I’m sorry, sir, but your visitor’s privileges to the building have been revoked. I cannot allow you up to Mr. Ashworth’s apartment unannounced.”

Lance planted his elbows on the desk and leaned across it, snarling, “Well, then, call and fucking announce me, you old fart.”

George was unmoved. “Please moderate your language and your tone, sir. When Mr. Ashworth informed me of the revocation of your privileges, he also requested he not receive notification of any attempts made by you to visit.” He was clearly not intimidated by Lance’s thundercloud of a face as he went on, “I’ll have to ask you to leave now.”

They stared each other down for a moment before Lance pushed off the desk with a growled, “Fuck you,” and turned to stalk away. Rylan hung back, hoping Lance wouldn’t notice him, relieved when he moved past without incident.

Rylan continued to the parking garage and Scott’s convertible, jumping in fright when Lance suddenly stepped out from behind a pillar and blocked his path.

“I saw you in the lobby,” Lance said, tight-lipped, although his tone was calm. “Were you just with him?”

“Yes.” Rylan attempted to step around him, and Lance moved too, not letting him by.

“What’s he saying about me? Does he think I did this?”

“No.”

“I don’t believe you.” Lance took a step closer, looming over Rylan. “He has to be saying something because the fucking police questioned me last night!”

Rylan kept his voice even as he said, “Probably because half the bar saw you fighting with him about an hour before he got hurt. Of course the police had to question you.”

“I didn’t do it. I think he’s a fucking prick, but I would never hurt him!” Lance spread his arms for emphasis, and Rylan pushed past him.