Page 58 of Not Your Golden Boy

“What’s going on?” Drew asked, full of concern.

“Nothing. Really,” Nikky lied.

The new voice of courage in the back of his mind screamed at him to tell Drew everything. If anyone could understand and maybe help him, it was Drew. But too many years of tactical silence meant to keep bad situations from getting worse stopped him.

“I moved in with Harry,” he said instead. “Temporarily,” he added quickly.

“Wow,” Drew laughed. “That’s a huge step. So I guess things are moving fast with you two.”

“Are they moving too fast?” he asked. “I mean, I really like Harry. He’s awesome and sexy and…and he takes care of me.”

He was taking care of him right that very moment, Nikky was sure. What he wasn’t sure about was whether it was a good idea.

“I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy,” Drew said. “Social media loves the two of you together.”

“It does?” Instead of making him happy, knowing that caused a sinking feeling in Nikky’s gut.

“Yeah,” Drew went on. “Pics of the two of you doing things together are all over. And those pics from the club.”

The pics from the club. Photos that were taken deliberately to mislead everyone. His entire relationship with Harry was supposed to be as fake as half the people he’d met in Hollywood. Only now, Harry was the only thing that felt real to him while his life and the image Albion was trying to force on him felt made up. Having a stalker definitely felt surreal.

“Listen, Drew,” he started, reaching into his newfound well of courage to find the strength to confess everything.

Before he could get farther, there was a knock on the door. Given the mood he was in, it had him jumping out of his skin.

“What’s up?” Drew asked.

“Someone is at the door,” Nikky said, standing and walking over as whoever it was knocked again. “I’ve got to go,” he said, then ended the call as Drew said something else. He leaned closer to the door, fear hitting him so hard that he felt shaky, and asked, “Hello?”

“Is that Nikky Smith?” Maggie’s colorful voice called from the hallway. “Are you keeping our boy company?”

Relief spilled through Nikky so hard and fast that his knees nearly gave out. He unlocked the door and threw it wide, revealing the brightly colored, eccentric forms of Maggie and Laura.

“Hello, Mr. Smith,” Laura said with a teasing smile. “Can Harry come out and play?”

“I—” Nikky had no idea how to reply to that.

“Stop being silly.” Maggie swatted at her wife. “We’re here on serious business.” She stepped into the flat, Laura following her.

Nikky shut and locked the door behind them. “Harry isn’t home. He went out for—” He had no idea how to answer that.

“Well, as long as you’re here,” Maggie said, turning to face him once she was in the middle of the room. “There’s been a strange American loitering outside the building.”

“He’s quite handsome,” Laura added, “though decidedly menacing.”

“Our flat faces the street, and since it’s a lovely day, we have our windows open,” Maggie said. “We overheard him asking someone earlier if they knew anything about you being here. He’s gone now, but he seemed very threatening.”

Again, Nikky’s knees threatened to give out. “I know who he is,” he said, crossing past the ladies to sink onto the sofa. He should have offered them a seat, too, but he could barely think.

The ladies took up seats on the sofa on either side of him.

“If you need us to grab brollies and head down to see if he’s still there and to beat the man senseless, we will,” Laura said.

Of all things, that made Nikky laugh.

That outburst dredged up more emotion, and within seconds, he was on the verge of tears.

Maggie rested a hand on his arm and gazed at him with motherly sympathy. “I think you’d better tell us what’s going on,” she said.