Page 20 of Worlds Collide

I don’t think I’m in any state of mind to figure out that complicated puzzle tonight, and looking at Wolf, he has a lot of questions too.

So I guess we’ll have to have a conversation about it first.

Awesome.

Wolf crosses his arms over his chest and his face looks devoid of all emotion. I guess I’ll have to spill first then.

“I’ve always known that I couldn’t risk doing anything about it. Otherwise my parents, or worse, my uncle, would get my trust fund.” As far as explanations go it’s not the worst, but also not the best.Clearly, I think when Wolf explodes.

“So this is all about fucking money?” He spits the question out through clenched teeth. “Why do you care so much about the damn money? Are you really that greedy?” He shakes his head before I can explain myself. “Whatever. Doesn’t matter. I’m not going to be your little experiment.”

And that’s enough for me. I never expected a conversation with Wolf would go this long either, honestly. He’s always been so standoffish with me, since the moment we met...

“I hate this,”Sebas mutters from next to me. We’re sitting on their hotel bed while Adam goes into the bathroom to take another shower.

“What are we supposed to say?” I ask in a desperate whisper. “Why did you bring me here?” I let my panic—and yes, anger—come through in that one.

“You’re his best friend,” he snaps back though he’s still whispering.

“You’re hishusband,” I deadpan.

“Yeah, well... I never know what to say in these situations, and he just lost the fucking Super Bowl. Damn it, I really wish I knew what CJ stands for right now just so I could snap at you with it.”

I smirk even though it’s not really funny. I don’t conceal my legal name out of some kind of joking matter. I’m embarrassed by it, and not only because it’s an awfully ridiculous name, but because itactually brings me shame. I don’t want Sebas to learn exactly where I came from.

“What makes you think I’m gonna know what to say?” I demand.

“You’re about to graduate from med school after being the best student of all time or whatever. Aren’t you supposed to be smart?” He clearly wants me to have all the answers, the desperation is clear as day, but his logic is flawed as fuck.

“Yourbest friend,” I emphasize. “Is actually a genius. Why didn’t you draghimin here with you?”

Sebas opens his mouth but a mouth clearing from my other side has us both springing up like we just got caught by our nannies stealing candy.

“You can stop whispering and freaking out now,” Adam tells us with an eye roll while he dries his head with a towel. He’s fully dressed thankfully, so I don’t have to witness Sebas get all horny at the sight of my best friend’s torso. “I’m disappointed we didn’t win of course, and I know I could’ve played better, but LA was just better than us this year.” He sighs loudly then, like he can simply shrug it off—which I know for a fact he can’t, so I know it’s all an act. He smiles widely at us.

“Do you want to just stay in? We can watch crappy reality TV and order a huge dinner from room service?” Sebas asks clearly, doing his best to make it sound like the best plan ever. Then he stands and hugs Adam hard. “I’m really sorry you lost, baby.”

“Me too,” Adam murmurs and leans down to kiss Sebas’ cheek.

I have to look away, the envy is too much and I hate it whenever I feel it.

Less than a year now and I’ll get the chance to be myself. And being myself, I’ll get the chance to start looking for my perfectperson. Even if it does end up being a woman, I know I’ll get to be myself in that case too and that includes my bisexuality.

There’s a knock on the door and I spring up to open it, welcoming the distraction and leaving the lovebirds to their loving. Though, they did get married only like nine months ago so I can’t fault them too much.

“He—” A coughing fit cuts me off when I swallow my own spit at the sight in front of me.

I saw Wolf during the game—and afterwards too, when he went down to the field with Adam’s grandpa—he was in the suite next to ours with the owner of Adam’s team, but right up close he’s even more handsome.

“Derek and Hawk are having an engagement party at the rooftop of the Certon hotel,” he tells me in a clipped voice that sounds just a little bit robotic. Like he’s said the same thing one too many times.

“O-okay,” I say and finally manage to swallow. “I’m CJ,” I tell him and thrust a hand between us. He looks down at it like he thinks it’s the weirdest thing I could’ve possibly done after introducing myself.

“Whatever, little rich boy. Derek said to tell Adam to forget about the Super Bowl tonight, that he can cry in a fetal position tomorrow.” Then he spins on his heels and walks away. I watch him of course, and take note of every single particularity of his movements. The way his blond hair flows behind him a little, and yes, his ass moving in those jeans that fit him like they were made for him.

He’s perfect, I think, and sigh like a lovesick fool.

And he gave me anickname.

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