Page 90 of Worlds Collide

Since I moved here I’ve become close with Theo and Sebas—and even Carter to a degree—but I only tolerate Adam, and I know damn well it’s the same for him when it comes to me.

“You’re gonna be thankful when I make these at home,” Sebas sasses his husband, then offers up his mouth for a welcome kiss.

Seeing the easy affection between them is never easy, just like it stings whenever I see Mike give Theo one of his bear hugs. They all fit together so seamlessly, and I want that.

I’m not too ashamed to confess it to myself.

I know I can eventually have that, I truly believe I will, it’s just fucking annoying that I have to wait another year and put in so much damn work when they all got it seemingly by accident.

Of course that’s an oversimplification—I know that.

Everyone has issues—except Adam, he’s the golden boy who has always gotten what he wanted, and for that I resent him.

I’m not too ashamed to admit that either. In fact, I even said itout loud to another person. Sure, it was to my therapist who I know won’t tell anyone, but still.

Dr. Sasha and I are still getting to know one another, but the fact that she can handle me—and Theo, who I bumped into right outside her office before my session—tells me she’s damn good at her job.

She doesn’t shy away from letting me know when she’s getting tired of me lying to myself, and I’d bet everything I have she never speaks that way to Theo because who the hell would dare be mean to Theo? That person would have to have a death wish ’cause I know at least ten people who would go to war for him in the blink?—

“Motherfucker!” comes a loud shout from my left.

Everyone in the room turns quickly to Josie—me included. She’s got half a dozen men ready to slay whatever hurt her, but she’s... looking down at her feet. And then she’s bending over with a hand around her huge belly.

“Jesus fucking Christ almighty, what the actual hell?” The screech is a bit much, but it’s not like I know what she’s going through.

It takes Sebas longer than I’d expected to start freaking out.

“We don’t have the bags.” He turns with huge eyes to Adam instead of helping Josie, so I walk over to her, grab her shoulders, and slowly start walking her to the front door, since apparently I’m the only one who can use his brain in an emergency—ironic, I know. “Adam,we don’t have the bags!” And now Sebas is in full-on breakdown mode.

Josie and I have barely walked three steps when she reaches for my hands and squeezes like she’s trying to test the strength of my bones. I worry there for a second, but she loosens her grip marginally after a few eternal seconds.

“Get the car, Rich,” I shout over the sea of voices, and look back to see him snap into action.

“Shouldn’t we call an ambulance?” Josie asks through gritted teeth.

“It’s going to take too long to get here and the hospital isn’t far away. Your doctor is at Mount Sinai, right?”

“Yes,” she says fast and pants once, twice. “How do you know?”

“I just pay attention,” I mumble as I keep walking her out the door, then very carefully down the steps to the sidewalk, where Rich is opening the back door and I see Connor is already at the wheel. Good, he knows the city better, he’ll get us there sooner.

It’s only when I’m helping Josie put on her seatbelt that Sebas’ voice reaches me again.

“Wait for us, wait.”

Once I hear the click of the seatbelt I turn around to see Sebas flying down the steps with everyone else hot on their heels. Adam and Sebas go around the car to get in through the other door, and when Theo and Mike go to follow I step in their way.

“No room for us. Call us a cab or another one of those fancy bodyguards of yours, Theo.”

Theo gets his phone out immediately as the car drives away, and Mike grumbles about me being one to talk about bodyguards. Since it’s a sensitive moment, I decide not to put my life in the giant’s hands today.

That’s the only reason why.

We arriveat the hospital only to be stared at by everyone in the reception area. Right, forgot I’m a celebrity for a second. Irun to the elevator throwing the nurse an apologetic wince on the way, and manage to get the doors closed before anyone can even utter the word selfie.

Theo and Mike jump in with me and thankfully know which floor we’re supposed to go to.

A very angry nurse meets us there, and berates us about using the special entrance they have for celebrities while we sign in and show her our IDs, then we’re shoved into a waiting room and told to wait.

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