Page 45 of Adored
“I was the poor kid and then, I was the kid in foster care. My parents neglected me, and they didn’t have money for clothes or food for me. I dropped out and I only have a GED. I had to work to buy food and clothes to go to school, but then was too tired to go to school. Survival was paramount. I’ve always had to survive.”
That was soul-crushing for him.
Poe put his spoon down.
“I’m sorry.”
Gamble stared into his eyes, not sure why Poe looked so upset. It had been so long ago that it didn’t matter to Gamble. He’d made something of his life, and that was what was most important.
He was a decorated Marine who had served his country with nothing but honor.
“Why? Does that change your mind about me?” he asked, waving his arm at the castle. “That I came from nothing, and that I’m a killer?” he asked.
Clearly, Poe hit a sore spot. Gamble was good at hiding emotion as he’d learned as his therapist. He might come across cool, but that upset him.
“No, I just would have taken care of you. That’s all. I would have helped you any way I could.”
Since they were both in their mid-thirties, he wouldn’t have been able to, but Gamble understood.
“It made me who I am,” he said. “You taught me that, Poe. The obstacles make us the people we are. I’m a survivor, and I made it out.”
Poe placed his hand over his.
“I’ll never change my mind about you. If anything, it makes me love you more. You fought hard to find me. All those bumps were a lesson that brought you to me.”
He squeezed his hand.
Poe was right.
And now, he’d have a good life with the one person who truly loved him.
Gamble continued.
“So, yes, I was a virgin until then. Then, it was a free-for-all until I met Storm. I felt bad for her, as I’ve told you, and I took care of her. In the process, I stopped being Gamble, and became Storm’s husband. I lost me.”
Poe handed him the other half of his toastie. He wanted the man to keep building back his strength. The last few days had been taxing.
Gamble took it like it was second nature.
“Taking care of me, are you, Poe?” he asked.
The man nodded.
“Forever. It makes me happy to take care of you. It gives me pleasure. I like nothing more than making us a meal and sitting with you to eat it. It’s intimate, and I miss it.”
Oh, he did too.
“Same,” Gamble said.
Now, Poe was curious.
“Can I be blunt?” he asked.
Gamble was chewing.
“I mean, sure. We don’t have secrets between us, do we? I’ve been pretty open, and so have you.”
They had been.
