Page 325 of Sticks and Stones
“Oh, no,” Will said.
Ethan pushed on.
“So, I’m coming here and putting my faith in you. My gut says you’re not a runner. It’s telling me you’d stick and fight to the bitter end. When I saw your messages to him, when you didn’t know what he was going through, I had a feeling that you were the kind of man who would help him—not hurt him. I hope I’m right about that.”
Will was that kind of a man.
He’d do anything to protect Corbin. They had a connection that he’d never felt before in his whole life.
“I would never break up with him over this. I’m sickened, but not with him. He’s the victim. I’d protect him and love him, not blame him.”
Ethan was all in now.
So, he finished.
“Will, he loves you. Right after your first date, he started talking about marrying you. We told him not to be an idiot. We begged him to give it some time, and now, I wish we hadn’t talked him down from it. He would have married you on Christmas, Will. That’s how sure he is that you’re the one. What he’s doing by pushing you away is out of survival mode—nothing more.”
It was official.
Will was done feeling sorry for himself.
Instead, he wiped his eyes, and he was willing to dig in to do what it took.
Corbin didn’t know him as well as he thought he did, or he’d know that Will was a fighter.
To.
His.
Core.
“I would have said yes to him. I love him so much. He is my other half, but he pushed me away. How do I get him back?”he asked. “Tell me, and I’ll do it. Tell me how to be there for him, and I will, Ethan. I’ll fight for him until my last breath.”
Ethan wished he knew how to do this. All of this was Gene’s area. When it came to solving problems of the heart, he was the go-to guy, and for good reason.
“I’m shitty at relationships, but I’m going to say you have to show him. I know that’s what I’d want to happen. I’d want my person to be there for me. When it comes to myself and Gene, when I’m in a dark place, he shows up, and he lights the way. I’d want my person to take my hand, take care of me, and lead me back to the light.”
DONE.
Will could do that.
“What he needs is to see that you’re not walking away, but instead, you’re willing to do what it takes to be with him. He’s at rock bottom, Will, and he needs someone to have his back so he can survive this.”
Will got that.
If that was what Corbin needed, he’d do it.
Blackhawk continued.
“Gene and I have to work today. We’re trying to solve his case for him, in hopes it takes us to the leader of this mess. He’s going to be alone all day, and I don’t think silence is what he needs right now. He needs someone to fight for him. He needs you despite what he said. He didn’t want to do it. Corbin did it to spare you from the burden of him.”
Then, he’d have him.
Will would show up and be strong for his person. It was clear that Corbin didn’t think that he could be the one who did that, but it would change.
Until he was back on his feet, he’d hover over him, and show the love of his life what it meant to be in a relationship.
You were there for the good and the bad.
