Page 18 of Edge
Edge got worried he really might be dead. He checked his pulse. It was strong. Still, he dug his phone out, ready to call nine-one-one.
Shadow jumped in. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.” He twisted Field’s nipple—hard.
Field shot up like a bolt. “What? Holy shit! What’s wrong?” He looked around. “Oh.” He snuggled back down and pulled the covers high. “Go away and let me sleep.”
Shadow smacked his thigh. “We thought you might be dead in a ditch somewhere. You scared us.”
Field didn’t bother opening his eyes again. “Bullshit. Tracker always knows where we are.” He snagged Mickey around the waist and pulled him close like a teddy bear. “Just because none of you want to keep Mickey doesn’t mean I don’t. Go be pricks somewhere else.”
Edge really wanted to blow up, but he knew that wasn’t the right thing to do after last night. He had to stay calm. He rubbed Field’s arm. “I appreciate you staying with him, but he’s not waking up, Field. He might need medical attention.”
Field’s head lifted. He stared down at Mickey, inspecting him. Field licked his face from chin to forehead.
Mickey came awake like he was ready to throw hands. “What the fuck?”
Field went back to snuggling beneath the covers. “See? He’s good.”
Mickey blinked at the crowd surrounding the bed. “Why wouldn’t I be good?” He immediately heaved. “Wait. I’m not good.” Mickey scrambled from the bed and into the nearby bathroom.
Edge followed. He stood by, ready to jump in and do whatever was needed. This was definitely a case of better out than in. An arm appeared in the doorway, holding a Gatorade. Edge had no idea where it came from, but he accepted it.
Finally, Mickey collapsed against the wall. He truly looked like hell. His gaze slid toward Edge. He definitely didn’t look happy to see him. “Why are you here?”
Yeah. He definitely wasn’t thrilled. “For you.” He passed the drink to Mickey. “I said a lot of shit last night that I didn’t mean.The whole thing with Henry triggered me in a bad way. My history, it’s—”
“Bad,” Mickey said, interrupting him like he couldn’t listen to another word. “Yeah. I gathered as much. Do you know what? So is mine. I was homeless nearly my entire life. Do you know what happens to homeless kids on the street? Go on, guess.” Thankfully, he didn’t get to say a word. Mickey was obviously too furious. “I’m sure you’ll have no trouble figuring it out. But do you know what? I’m not currently sitting here, trying to destroy you with my bullshit. Not once have I used my trauma as a crutch or a weapon against you. I get it, okay. You don’t want this. It’s fine. You can go.”
Edge rubbed his forehead. “That’s the thing I’m trying to say. I don’t want to go. You’re what I want. I just don’t know, okay? I never meant to hurt you.”
“Yes, you did.” Mickey held his stare. Despite obviously being half dead, he didn’t sound any less certain of his mind. “Every word you said was meant to hit its mark—me. You can have all the excuses, and they can be good ones, but that still doesn’t mean I have to let you treat me like shit to soothe yourself. I deserve better. I deserve someone who loves me back.”
Edge flinched. Henry had claimed Mickey loved him, but he hadn’t believed. He thought the words were meant to strike at him. But now Mickey basically confirmed his claim, and Edge had really fucked up because Mickey was right. Edge had intentionally hurt him, and Mickey had done nothing but treat him like a king. He didn’t deserve to be treated the way Edgetreated him, and no excuse was good enough to expect Mickey’s forgiveness. That was something earned.
“You’re right. I can’t be sorry enough to excuse the way I hurt you.”
Mickey fought his way off the floor. “Good. Now that you know what everyone else already knew, I’m going to go cuddle up with Field, pass out, and pray for death. Have a nice life.”
Edge stepped into his path. “Please, Mickey. I know how much more amazing you were to me than I ever was to you. You gave me pieces of yourself you’ve never given anyone and I know it. Please give me a chance to make things right.”
Mickey stared at him in silence, and Edge saw the truth. He had killed something beautiful inside Mickey. Henry had thought Mickey was straight for a reason—because Mickey had thought it too. Then Edge had blown his life to pieces. He didn’t deserve a second chance.
Edge stepped out of the way. “Be careful with Field. He has terrifying nightmares that make him dangerous.”
“I’m not worried.” He headed for the bed. “Maybe he’ll do me a solid and kill me.” Mickey sat his drink on the bedside table and fell into bed. Field immediately had him back in his arms, holding him the way Edge used to do. The entire crew still stood there, witnessing the next downfall of his life. He really wished—just once—they didn’t see him at his lowest.
Edge motioned for the door. “Let’s go. He’ll be fine here.”
They filed out. No one met his stare. Thankfully, he didn’t cross Henry’s path again. Maybe he would let the guy put him out of his misery. Then they could both be happy.
Chapter Eight
Mickeyfeltlikedeath,but he couldn’t miss a second day of work. The life had gone from him, and he couldn’t fake it. This wasn’t a job he could quit, but he desperately wanted to walk away from everything. Henry never looked at him. Every breath hurt. The emptiness was back, and he drowned in it.
“You look so sad and you’re not eating your cookies.”
Mickey glanced down at his tiny saucer and teacup. He had always secretly loved these tea parties with Kylo. Mickey hadn’t gotten a childhood. Being with Kylo was as close as he would ever get to those stolen days. “Sorry. I’m still not one hundred percent.”
Kylo’s eyes flashed with kindness. “Daddy should’ve let you have the day off so you can fully recover. I don’t want a repeat of what you went through last time.”
