Page 113 of Counterpoint
“Maybe.” Adrian scooped up his phone. “Maybe not. We’ll see.” He turned his back on William and headed for the elevators.
“Where the fuck are you going?” William’s voice rose shrill and hard behind him.
He waved a hand in the air. “Figure it out. You’re the genius on the floor, William.”
A minute later, he was on the elevator and heading to the lobby. Five minutes later, he was pounding down the steps into a subway station. Pretty sure someone was following him. Or maybe he was just paranoid. Didn’t really matter at this point.
He had enough signal to fire off a text to Dominic.We need to talk.
When he passed through the next station, a reply came in.I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to do this to you.
Fucking hell.You are not breaking up with me over text, Dominic Bradley!Of course, the fucking train halted on the tracks and he no longer had signal. Adrian closed his eyes for a moment, then the train lurched forward.
When he reached the closest stop to the studio, he marched out of there and up to the street. No reply from Dominic. Maybe avoidance. Maybe panic. He didn’t know, but this wasn’t going to end without them speaking.
He definitely was being followed now. And photographed. Adrian hit the call button on his phone and listened to the other end ring and ring and ring.
Finally—finally—as he got to the building that housed the recording studio, Dominic picked up.
“Adrian—”
“Don’t. Just—don’t. I know it’s hard. I know you want to. But don’t.”
A hiss, as if Dominic was breathing out through his teeth. “Do you have any idea what your life will be like? The fans? The press? Nothing will be normal again.”
“Sure it will.” Adrian stopped in front of the building, surrounded by fans and photogs and a ton of cell phones being pointed his direction. He was vaguely aware that people were calling his name, but all he could do was crane his head up and look at the building. Count the floors. “And I have a fairly good idea what the non-normal part will be like, too.”
“How could you?”
“Because I’m standing on the sidewalk in front of your studio. I’m sure if you check Twitter or something, you’ll see video.”
Silence.
“Dominic.”
“You’reoutside?”
“I am.”
“Why?”
He rolled his eyes. “Take a fucking guess, genius.” He laughed. “You are so impossible sometimes.”
“Oh my god. You are there. There’s about a dozen live feeds. Ray has one up. Holy shit.” On the other end, a deep rumble of a voice—probably Zavier—said something. “Yeah, but I can’t just—” Dominic took a breath.
“Yes, you can,” Adrian said. “You can come down here and rescue my sorry ass from this.”
“I’m—not dressed.” Dominic’s voice was a harsh whisper.
He knew what Dominic meant, and ignored it completely. The look he wore didn’t matter for this. “I’m one hundred percent certain you have clothes on, Dominic.”
Silence on the other end, which only emphasized the crush and chatter of the crowd around him. He lowered his own voice, ducked his head, and closed his eyes to block out all those people staring at him. “Babe,please.”
His next step was to fall apart on the sidewalk. It was too much to handle, the emotions. Knowing that every word, every expression was being transmitted over the internet to god knew who. Maybe even his siblings. Fuck knew what Patrick would think, him begging for his lover in public.
But he’d endure what he could for Dominic. Because Dominic had to endure so much more now that his true name was out.
An exhale on the other line. “Oh my god, Adrian. Hang on. I’ll be right down.”
