Chapter 28

The rest of the events following were quite foggy as I moved around my room in a drunken stupor. At some point, I passed out and woke up when it was already dark. I sat up even though my body told me not to and my head felt like it was going to explode.

I made my way over to the bathroom as I felt I could not hold it any longer. While I was going to the bathroom, I notice that my shirt was completely off along with my pants. I was covered in sweat and was now cold from it.

I yawned before finishing up and going to wash my hands.

I froze when something on the counter caught my eye and realized what I thought was part of a nightmare had actually happened. I looked down to it again as my stomach dropped and I caught my breath.

I began laughing as I threw it into the trash can before making my way back to my bed. I put my pants back on and then made my way out of the bedroom. I noticed that Hunter was sleeping beside my door so I quietly crept over to the window that was still slightly open.

I picked up my pack and lighter just to stare at them. I fought back laughter again as I brought them to the kitchen and threw them away. I then went to the box and injected five syringes.

I sat while watching the trees outside blow in the wind. I had to hold back laughter again. I looked to the door as it opened and made eye contact with Asher.

I made a signal to stay quiet before pointing to Hunter. I looked back out the window as I heard Asher gently wake up Hunter.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

I didn't look to Hunter to fight from laughing, "thought you were tired. I'm not going anywhere so why wake you up."

"This is the first time you accepted staying here." Hunter stated but I still did not look to him. "Put on a shirt. It's cold out there and you're next to the window."

"It feels good. Helps the pain."

"Are you feeling alright?"

I looked to Asher and fought a smile, "my heads about to pop off but otherwise..." I broke a smirk, "I'm good."

"You seem in better spirits. Maybe you just needed to drink yourself to death."

I finally couldn't hold back my laughter but made sure it was minimal, "something like that." I looked around me, "where's my phone?"

Asher went into the bedroom and brought it to me. I smiled slightly as I opened it to see Cam's name.

"That Omega?"

I nodded before laughing at the message. I looked over to Hunter, "when was the last time you saw your folks?"

He tilted his head slightly, "a few years, why?"

I smirked, "I think it's about time to go visit."

Hunter looked to Asher with concern, "he's still clearly drunk."

I stood and shook my head, "nope. I'm completely hungover." I chuckled, "I just had a dream of the old days and want to go see your folks."

"Maybe once things die down."

"Come on, Hunter. He won't follow us home. Not to that small town."

"But..."

"We can bring Shannon and show her all the sites."

"Could I go?" We both looked to Asher in shock, "I'd like to see your home town."

I laughed, "going to visit the hometown of your partner? How cliche!" I gave him a broad smile, "sure. Sounds like fun. Let's go tomorrow."

"He might be looking still."

"Stop worrying, Hunt. We'll be fine." I went towards my room, "we have nothing to fear if we are careful." I went into the door but then popped my head back out with a large smile, "so no making out in front of others you two."

Hunter scoffed as I laughed deeply. I made my way into the bathroom and shut the door. As I began the bath, a knock came to the door. In the back of my mind, I knew it was Jayden.

"Can I come in? I want to talk to you."

I let out a breath as Asher's words filled my ears. My heartbeat sped but then my eyes locked on the trashcan and it slowed back down. I slid off my pants and undėrwėȧr before getting into the water. "As long as you can keep your eyes and hands where they should be." I joked and heard him snicker. My heart ached slightly at the noise but I took a deep breath and let it out as he came in. He shut the door as I turned off the water and leaned back in the tub. "So what's up?"

Asher watched me as he sat on the closed toilet, "are you doing okay?" I nodded, but his eyes did not lessen in worry. "To tell you the truth, this morning scared the shit out of me."

I looked away, took my wet hands out of the water, and combed them through my hair. I then looked back to him with pitty.

"I've never seen you like that before. So desperate, determined, and out of your whits."

I nodded before looking to the water, "I didn't mean for that to happen. Especially when you two were here."

"I would rather have it happen when I'm here but I wish you let me help you." He sighed, "what exactly happened?"

I moved my hands in the water as I replayed my experience, "the pain got too bad to handle. I lost my mind to fear and despiration."

"Why not use the surpessents? Alcohol doesn't work anywhere near as well."

I smirked to the water, "even if I took that entire box of syringes, there was no lessening that pain. It was like nothing I had experienced or dreamed of before." I looked to him through the corner of my eye. He was watching my so intensely with worry that it nearly made me tear up. This is not good for him. I need to separate from him soon or I will really mess him up. "It was the only thing I could think of."

"How can I help you, Will?" I looked to him with confusion to see tears filling his eyes, "we were so connected emotionally just a night ago and now I feel like a stranger."

I smiled, "you heard what I said. And I meant it." I looked back to the water, "I didn't want to say it, but it is the truth." I clenched my fists, "but I'm really doubting I can keep this up. I don't want to drag you down with me. You mean too much to me."

Asher stood and came beside the tub. He sat down and leaned his head onto my shoulder, "I won't let you do this alone."

I fought crying as I leaned my head on his and kissed it. I couldn't tell him what he wanted because it was not true. He couldn't stay with me for long, not in the way he wanted me. Now is the time I have to make a choice and...I didn't choose him.

I nudged him slightly with a chuckle, "get off me you dumbass." I took a deep breath, dunked my head in the water, and began scrubbing shampoo in my hair. I rushed to clean myself as Asher watched me quietly. When I got out of the bath, he handed me my towel but still did not leave. When I wrapped it around myself he hugged me from behind. "I'm still wet you moron."

I felt his hands squeeze my waist as he did not move from me. I closed my eyes and took a mental pause to enjoy this moment. It would be one of the last. To be gently held by a man I love with no intention other than to express his affection. He is certainly more than I will ever deserve. I gently moved out of his embrace before turning and hugging him.

"Can we just sleep beside each other?"

Asher lifted my head before kissing my forehead, "I'd love nothing more." As I left the bathroom, I heard him take out his phone and dial it. He began talking to someone as I put on undėrwėȧr.

"Is that Connor?" He nodded, "can I talk to him?"

Asher paused, "you want to talk to him?"

I nodded, "can't I?" He nodded again before he gave it to me. I walked over to my dresser and took out sweatpants, "Connor?"

I heard a deep sigh, "what the hell do you want?"

I smirked, "glad to talk to you too." I turned away from Asher as I put on the pants. "I need you to do something. You are the only who can."

"I'm listening."

I pulled out a shirt and lowered my voice level, "there is no better than him." I whispered as I pulled my shirt on, "he deserves you. Take care of him, alright?"

"What the hell?"

"I'll let you get back to work. Bye." I hung up and put it on silent before Asher could notice. I put his phone on the dresser before going to the bed. I laid down and watched as he stripped down to his undėrwėȧr before putting on comfortable clothes. He came under the sheet and embraced me gently.

"You're good to go, Hunter," I called with a smile.

I was surprised by the soft, gentle smile on Hunter's face as he looked to us from the door, "don't keep him up all night, Will. We gotta leave early tomorrow."

I laughed, "no promises." Hunter left as I cuddled into Asher. I then touched his lips with my fingers as he looked to me. I smiled but only looked to his lips, "I promise to make you the happiest I can in the future. Both you and Hunter."

Asher tensed slightly, "that almost sounds like a porposal."

I smirked, "as if I could do that." I looked to his eyes, "but if I did, it would be to you."

He kissed me gently, "we have the rest of our lives. You don't have to rush."

I nodded before snuggling into him and falling asleep encased in his love.

I woke up as the car slowed down. I looked to Hunter as he watched me with worry from the corner of his eye. "We're close."

"It's nice out here."

I could not look to Asher but nodded, "at first." I leaned on the window, "it'd be great to run into Luther."

Hunter tended and held his breath.

I chuckled, "I'll make sure he can never touch anyone ever again." I felt my skin begin to crawl as we passed familiar buildings and landscapes, "did you tell them we were coming?"

"Yea, they were happy to hear it."

I sighed, "don't lie. They're happy for you to come back. They pity me."

"They don't pity you. They know you are my rock and my best friend."

He turned into a neighborhood and seemed to speed up, "they're still there no matter how fast you go." I looked ahead as he slowed down and I scoffed, "Juliet must have convinced them to make that garden she wanted." I chuckled, "she's so hard headed."

"That's your parents house?" Asher asked as we got closer.

"It was, a lot time ago." I sighed but tensed as I saw a man walking out of the house to the car parked out front.

"Oh fuċk, duck now."

I laughed as I looked to Hunter's horrified face, "as if!" I rolled down the window and took a deep breath, "oh brother Maverick!" I sang as he turned in disgust to watch me. As we went by him, his face turned to rage.

"Omega," He hissed as I got onto my knees and leaned out the window.

"Will, stop it!"

I ignored Hunter as my body became electrified with fear and excitement, "I'll be right back."